Recently I’ve been asked by several people the following question:
“Why can’t you just have your opinion and leave it at that? Why do you need to be so vocal and public about it?”
Okay that’s two questions, noted.
So why is it important? I’ve had a long time to think about that. It has been a point of deep contention for a long time and I’ve had to really examine my motivations on this. In all the time I’ve spent thinking about it I’m not sure I really know the answer but here’s what I’ve come up with so far. It’s layered…
Firstly, It’s a HUGE part of who I am, my world view and my self-identity. I don’t know very many people (one) in my local sphere who see’s things even close to the way I do. Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE else are strong, active members of their church. This blog is a way to engage in conversation on this topic with a broader base of people. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not affirmation that I’m after. I’m not here seeking out like-minds, specifically. I welcome the counter points but I don’t necessarily want them from people I have to live with, and work with, everyday. It can make things… tense. So I want to share my thoughts here and seek feedback and discussion and constructive debate. I know that it would make some people more comfortable if I wouldn’t but I won’t censor who I am anymore, for anyone. Trying to only makes things much, much worse. I know. I tried. So that’s a personal reason to write, but what about all the other outspoken anti-dogmatists? If I had a strong vibrant local community to share these ideas with would I stop writing? No.
Which brings me to layer number 2. It’s an important thing to talk about. I think there are very real threats to not only our quality of life but our very survival embedded in dogmatic faith. I’m not just talking about terrorism, and violent “extremists.” Climate change, stem cell research, women’s heath, women’s empowerment, true charity (not church expansions), good education – these are all topics that have very real, very urgent consequences. They are also topics where dogmatic, faith-based assertions and prophets (religious or secular) distort the discussion and hinder, even retard, progress. How can we hope to develop the next generation of biologists who might find the cure for cancer if the majority of science teachers don’t agree with, or avoid teaching the foundational theory of evolution? (1) How can we affect the drastic social changes we need to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change if the end of the world is something most Americans look forward to with words like “rapture”?(2)
Let me take a quick moment here to indulge a small amount of disgruntlement. I find it a little insulting that I am asked to justify why I should speak out against religion. How do Christian’s justify sharing their “good news”? It’s something that makes them happy and they want to share it. (Same for me, folks!) Christians think that there is nothing wrong with proselytizing, in part because they see it as a service to the individuals they are witnessing to and frankly to all of humanity. Again, I feel the same way BUT I don’t knock on anyone’s door. I don’t street preach. I just make my disorganized thoughts available for the poor saps unlucky enough to stumble across them here.
Thirdly, I think that there many people who are like I was for a long time - experiencing cognitive dissonance and all the self-doubt and self-loathing that comes with it. Worse, there are those who are fully conscious that they don’t believe but feel trapped in their religious closet by social, family, and political pressures. I hope that when more people speak out about their disbelief, the more these people will feel comfortable being open about what they really think and feel and the less they will have to live with that internal contradiction.
Finally, I think the truth should be explored, as Bertrand Russell said, with vigor. I think that this requires us to be fearless and dedicated to free inquiry. I think that religion turns off more minds then it turns on. I think that you, whoever you are, whatever you believe, would agree that knowing the truth is more important than believing a falsehood, even if that falsehood can be comforting sometimes. You eventually tell your kids that Santa isn’t real, why? It’s because it’s the truth. It’s because they shouldn’t grow up thinking that they can ask Santa (pray?) for something and count on their good manners earning it for them. If you find this comparison insulting to your faith it isn’t meant to be. It’s just meant to make the point that knowing the truth is important.
You may not think that I have the truth, but you shouldn’t question my desire to explore it, openly and publicly or my desire to encourage those that are interested in doing the same.
references:
Here are some youtube folks saying why THEY are outspoken, I agree with almost don't agree with everything here but some of it makes this point much better than I can…
***WARNING – SOME VIDS MAY CONTAIN SO CALLED “BAD WORDS”***
Laci Green. Ex-Mormon, smart cookie and sex-educator. (Warning - small bit of language)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXcrpmYOOeU
FSAthe1st - not one of my favorites but this video makes the point well (warning - f-bomb right in the beginning)
FSAthe1st - not one of my favorites but this video makes the point well (warning - f-bomb right in the beginning)
Bionicdance: Makes some interesting points if you can get past the voice (warning - language)
These are longer:
Two by Sam Harris, the first is the first of a series of five that shows the whole of the talk I posted an excerpt of on my FB page. The second is not really to the point of this post but an interesting introduction to the foundation of his new book.
Richard Dawkins on militant atheism, I would like it a lot more if there was less ridicule. The points are still sound.
A little about my motivation: These are not even extremists. Fundamentalist, yes but not extremists.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_CfqqzFndk
