Have you heard about the latest controversial article by CNN? No, I am not suggesting all of their articles are controversial but this one really got my blood boiling. CNN has reported a study that says if you are liberal, atheist, or a sexual exclusive man, you smarter than the rest of society. This is absurd! While I am somewhere between an agnostic and Richard Dawkin’s definition of a Deist, I consider myself to be quite conservative. While I do not consider myself to be smart, I do think I am smarter than the average bear – I mean human. I devote WAY too much time to my studies and have to consistently turn down my friends’ offers for lunch, dinner, drinks, etc. I even turned down tickets to a Lakers/Celtics game! I would not put this time in if I did not think it was going to get me somewhere in life, and make me more intelligent. But does it not matter how much I learn, or how hard I study, I can never be smarter than a liberal, right? Although I may not be a religious individual, that does not mean that I am smarter than those who are Christian, Muslim, Bhuddist, etc. etc. In fact, one of the smartest individuals I know is a devout Christian.
These claims, however scientifically proven, seems fishy to me. How were people tested? What are these correlations based on? Would this have been published on CNN if the results were different? Most research is conducted at universities which tend to be liberal, does that have any effect on this study?
Personally I think it is hogwash. I have met some pretty hard-nosed, close minded, liberals in my day. They think they are smart but they really are not. I too, have met many stupid conservatives. The same thing can be said for both sides of the religious spectrum with regards to this article as well. I really believe that this study is just generalizing. There are smart and stupid people in every categorical division anyone can make. Smarts really comes down to the individual, not the majority. There are things that can be generalized but intelligence is, in itself, a very personal thing. For anyone to generalize to this extent probably has an axe to grind, and that is exactly what I expect.
I hope none of my readers will actually read into this study and come away thinking they have undeniable truth. I also wonder how many days until I am in a debate with a liberal, or an atheist, and they will try to throw this “study” in my face as proof that their argument is correct.
This semester I will be spending a lot of time with historical works on both sides of the spectrum regarding religion and science. I am taking a Senior Research Seminar on the crusades as well as taking a course on History of Science. Recently, I got some time to thumb through a book that I did not get to finish over the summer in The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. As I was thumbing through the work, a block of text seemed to jump out at me. The quote was from the great Thomas Jefferson. He was quoted as saying “A professorship of theology should have no place in our institution.”1 My topic today is related to this very quote. Should theology be taught in public schools?
On one hand, you have those who say that people should ban theological studies. Children would not be required to say “under God” during the Pledge of Allegiance. Furthermore they wouldn’t be required to have a class on Christianity, or the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, or even Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullāh for that matter. I do not think it is the right of a Government body to tell a student, you must learn this, and not that. However, I don’t think it is right for a public institution to force a child to learn their laws and rules if that child believes in science.
You also have to flip the coin on this question. What about a pious child learning evolution? How about a pious child learning about the Big Bang Theory? These are also interesting questions, because if a child is a believer of some religion, then should they be force fed facts about human evolution? Indeed it should. Unfortunately for them, I think the answer to this question is not laid in society’s ideals of what is right or wrong, rather than the U.S. Constitution.
This debate comes down to the question of the separation of church and state. Schools, at least public ones, are run by the local government. For example, high schools in the city of Los Angeles are run by the LAUSD, or the Los Angeles Unified School District. This nation is one that recognizes the separation of church and state. No where in the United States Constitution does it say that the citizens of the U.S. should subscribe to any particular religion. In fact, the first amendment states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; …” By teaching the laws or rules of any particular religion would violate the Bill of Rights. In my opinion, it could be good to learn some of the rules and laws of any religion. There are good things to be had within those respective documents. However it is also wrong to make a “non-believer” to learn of it too. At least modern science has many of its discoveries rooted in facts.
If a child wants to go and learn about Christianity, Islam, Bhuddism, Hinduism, or any other religion then can take a particular course at a specific institution. Many people do this in colleges today. There should be no class at the public level of education (high school or middle school) that would allow for these to be taught. There are certain historical times where a basic portion of religion must be taught to have a proper understanding of the times. The crusades and the Salem Witch Trials would be one time where it would be acceptable to squeak in some religion. However, it would be for an understanding, not a chance to preach the lives and teaching of some prophet.
