Posts
REASON 1
In the second stage of moral development, the individual desires to be considered a good person and so conforms to an external system of rules (example: laws, cultural norms, family values, and religion). An internal moral sense cultivated by indoctrination to external belief systems becomes deeply ingrained in people. At this level of development, moral "feelings" are mistaken for undeniable truths. For many reasons, questioning the validity of religious morals can ignite extreme hostility and defensiveness.
The pitfall of uncritically accepting a moral code learned from one’s culture, such as that offered by religion, is that it may include elements that are truly harmful to others. An individual raised in the environment of Nazi Germany would have the same deep commitment to that moral code as anyone indoctrinated into any external moral code. In the pre-Civil War South, ministers used the Bible to justify the enslavement of other human beings. The Bible and the Koran are currently being used to justify racism and homophobia. The results? Torture, murder, and suicide.
The highest level of moral development requires a critical examination of values using universal litmuses like harm done, fairness, and empathy. Without a rational, compassionate evaluation of every aspect of one’s moral code, the potential for harm is great. Religion is a barrier to advanced moral development.
REASON 2
Religion inhibits intellectual development. The touchstone for intellectual growth is changing positions when disputing evidence for a pre-existing belief outweighs supporting evidence for said belief. Most of the dominant religions require accepting the legitimacy of their doctrines not on evidence, but on faith. Faith is often considered an admirable quality. However, faith and gullibility seem to be two sides of the same coin. Webster's defines faith as, "(a)firm belief in something for which there is no proof." Gullible means, "easily persuaded to believe something." So, aren't faith and gullibility inseparable? In other words, wouldn't it require gullibility to firmly believe something without proof?
Believing without evidence is a slippery slope. If I choose to accept one supernatural manifestation on faith, am I not then susceptible to believing any absurdity? Talking snakes, invisible deities, angels, pixies, leprechauns, and unicorns are all supported by faith and disputed by reason. How does one justify belief in a god, but not in a pixie, or in some other god? Disregarding evidence in favor of faith-based beliefs perpetuates ignorance. Religion is a barrier to advanced intellectual development.
REASON 3
Religion obstructs social development. In a modern global community, appreciation for the benefits of cultural diversity is paramount. Of the six Americans who won Nobel Prizes for Science in 2016, all were immigrants. By nature, religions are exclusionary. They create an "us and them" mentality wherein the "us" are good and the "them," not as good. This kind of social identity has been at the root of every war since the dawn of time.
Prepackaged, religious beliefs rob people of the opportunity to create personal meaning and to truly define a unique understanding of self separate from cultural definitions. The number one regret of terminally ill patients is that they conformed to the values of others rather than living lives true to themselves. Religion is an impediment to social development.
REASON 4
Religion is a barrier to emotional development. Emotional maturity results from coming to terms with difficult, often frightening, realities. Failure to take responsibility for one's actions is one aspect of emotional immaturity. Children tend to blame others or make excuses for mistakes. Mature adults take responsibility, attempt to make reparations, and try to learn from mistakes. While Christianity holds the individual accountable to a degree, it also provides an easy loophole. Per Christian doctrine, serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was absolved of responsibility for his actions before his death because he sincerely asked for God's forgiveness.
Another element of Christianity inconsistent with taking responsibility is the concept of Satan. Satan is ultimately responsible for all evil in the world and God is ultimately responsible for all good.
By encouraging belief in a fantasy afterlife, religion inhibits adults from maturely coming to terms with mortality. Developing the emotional maturity to deal with the realities of death, unanswered questions, and all of the other uncertainties of human life without resorting to magical and superstitious fantasies requires courage and unyielding integrity. One must be committed to all truths regardless of how scary or difficult. Religion impedes emotional development.
Given that religion is an obstacle to nearly every domain of human development, I consider it a social ill. It is clear to me that outcomes such as charity, love, kindness, and peace have been mistakenly associated with religion. Historically, the opposite outcomes of greed, hate, cruelty, and conflict have just as often been the fruits of religion. Benevolent outcomes result from empathy, a quality independent of religion. If I value the Greek ideal of the fully developed person, I can not also value a system that prohibits human development. 
Almost all religions operate by false promises of a paradise and empty threats of a hell. If they had even one fact to present they wouldn't need myths and threats.
ReplyDeleteTrue that!
DeleteFaith and gullibility are less "two sides of the same coin" than they are very nearly an identity set, as both represent belief without any substantial corroboration.
ReplyDeleteOne quality I've noted that some more extreme religions wish to mute is curiosity. This is because when people look at religious belief systems versus the real world, flaws and inconsistencies in religion are bound to turn up. Investigating such anomalies has the potential to be fatal to one's belief in that system. The question then becomes: which is more important to the investigator: reality or belief? One thing you did not mention in your lessons learned is the need for belief to correlate to reality if consistent success in interacting with reality can be expected. At some point or other, flawed religious belief will come up against this fact as well, and it will have no workable rebuttal to it, other than to blindly assert that it is right and reality is somehow wrong.
To be anti-religion is to be pro-reality.
Well said. Excellent points!
DeleteI have always been pro reality ever since the age of 7. My father use to say I was the only 40 year old 7 year old he ever knew. I never stopped asking why and how and what for and how do you know that. I eventually gave up on faith all together by the time I was 13. I was the biggest pain in the ass to my family and every one else I knew. They would say you are to analytical, You will make your self crazy. In college I would ask questions no one seemed to know the answers to. My professors would say You will have to find the answer to that one yourself. No body knows how that works, or why it is that way. In my studies I have discovered much of how the world works and why it works that way. I am 71 and still learning. I love science because it is truely the never ending story the Emperor was looking for.
ReplyDeleteHear hear!!
DeleteAre we so ignorant and foolish to blame the Gods of other religions? Are they not one and the same? All religions are meant to promote love for God but never hatred towards others. No religion is great or to be blamed for reasons which are absolutely human.guarantor
ReplyDeleteLet me say, I believe she has a right to choose whatever religion she wants to choose, and she can believe however, she wants to believe. That's not what bothered me, and yes, the interview did bother me.
ReplyDeleteclick here
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis article is amazing. I was taught to be religious. I never could understand a God that can love and hate. Love you if you're good. Send you to a place called hell" hate"if you're so called bad. My eyes have been opened. Thank you kindly! Nat W.
ReplyDelete