Post by Zadkiel on Jan 14, 2016 16:04:58 GMT
Before we start doing that, we need to define what religious myths really are. Normally, they start out as a belief that something supernatural has taken place. Eventually, the notion gains momentum until it takes on a life of its own as an indisputable truth to its believers, while coming across as a ridiculous concept to most others.
When trying to bust such myths, it's important to first peel off the layers of religious coating that cover them, then try to define their origin and finally provide a more plausible explanation to what really could have happened.
We find this phenomenon in most religions. Islam professes that Muhammad flew into heaven on a winged horse, while Christianity teaches that Jesus rose from the dead. Some modern day suicide bombers think that they end up in paradise with 72 virgins.
That brings me onto the saddest thing about religious myths. If they are taken literally, they can actually pose excuses for triggering serious disagreements between their adherents and opponents. A literal belief in religious myths combined with a pronounced intolerance for people that don't share such views have contributed to the conflicts between Sikhs and Hindus in India; and between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, just to mention two of the most prominent ones.
So, what has happened to all the ideas about peace, love and forgiveness that can be found written on old parchments and papyruses? Why have the religions allegedly forgotten their founding fathers' urge to be kind and tolerant to other people, no matter what they believe in? The answer may seem complex, but it actually boils down to this: Religious literalism, fundamentalism and extremism have no heart for human well-being. Such militant attitudes are fueled by hate and an arrogant attitude of superiority that degrades everybody else to an inferior level, quite contrary to what one should expect from people that call themselves "religious". Fact is that such individuals have twisted their forefathers' faith out of proportions and redefined it according to their own principles, which don't care if a trail of human misery is left in their wake.
Therefore, it's important to combat such forces by all means, also when it comes to picking apart the foundation for the myths that they base their destructive militantism on. If we can remove the supernatural element and replace it with something tangible, the myths will have lost their ability to attract more brainwashed youths. This could ultimately be a peaceful weapon in the fight against radicalisation and religious terrorism.
I don't believe in virgin births, sacred cows, flying horses or heavenly rivers full of honey any more than the tooth fairy and the idea that thunder is caused by Thor's hammer. Neither does hugging or singing to trees make leaves greener, in my opinion.
How much longer do we want to let such thousand years old myths govern our lives, not to mention all the gruesome, bloody, merciless and horrifying atrocities that have been committed in their name. A visitor from outer space would have dislocated his jaws from laughing uncontrollably at such utter ridiculousness as the one that humanity has been using to destroy itself.
What are we left with when we have disproved religious myths, then? A few good stories to explain how they came about and became literalised, but more important: A philosophy of generosity, plus the rediscovery of tolerance, forgiveness and humility, which should make us better people and encourage us to stop killing each other over what comes across as sheer stupidity in the eyes of a neutral and objective beholder.
When trying to bust such myths, it's important to first peel off the layers of religious coating that cover them, then try to define their origin and finally provide a more plausible explanation to what really could have happened.
We find this phenomenon in most religions. Islam professes that Muhammad flew into heaven on a winged horse, while Christianity teaches that Jesus rose from the dead. Some modern day suicide bombers think that they end up in paradise with 72 virgins.
That brings me onto the saddest thing about religious myths. If they are taken literally, they can actually pose excuses for triggering serious disagreements between their adherents and opponents. A literal belief in religious myths combined with a pronounced intolerance for people that don't share such views have contributed to the conflicts between Sikhs and Hindus in India; and between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, just to mention two of the most prominent ones.
So, what has happened to all the ideas about peace, love and forgiveness that can be found written on old parchments and papyruses? Why have the religions allegedly forgotten their founding fathers' urge to be kind and tolerant to other people, no matter what they believe in? The answer may seem complex, but it actually boils down to this: Religious literalism, fundamentalism and extremism have no heart for human well-being. Such militant attitudes are fueled by hate and an arrogant attitude of superiority that degrades everybody else to an inferior level, quite contrary to what one should expect from people that call themselves "religious". Fact is that such individuals have twisted their forefathers' faith out of proportions and redefined it according to their own principles, which don't care if a trail of human misery is left in their wake.
Therefore, it's important to combat such forces by all means, also when it comes to picking apart the foundation for the myths that they base their destructive militantism on. If we can remove the supernatural element and replace it with something tangible, the myths will have lost their ability to attract more brainwashed youths. This could ultimately be a peaceful weapon in the fight against radicalisation and religious terrorism.
I don't believe in virgin births, sacred cows, flying horses or heavenly rivers full of honey any more than the tooth fairy and the idea that thunder is caused by Thor's hammer. Neither does hugging or singing to trees make leaves greener, in my opinion.
How much longer do we want to let such thousand years old myths govern our lives, not to mention all the gruesome, bloody, merciless and horrifying atrocities that have been committed in their name. A visitor from outer space would have dislocated his jaws from laughing uncontrollably at such utter ridiculousness as the one that humanity has been using to destroy itself.
What are we left with when we have disproved religious myths, then? A few good stories to explain how they came about and became literalised, but more important: A philosophy of generosity, plus the rediscovery of tolerance, forgiveness and humility, which should make us better people and encourage us to stop killing each other over what comes across as sheer stupidity in the eyes of a neutral and objective beholder.
