Faith, Religion and Democracy
Guy T. Sturino
November 15, 2005
Since the day the Supreme Clerics ordained George W. Bush the unelected president, he has taken on the role of the anointed speaker for Born Again Christians. Using the office of the president to advance his particular religion, Bush has taken on the role of Ayatollah, making proclamations based on the word of his god and issuing fatwa-like proclamations. I think this is a good thing.
Six years ago I wouldn’t have written this sort of article for public view. Long ago I came to the conclusion that religion is just superstition dressed in fancy clothes. But, I wouldn’t have written it because I felt that to attack any religion was to display a gross insensitivity to the most personal of beliefs. I still believe that it’s the inherent right of an individual to believe whatever he or she may decide is right for them. But, I do not believe that they have a right to decide for me. I have not changed. Times have changed.
For the past five years my sensibilities have been incessantly attacked. It has been some time since we read about military colleges pressing evangelical Christian observance on military students in order to succeed. Most people seemed to think that this was wrong, so the evangelical proponents waited until last week to sneak in an amendment to help ensure their efforts. Last week the Senate passed a measure to allow for the beginning of activities at military colleges with a moment of silence for prayer. A small thing, sure, but I expect it will be used differently than has been stated.
In speaking for the amendment, Senator James Inhofe, R-OK, related how our founding fathers prayed together for Gods help to win the war for independence. From this he drew the conclusion that Christianity was somehow inherent in our government. Our founding fathers did recognize that for many, including themselves, faith is a part of their existence, but it was not to be confused with governance. It’s too bad that Senators aren’t required to read that copy of the constitution they carry in their pocket. This religious spectacle on the floor of the Senate does much to lessen my regard for those presently in office, and once again pushes religion into my face whether I want it there or not.
Another Ayatollah, Pat Robertson, has said that his God would somehow punish those in Dover, PA who voted the proponents of the “Intelligent Design” myth out of office. The Kansas school board has decided that intelligent design is to be taught in science classes. Their reasoning is that man is so complex he could not have evolved on his own. Therefore, because their imaginations are so limited by their religious training that they cannot conceive of anything except creation by a god, everyone must be taught to quit thinking.
I heard the other day that the Kansas school board has proposed a new test for science students. They’re to be put into a burlap sack and thrown into a river. If they float, it is assumed that God wanted them to pass. Factious? Of course. But how far from reality is it – when the myth of creationism is to be taught in a science class. In a philosophy class or a class on comparative religion maybe, but science?
Much of this I have said before, but every time someone pushes their religion in my face I get angry all over again. I am outraged that zealously religious people tell others to have children even if they can’t feed or clothe them, or preach hate for others because of their sexual preference. These same folks tell us to go to war to protect their faith. To kill. And what is the basis for their actions? A belief in a system of superstition created by man to honor a god. The fact that so many people have so many ideas about the nature of a god, and about what any particular god’s will really is, should tell us something about the nature of what we call religion. How is it that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists have different ideas about the creation of the world, different ideas about what rituals are sacred, and major differences about what happens to us when we die. The reason is quite simple. When a belief system is built on myth, the story teller gets to say what is and isn’t so. The result is that religion reduces mankind to the level of a pet kept by a sometimes loving and sometimes hateful master.
I said earlier that the actions of our president in these matters are a good thing. It is. Finally more people are getting upset. People are talking openly about the function and place of religion in our society. Several editorials have been written contrary to intelligent design – even here in Pat Robertson country of Virginia Beach. Every day, it seems to me, more people are joining in the fight to keep our country from devolving into a primitive society ready to turn our decision making over to some invisible creation of the human mind.
Earlier I said that I have not changed. That is not exactly true. My thoughts are the same, but in the past when I was approached by a Jehovah’s Witness trying to sell their faith I would nod politely until they went away. Now I interrupt them to say firmly that I’m not interested and please move on. I do not accept the word of those who say that I must live by blind faith values which divide people, and deny the possibility of the formation of a civilized society based on humane coexistence.
Humanity does not need a god to tell us that to live in peace we should not kill each other. It is unnecessary for a god to tell us to not steal, or lie or bust up someone else’s marriage in order to get along with our neighbors. If we could simply not do these things and at the same time follow the advice of two thousand years ago, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” we would be living in a better world today.
Toward that end my friend Ed Burge and I have founded Mutualist Alliance, a place on the web for people who want to engage in a discussion about what we can do to promote a society based on humane coexistence. The hope is that by working within a democracy, of by and for the people, we can overcome the despotic influence of religion of by and for a god. Faith and democracy can live well together, but religion and democracy cannot.
