Does it matter --- what people believe?

At the end of my blog entry of July 26th, I ask the question….

Does it matter??…. Does it make one ‘hoot’ of difference what the masses believe? Should we who profess a more progressive and intelligent understanding of religion just shut up and go away… or… Does it matter??

I told you I would give you my opinion later. Well, whether you want it or not, here are my thoughts on the matter…..

As you might guess, yes, I think it matters.

It is a well known fact that ‘what a person believes will affect how he acts.’ If one believes there is a supernatural being, ‘up there’ or ‘out there’ who will hear and answer prayer, it lessens one’s feeling of personal responsibility. “I will pray for the hungry, the homeless… and God will care for them.”

If one believes that his or her ‘Holy Book’ contains the inerrant word of God, and the moral law(s) for all time, then all debate over moral issues is dead.

If one believes that his or her ‘Holy Book’ contains the inerrant word of God, he or she might be persuaded to strap on a vest full of explosives, walk into a crowd of innocent people and blow one’s self up.

If one believes that his or her ‘Holy Book’ contains the inerrant word of God, he or she might feel compelled to bomb an abortion clinic, or to suggest ‘taking out’ the leader of a foreign country.

Belief in a God and/or an ancient book, is a belief based on ignorance. Knowledge of the 21st century that explains where those Gods and Goddesses and those ancient book came from, and renders such belief systems impotent. Facts, evidence, reason and just a little bit of logic must prevail if the human race is to mature beyond it’s current state.

Yes, I know all the arguments about leaving room for the spiritual and the transcendent and not wanting to disturb Granny and her comfort zone… but such ‘right brain (emotional) thinking’ is bringing the world closer and closer to the brink of disaster.

Richard Holloway, Bishop of Edinburgh and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, in his book ‘Godless Morality’ Canongate Books Ltd., 1999, writes, …”it is better to leave God out of the moral debate and find good human reasons for supporting the system or approach we advocate, without having recourse to divinely clinching arguments. We have to offer sensible approaches that will help us to pick our way through the moral maze that confronts us.”

It is time for all religions to become honest… and first of all, honest with themselves.

But then, I could be worng………………………..barry e