Ultimately Jefferson was correct, as it would infringe on the rights of man.
Notes
1. Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion (New York: First Mariner Press, 2008), 100.
Conservatism and Religion
Posted Wednesday August 26, 2009
at 11:39pm in Politics, Religion
Why is it that most conservatives believe, or demand, that one obtains their views and morals from Christianity? If one has similar conservatives beliefs toward the nation, but is Muslim, Deist, or even Atheist, why are they not considered true conservatives? They should be, but to the average conservative they are not. Just because I don’t need a higher power to tell me that I shouldn’t kill a fellow citizen, doesn’t mean that I don’t believe that I shouldn’t. I still have that very same moral, it just did not come from some theological teaching. The only difference is how the moral was obtained. One probably got it from a Sunday School session and I got it from my parent simply saying it is unlawful. It is not because some creator demands it of me, but because I don’t want to be cell mates with “Big Bubba.” The law is good enough for me. I see the country benefiting the most from a conservative perspective on most things. Shouldn’t that be enough? An example can be seen in the abortion debate.
Christian conservatives like to say that Abortion is murder. To destroy a three week old specimen inside the womb is against the will of God. Not only is it inhumane but you are killing a little person, which is against GOD’s law. How can I have the same belief? It’s simple. But I must be a follower of GOD right? Not necessarily. However, I still believe that abortions are wrong. I feel that killing a person who does not have a chance at life is just morally wrong. God did not tell me that. It is just what I believe – that EVERYONE should have a chance at living. It is not the fault of the unborn because their mother did not make a smart choice. Now just to clarify, I don’t believe abortion should be 100% illegal. I do feel that if the mother’s health is at risk then it is up to her, to choose. I just feel that a woman should not just terminate the baby because she isn’t ready for having a little one. She should have been smarter and not have the relations which led to the inception of a child.
The point is, that one can have morals without being a bible thumping religious maniac. All it is about is being a humanist, and seeing the conservative direction for your country.
If conservatives believe so much in the Government having as little control over the U.S. institutions as possible, why is it that they must replace Government with religion? Religion can be just as corrupt and controlling as the Government! If what conservatives want is the freedom from the controls of others telling them what to do, when you can do something, and what to believe, then shouldn’t they also want freedom from the control of religion if they choose? It does indeed seem slightly hypocritical. Not to say that one could not have their own religious beliefs but does it really matter if we say “one nation under God” during the Pledge of Allegiance for example? Of course as long as the one is still willing to pledge their allegiance to the U.S.? Personally, I do not think so. I truly believe that one does not have to be religious, or even spiritual and can still be conservative. It might even be a more pure view of conservatism. That is where the traditional conservatives such as Mark Levin are wrong.1
Endnotes:
1. Mark Levin wrote in his 2009 work, Liberty and Tyranny: A conservative manifesto, that being religious is a critical asset for a conservative, and without it one can not be a true conservative. He actually wrote a whole chapter on this as one of his ten points for a conservative manifesto. Mark R. Levin, Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto (New York: Threshold Editions, 2009), 24-35.
I came across an interesting piece of news last night. The Church of Scientology was banned from making edits to Wikipedia. Apparently they were being bias when editing article in an attempt to push their agenda down other peoples’ throats. This unfortunatley will not be the end to scientology as it is only an interesting little factoid. Although I can be labled as one who is skeptic of religion, I still have respect for the belief systems of the world. The only exception is to scientology as it is clearly fake. I really do not understand how people can believe such odd things. Anyway, I picked this story up off of a blog that I read called Unreasonable Faith written by Daniel Florian. Take a look at the post he wrote about it, as well as the links to the article which he provides here. I just basically wanted to spread the word that at least something is being done to combat the oddness that is Scientology. What ever happened to Anonymous anyway?
