Again, great writing. Sadly, some of Christians (e.g. Seventh-day Adventists) also believe that we should obey Old Testament moral laws except those that were explicitly cancelled by Jesus (e.g. about divorce). They cherry pick 10 commandments as an example of universal laws yet they "forget" about some others like "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exo 22:18). This is done to enforce Sabbath or death penalty as still obligating.
A religious person will, of course, read whatever he/she wants to see in Dawkins' words. A non religious, but spiritually aware person is still able to understand Dawkins' message while still understanding that there exists a universal energy/power/spirit, call it what you like. I guess that's why Sam Harris, who aknowledges the existence of a spiritual force, and Dawkins can be on the same page. They are scientists and although not perfect, aren't trapped by religious dogma and can be open minded unlike many "religious" people. Religion and spirituality are light years apart, the former being a man-made institution designed to blind mankind from the latter. Religion is a tool used by those in control to suppress the masses, while understanding our spirituality frees us.
Flix, Thanks for the comment. Certain a religious, non-religious or spiritually aware person will read whatever he/she wants to see in Richard Dawkins' words—just as you did.
I can attest that even the most fundamentalist Christians I know do not consider Christianity a “religion” and are very anti-religion. In the New Testament, for example, there is only one favorable mention of “religion” and it is when it is defined thusly, Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).Thus, even the most fundamentalist Christians I know, and I use them as example of people whom you judge to not be open minded, agree with you and even the most militant activist atheists that religion is a tool used by those in control to suppress the masses. I would add that nothing can between a human being and God like religion.
Although, I would note that Sam Harris (who, by the way, is not a scientist) Richard Dawkins are trapped by pseudo-scientific dogma and are very far from open minded.
Moreover, I would agree that spirituality frees us but not in a good way. I have known many people who use the term “spirituality” to denote doing whatever they want and still telling themselves, “I’m a good person.” However, as ex-atheist C. S. Lewis noted in referencing “Life-Force philosophy, or Creative Evolution, or Emergent Evolution”:
“One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences. When you are feeling fit and the sun is shining and you do not want to believe that the whole universe is a mere mechanical dance of atoms, it is nice to be able to think of this great mysterious Force rolling on through the centuries and carrying you on its crest. If, on the other hand, you want to do something rather shabby, the Life-Force, being only a blind force, with no morals and no mind, will never interfere with you like that troublesome God we learned about when we were children. The Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you. All the thrills of religion and none of the cost. Is the Life-Force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet seen?”Chapter 4 “What Lies Behind the Law” of “Mere Christianity”
aDios, Mariano
PS: this blog is in stasis, for atheist related issues I only post to Atheism is Dead.
Professor Richard Dawkins is not only a scientist but a celebrity. He is not only lecturer but a debater. He is not only a teacher but an author.
Prof. Richard Dawkins has long been one of the world’s leading voices for the activists atheist movement, one of the leaders of the “New Atheists.”
This blog, Richard Dawkins : Scientist or Activist?, which was established in Nov. 2007, provides a careful dissection of his various statements on a wide range of issue: biology, evolution, morality, abortion, religion, the Bible, and much more.
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ReplyDeleteAgain, great writing.
ReplyDeleteSadly, some of Christians (e.g. Seventh-day Adventists) also believe that we should obey Old Testament moral laws except those that were explicitly cancelled by Jesus (e.g. about divorce). They cherry pick 10 commandments as an example of universal laws yet they "forget" about some others like "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" (Exo 22:18). This is done to enforce Sabbath or death penalty as still obligating.
A religious person will, of course, read whatever he/she wants to see in Dawkins' words. A non religious, but spiritually aware person is still able to understand Dawkins' message while still understanding that there exists a universal energy/power/spirit, call it what you like. I guess that's why Sam Harris, who aknowledges the existence of a spiritual force, and Dawkins can be on the same page. They are scientists and although not perfect, aren't trapped by religious dogma and can be open minded unlike many "religious" people. Religion and spirituality are light years apart, the former being a man-made institution designed to blind mankind from the latter. Religion is a tool used by those in control to suppress the masses, while understanding our spirituality frees us.
ReplyDeleteFlix,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment.
Certain a religious, non-religious or spiritually aware person will read whatever he/she wants to see in Richard Dawkins' words—just as you did.
I can attest that even the most fundamentalist Christians I know do not consider Christianity a “religion” and are very anti-religion. In the New Testament, for example, there is only one favorable mention of “religion” and it is when it is defined thusly,
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world (James 1:27).Thus, even the most fundamentalist Christians I know, and I use them as example of people whom you judge to not be open minded, agree with you and even the most militant activist atheists that religion is a tool used by those in control to suppress the masses. I would add that nothing can between a human being and God like religion.
Although, I would note that Sam Harris (who, by the way, is not a scientist) Richard Dawkins are trapped by pseudo-scientific dogma and are very far from open minded.
Moreover, I would agree that spirituality frees us but not in a good way. I have known many people who use the term “spirituality” to denote doing whatever they want and still telling themselves, “I’m a good person.”
However, as ex-atheist C. S. Lewis noted in referencing “Life-Force philosophy, or Creative Evolution, or Emergent Evolution”:
“One reason why many people find Creative Evolution so attractive is that it gives one much of the emotional comfort of believing in God and none of the less pleasant consequences.
When you are feeling fit and the sun is shining and you do not want to believe that the whole universe is a mere mechanical dance of atoms, it is nice to be able to think of this great mysterious Force rolling on through the centuries and carrying you on its crest.
If, on the other hand, you want to do something rather shabby, the Life-Force, being only a blind force, with no morals and no mind, will never interfere with you like that troublesome God we learned about when we were children.
The Life-Force is a sort of tame God. You can switch it on when you want, but it will not bother you.
All the thrills of religion and none of the cost.
Is the Life-Force the greatest achievement of wishful thinking the world has yet seen?”Chapter 4 “What Lies Behind the Law” of “Mere Christianity”
aDios,
Mariano
PS: this blog is in stasis, for atheist related issues I only post to Atheism is Dead.