A rant

I have been following with some interest, the latest exchanges between the Atheists and the Theists, as argued by Richard Dawkins on the one side, and virtually everyone else on the other. Being of a similar mind to Dawkins, I have made myself take a look at the arguments put forward by some of his opponents, and, trying to be as open minded as it is possible to be, I have made an attempt to find an argument that is as convincing as his.

Yesterday I read an extract (and I know that it is not the whole book!) from an offering by John Humphries, whose intellect I also admire. One of the questions that he addresses, is Dawkin assertion that Religion is dangerous, and although he tends to agree that the "Mad Mullahs" that gather extremist Muslims around them, are a serious threat to world peace, in general, he finds himself at odds with the general idea. Now it is easy when putting together any argument, to put to one side, the facts that run counter you your own interpretation of events. We all do it, and to ignore the atrocities, conducted throughout history, and still going on, in the name of God, Allah, or whatever you like to call him/it.

He makes no mention of religious wars, the Spanish Inquisition, the Salem Witch trials, the torture and murders of Catholics by Protestants and vice versa. He ignores the years of conflict in Northern Ireland and the genocide of the Balkans.

Whether or not, there is a God, and as yet no-one has provided me with any supportive evidence for that assertion, organised religions, however benign they may appear, by definition are divisive, closed books, clubs to which only believers are entitled to membership. As such, their existence must lead to conflicts of interests and that is a danger.

It is time that the world grew up and began to look for solutions to the very real problems that we face today. We need to look at ourselves and at the fragile Earth upon which we live. The solutions are here, and it is for human beings to find them. Hoping for the intervention of a divinity is pointless and counterproductive. We are on our own and need to stop believing in fairy tales.

By all means, look at the night sky, or listen to music and wonder. But just because we don't understand something does not mean that supernatural forces are behind it.

Humphries says that people need a faith. Why? There are plenty of us who don't. Maybe it is time that the closed minded, entrenched religious zealots, were put in their place and asked for some real evidence to back up their assertions. A holy book is simply a book, and books can very easily mislead. Throw them away and let people think for themselves for the first time in human history.