Religion and I
Posted Friday April 10, 2009
at 6:30am in Religion
So today I want to talk about a certain item. In doing so, I will actually be violating two of my personal rules. I try hard to avoid talking on religion and items that relate personally to me. I have made exceptions to the latter rule when dealing with examples because many times that is where I get my ideas from. But today, I want to share a bit of my personal life with the world. I also want to share a task I am considering undertaking. First, the background story, or as I said, the personal items I wish to share.
I am in my twenties and have grown up in a home that is for liberal when it comes to religion. I was never forced to follow a certain religion, heck I actually can remember when I asked my parents about what religion they followed. I want to say it was when I was around seven years old. That is a bit late to start talking about religion. I have had no formal education on religion, other than the bits that sneak its way into school and politics. Since I first learned about religion I have searched high and low for an “ism” to join. I never really was able to. I have been skeptical towards all religions. At first in high school I was labeled a “devil worshiper” because I didn’t believe in the majority of the Christian faith. Because of the cruelty of adolescents I tried hard to educate and push myself to a Christian belief. Some even used the words that I had finally found God. That wasn’t the case. I ended up taking bits and pieces of multiple religions and molding my own belief system. It is complicated and possibly at time circumstantial. It probably is even hypocritical at times on a deeper level than I understand. But as I enter into the later stages of my early twenties I find myself being more and more of what I want to call a realist. I really am beginning to see the world in an entirely new light where I feel that realistic solutions apply to all matters. That is at least the best way I can describe it in a general way. This realism has resulted from my major, history, where I have to analyze how a person’s decision made a chain reaction to how a historical even happened and other matters like that. Because of this I feel I am pushing myself more and more to atheism. That is the “outlaw” ism that I am sort of afraid to become a part of. Before I get to that however, I want to go back to the mixed religion belief that I have come to call Nontheism.
Now for my “nontheistic” belief system it largely stems to a protestant Christian belief. I have always been skeptical of religions, even at a young age. But where the creationism entered into the equation of my beliefs is when the question of how the universe was created. I never understood the big bang. There is a famous person who said something similar to the following: how can something come from nothing? I can’t recall who said that, and I am sure many have in relation to the debate of creationism vs. evolution. I can understand how science has a lot of the answers about life and the universe that surrounds us. But as the first law of thermodynamics states: “Energy can be transformed (changed from one form to another), but it can neither be created nor destroyed.” So matter can not be spontaneously created from nothing. That is where the big bang does not fit. It says at one time there was nothing and then an explosion that created the universe we know. That doesn’t make sense to me. So that is the basis of how creationism, and thus a God or overseer of some kind could exist in my current belief system. Basically some thing, or some one, has to have created the matter that makes up the world. All the galaxies, stars, life on Earth couldn’t have come from a random explosion in the middle of nothing.
Even more than the questions proposed in the previous paragraph my belief of a God was unique. To me God was not a superior being who demands all to worship him/her. If we were made in his likeness, as the Bible says, then why would he give us freewill? Why would he allow for multiple religions to emerge instead of just clarifying the proper religion? Also if we were made in his likeness and if he loves us all then maybe the meaning or purpose of life was to just enjoy this one. Since he loves us all, again as the teaching of Jesus has given us, then there wouldn’t be a hell and even if there was one he wouldn’t make it this grim place where people are tortured like Dante Alighieri’s Inferno suggests. If there is a hell, it would be a place just like Heaven but you wouldn’t be able to be with the one we all refer to as God. How could people who were loving and helping of other humans but didn’t believe in the proper religion be sentenced to an eternity of suffering and torture? That never has and still doesn’t equate in my brain. I also believed in some form of Karma. Actually I still do. The universe has a way of somehow paying you back for your bad deeds. Whether that is God, religion, or just the way the world works, I believe in it. So on a quick general level, that is what I believed in. Not a demanding God but rather one who is non-vengeful, kind, and accepting of all the people who inherit the Earth. As long as you were a good person at heart, and had good intentions you were on the good side of God. Now back to the “crisis” as I call it.