If you choose to visit the site, the URL is www.mutualistalliance.org. The site was not created to make money, there is no advertisement and you will not be asked to contribute anything but your sincere participation. Like the idea, the site is in its infancy. Now would be a good time to pick a topic for discussion and possibly create the first post.
Our fate is in our own hands.
Six years ago I wouldn’t have written this sort of article for public view. Long ago I came to the conclusion that religion is just superstition dressed in fancy clothes. But, I wouldn’t have written it because I felt that to attack any religion was to display a gross insensitivity to the most personal of beliefs. I still believe that it’s the inherent right of an individual to believe whatever he or she may decide is right for them. But, I do not believe that they have a right to decide for me. I have not changed. Times have changed.
For the past five years my sensibilities have been incessantly attacked. It has been some time since we read about military colleges pressing evangelical Christian observance on military students in order to succeed. Most people seemed to think that this was wrong, so the evangelical proponents waited until last week to sneak in an amendment to help ensure their efforts. Last week the Senate passed a measure to allow for the beginning of activities at military colleges with a moment of silence for prayer. A small thing, sure, but I expect it will be used differently than has been stated.
In speaking for the amendment, Senator James Inhofe, R-OK, related how our founding fathers prayed together for Gods help to win the war for independence. From this he drew the conclusion that Christianity was somehow inherent in our government. Our founding fathers did recognize that for many, including themselves, faith is a part of their existence, but it was not to be confused with governance. It’s too bad that Senators aren’t required to read that copy of the constitution they carry in their pocket. This religious spectacle on the floor of the Senate does much to lessen my regard for those presently in office, and once again pushes religion into my face whether I want it there or not.
Another Ayatollah, Pat Robertson, has said that his God would somehow punish those in Dover, PA who voted the proponents of the “Intelligent Design” myth out of office. The Kansas school board has decided that intelligent design is to be taught in science classes. Their reasoning is that man is so complex he could not have evolved on his own. Therefore, because their imaginations are so limited by their religious training that they cannot conceive of anything except creation by a god, everyone must be taught to quit thinking.
I heard the other day that the Kansas school board has proposed a new test for science students. They’re to be put into a burlap sack and thrown into a river. If they float, it is assumed that God wanted them to pass. Factious? Of course. But how far from reality is it – when the myth of creationism is to be taught in a science class. In a philosophy class or a class on comparative religion maybe, but science?
Much of this I have said before, but every time someone pushes their religion in my face I get angry all over again. I am outraged that zealously religious people tell others to have children even if they can’t feed or clothe them, or preach hate for others because of their sexual preference. These same folks tell us to go to war to protect their faith. To kill. And what is the basis for their actions? A belief in a system of superstition created by man to honor a god. The fact that so many people have so many ideas about the nature of a god, and about what any particular god’s will really is, should tell us something about the nature of what we call religion. How is it that Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists have different ideas about the creation of the world, different ideas about what rituals are sacred, and major differences about what happens to us when we die. The reason is quite simple. When a belief system is built on myth, the story teller gets to say what is and isn’t so. The result is that religion reduces mankind to the level of a pet kept by a sometimes loving and sometimes hateful master.
I said earlier that the actions of our president in these matters are a good thing. It is. Finally more people are getting upset. People are talking openly about the function and place of religion in our society. Several editorials have been written contrary to intelligent design – even here in Pat Robertson country of Virginia Beach. Every day, it seems to me, more people are joining in the fight to keep our country from devolving into a primitive society ready to turn our decision making over to some invisible creation of the human mind.
Earlier I said that I have not changed. That is not exactly true. My thoughts are the same, but in the past when I was approached by a Jehovah’s Witness trying to sell their faith I would nod politely until they went away. Now I interrupt them to say firmly that I’m not interested and please move on. I do not accept the word of those who say that I must live by blind faith values which divide people, and deny the possibility of the formation of a civilized society based on humane coexistence.
Humanity does not need a god to tell us that to live in peace we should not kill each other. It is unnecessary for a god to tell us to not steal, or lie or bust up someone else’s marriage in order to get along with our neighbors. If we could simply not do these things and at the same time follow the advice of two thousand years ago, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” we would be living in a better world today.
Toward that end my friend Ed Burge and I have founded Mutualist Alliance, a place on the web for people who want to engage in a discussion about what we can do to promote a society based on humane coexistence. The hope is that by working within a democracy, of by and for the people, we can overcome the despotic influence of religion of by and for a god. Faith and democracy can live well together, but religion and democracy cannot.
If you choose to visit the site, the URL is www.mutualistalliance.org. The site was not created to make money, there is no advertisement and you will not be asked to contribute anything but your sincere participation. Like the idea, the site is in its infancy. Now would be a good time to pick a topic for discussion and possibly create the first post.
Our fate is in our own hands.
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