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Suppose that, through some incredible quirk in humankind's multi-million-year history, religion had never been invented until you did so in your basement one night. Suppose humans had, from the very earliest days, approached existence with a sense of reason and logic, with no hint of supernaturalism or
superstition--that humans had always accepted things on the basis of intellectual inquiry and empirical evidence.
Now you show up with your new religion and try to market it. Can you imagine the trouble you'd have?
Q: What good does this new "religion" stuff do?
A: Well, when you believe in it, it makes you feel really good, because it tells you you're not going to die.
Q: But everyone dies. That's an observed fact.
A: Yes, but the spirit can live on.
Q: What's a "spirit" and how does it survive death?
A: A spirit is a life force within each of us; an essence of our being. And it survives by transcending this material plane.
Q: Pardon us, but that sounds like gibberish. How do we observe and measure these spirits?
A: You can't.
Q: Then how do you know they exist?
A: I just know. I have faith. God told me.
Q: And who is this "God" character?
A: He's the greatest spirit of all. He's the father-spirit.
Q: And this God talks to you?
A: He talks to all who listen.
Q: And why haven't we heard of him before? Where has he been all these millions of years?
A: A thousand years is like a day to God.
Q: What the hell's that supposed to mean?
A: God transcends time.
Q: Okay, okay. What are the side effects of this religion stuff?
A: Well, you have to surrender your logic, reason and intellect, but it makes you feel very, very good.
Q: So it's like a self-induced, mentally-performed lobotomy, right? Well, we already have Thorazine, I don't see how religion could improve on--
A: It's more like a spiritual cleansing than a lobotomy.
Q: Our minds are already clean.
A: You only… think… they are.
Q: Okay, okay. Go on with the side effects.
A: Well, religion will cause all manner of wars and other outrages. Millions of people will die in the name of religion, and millions will be tortured and maimed.
Q: All for spiritual cleansing?
A: For salvation.
Q: You propose to kill people in order to save them?
A: If need be, yes.
Q: Doesn't that sound a little dichotomous to you?
A: God works in mysterious ways.
Q: Go on. The rest of the side effects.
A: Religion will cause people to put up with incredible injustice, because they will believe that such suffering now will lead to salvation when they die.
Q: Well slap the donkey and paint me red!
A: Yes, and people will abuse their children physically, emotionally and intellectually in the name of religion, hoping that their children will feel as good about it as they do.
Q: Okay, stop. Enough already. I think we get the picture. We'll get back to you. Meanwhile, keep this religion stuff under your hat, okay?
The only reason we tolerate religion today is because it has a long, long history and is therefore institutionalized in our society. Religion came long before logic based on scientific reality, reason based on scientific reality, and the enlightenment, and that's why there are so many churches out
there.
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