For over twenty years I have had to explain myself to others. Most of the time I would rather just back out of the whole discussion based on their puzzled faces. I was afraid of the criticisms from mainly Christians, and yes out of anyone they would give me the most conflict with my views, in fact all of them were Christian. Some even said that I would go to hell for my beliefs although the basis comes from a protestant belief. I am utterly sick of having to do this and be put under a constant religious microscope to be ridiculed by others. That is probably why I don’t like those who try and shove their belief system down others throats. Here I am just trying to share my feelings, I don’t care if anyone converts to my beliefs, in fact I don’t want that to happen. This post is rather me trying to figure out a big hole that is in the makeup of Shane. I have always felt like an outcast because of my views and I have been on this spiritual journey of trying to find a home for my beliefs but none really exists. As this realism factor continues to grow, new questions have arose and it may be pushing me to Atheism. If that is the case, I will be the biggest outcast ever for people seem to be afraid of Atheists as if we are going to try and destroy the world. What is some of the content that has pushed me to a near atheist belief? I’ll tell you.
One night when I was pondering the meaning of life and the world and the existence of man this question creeped into my thoughts. If there is a God and he is all knowing and all mighty then why has he created humans with so many mistakes? He has created us in his likeness, so if we have mistakes then God himself is flawed and thus this whole idea of religion is flawed. What mistakes has he made with humans? Well some are serious and some are silly. A silly one might be the belly button. Why do humans have belly buttons? We certainly don’t need a hole in our stomach that has a seemingly main purpose of just catching lint and getting dirty. A more serious mistake would have to do with human personality. Why would God give us emotion? That is the biggest mistake of all. Emotion gives us so many problems. They make us stress situations, and worry about others. It impairs our reasoning sometimes to fatal capabilities. Without emotion the world would be safer and a more well oiled machine (design). Without emotion the world would be bland but someone who is getting divorced may not go and shoot up an office, or blow his/her brains out. So if God has made mistakes then why should humanity worship someone who is weak? That makes humans weaker than they already are. So what if my idea about God being nice and accepting is wrong? What if he is vengeful and selfish? What if he wants me praying glory to him night and day? That sounds absurd and I don’t know if I would even want to share a space in Heaven with a being that is so pompous and egotistical. I have never gotten along with those types of humans so far in my life why would I want to share eternity with one. Thoughts like these and much of the scientific proof that validates evolution is pushing me to Atheism.
Recently my “spiritual journey” has taken me on an interesting road. The road that is called youtube. I stumbled upon a user by the name of TheAmazingAtheist. I happened to watch a video not looking for any help , or enlightenment. But as many youtube vids do, one leads to another, which leads to another, which leads to another. After a while it will lead to another user, and then you begin to watch their videos. Eventually you look at the clock and have been watching debate videos about Creationism and Atheism until five in the morning. The Atheist youtubers did their job. They got me thinking. Their arguments were good and their points had merit. Of course some users were mean, angry, and I did not continue to watch their videos. However the point is I still am not ready to accept Atheism after 20+ years of believing in Nontheism. Then there was one video that stuck out. The user by the name of frisbeesANDflipflops, was once a Christian. She converted to Atheism after copious amounts of research. She actually produced a video that talks about the books she read during her search for her religious identity – or lack thereof. I suppose that is what I really need to do. Not that I haven’t to some extent before but the keyword was copious. I have recently purchased a few texts to do just that. Hopefully by the end of a summer filled with reading I can understand where I fall in the religious spectrum.
So what is the purpose of this post? Well it is part me getting my feelings and thoughts down. I know I may face horrible criticism for this. So be it. As I said earlier I was once labeled a “devil worshiper” for my lack of a Christian Faith. That clearly wasn’t and isn’t the case, and I got past it. Whatever would be flung at me due to this post, I too can get past it. Another part is to form a direction and to see what other people have to say. Comments from people of all kinds of backgrounds and belief systems could really help me to see where I stand. Maybe my belief system does have a home and I just don’t know it. Also suggestions from the same people would be nice. Maybe I should do more or take a different approach. Really this all comes down to guidance from friends and from those surfing the internet. To me this is such a crisis because I just don’t know what to believe anymore. One day I feel like an Atheist and the next day I believe in a form of a multitude of religions. It is time for this journey to pick up the pace and for the crisis to end.
