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If you want reason, you won't find it in religion
This weekend, Jon Stewart is holding "a rally to restore sanity" on the mall, two months after Glenn Beck's religion-infused "Restoring Honor" rally. Beck said he was called by God to hold the rally. Now atheist groups are planning to use Stewart's event to promote "reason." Are "reason" and "sanity" the opposite of religious belief? Is taking religion out of the political debate the answer for restoring reason? Or do we need more faith?
Let's be clear about Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's rally: It's not anti-Glenn Beck and it's certainly not anti-religion, even though some people (who don't seem to care what Stewart himself has said on the matter) continue to spread those rumors:
Jon Stewart: This is -- it is --Larry King: Anti-Glenn Beck rally?
Stewart: It is not the Anti-Glenn Beck rally. It's a very similar -- what we are doing is we are using the rally format to do the same thing we do with our shows. The message will be a very similar-type idea.
It's just using the rally through a satirical format. Like the book is like our show in book form. We're going to also develop our show in capsule form. In powder form. Maybe a drink form the astronauts can use up in the space shuttle.
It's not -- you know, everybody should just wait and see what it is, make their own decisions.
Yes, the Washington D.C. Coalition of Reason is taking advantage of the rally to promote a cause by putting up advertisements on bus shelters, but I don't see anything wrong with that. (Full disclosure: I was the spokesperson for the Chicago Coalition of Reason.) I think any organization with the potential to do so would gladly jump on the bandwagon of a popular event to promote their views -- including religious groups. (Remember Focus on the Family's Super Bowl commercial?)
But let's get to the important questions:
Are "reason" and "sanity" the opposite of religious belief?
Not completely. There are religious people in just about every field imaginable -- including academia and science. It's possible tp be sane -- ridiculously smart, even -- and still believe in fairy tales. Just ask Francis Collins.
Religious belief does not require abandoning all reason. It does, however, require gross distortion of reality -- a bending of the truth. Smart people are better able to rationalize their religious beliefs in ways that sound somewhat plausible.
"Sure, the Bible isn't literally true, but there must be something out there."
"Of course I accept evolution, but surely God guides the process."
"I don't hate gay people. I love them. I just don't want them to have the same rights as me."
Reason and sanity are not the opposites of religious faith. But they certainly don't always go together. As the main character on House, M.D. stated, "Rational arguments don't usually work on religious people. Otherwise there would be no religious people."
Is taking religion out of the political debate the answer for restoring reason?
It would help. The Constitution tells us there should be no religious test for public office. But religious people rarely hesitate in letting people know exactly where God stands with them. I'd love to know of any Evangelical Christian running for office who hasn't mentioned religion in the campaign.
But simply stating your personal religious beliefs should not disqualify you from office. Personally, I like hearing it. If a candidate thinks her religious beliefs are the main reason I should vote her into office, I'm probably casting my vote elsewhere. (Unfortunately, there are times when both candidates act like their faith is a virtue, making it much harder for me to decide where my vote should go.)
Would removing religion from political debate restore sanity? No. Extremists on all sides will always find other things to harp on -- Candidate A supports gay rights! Candidate B opposes the legalization of marijuana! Must. Not. Vote. For. Them.
It's far more dangerous when we live in a society full of single-issue-only voters.
Do we need more faith?
Is that even possible...?
No we don't. There's more than enough faith in our politics already.
As Jon Stewart said on his show, let's take it down a notch, America.
By
Hemant Mehta
|
October 26, 2010; 1:50 PM ET
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Posted by: wayfarer74 | November 3, 2010 9:24 AM
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I would say that religion and reason are not so much incompatible as not addressing the same topic. Religion appeals to the emotional parts of our minds, it fulfills a need that some people have. Reason may fill in the blanks and provide support for this emotional need or it may work against it. It all rather depends on the individual.
I do not think that it is fair to say that religious people are deluded or stupid. Certainly some are but then the same could be said about any group. Rather they are simply addressing an emotional need like a desire for company or a role model. Actually I believe that religion provides for several emotional needs so it is obviously a bit more complicated than I’ve suggested. It only becomes a problem when the emotional needs served by faith override our reason. When our reason cannot be relied upon and we resort to faith for answers we can become trapped in a cycle of dependency. Surely it is better to steer clear of this entirely?
Posted by: hoverFrog | November 2, 2010 9:54 AM
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If you reject objective, empirical evidence, you are deluded.
If you accept "divine revelation" as a source of truth, you are deluded.
It's that simple.
Posted by: phhht | November 1, 2010 4:20 PM
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It is really pretty simple.
Faith by any other name is called mental illness.
Posted by: novabeatnik | November 1, 2010 3:59 PM
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A religious person can be sane and reasonable about everything except for their faith itself. Faith by definition is accepting a premise without evidence. We all do this (even the non-religious) but the danger lies in doing this and not admitting that this is what we are doing. Then it gets really bad when we try to pass laws based on our faith that tried to constrain other people that don't share that faith. The solution is to keep religion out of politics. The founding fathers had it right.
Posted by: JeffP3 | November 1, 2010 3:01 PM
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OYE: WHY DO WE, The People Need To Know About This 'Plot' that did't Kill 1 fly!???
Instead:
Where are the All those "WALL-STREET Robber Barons aka [Economic] Terrorists???? DONATING To YO Campaign?
more B R E A K I N G -- N E Ws (16/17:00 hrs) Another BIG GOV'T LIE!
Excerpt: Desperado & Patsy; DEMOCRAPs of CA. & wannabe U.S. Congress Woman Jane Harriman Covered Up and said,
"A WOMAN 'SUSPECT' being Interrogated lalala ....the cartridge... was packed w/ pentaerythritol tetranitrate or PETN, confirming what Jane Harman, a Democratic ... had told the New York Times newspaper earlier." OYE...!
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/10/2010103017926499781.html
___
Another Gov't Plot With Promises & BRIBERY of a Sovereign Nation [YEMEN Officials, the 4th Poorest Nation on Earth]. Talkin bout Persuasion and PROPAGANDA based on FALSE Conspiracy's (And Planted Real Chemicals) & attempting to Fool "The PEOPLE."
DEATH to the LYING DEMOCRATIC PARTY & their Accomplices!
Maybe it was the Jealous/Desperate Democrats who Caused 911? After what they hath done lately, i[WE] Wouldn't pass that thought up, so Maybe Ishlami's have/had it right. Aye?
VOTE: Hell{NO to bad Apple [DEMOCRAP] OYE...!
B O O M & B U S T!
Where are the All those "WALL-STREET Robber Barons aka [Economic] Terrorists?
__ Point:
NO GOV'T Has Any Business to Inform The Free Walking Public About Any Threat from Any Ishlami's From Within nor Abroad!
The JOB Of The GOVERNMENT is to Fight Them Terrorist Quietly: Just Go After Them. It's NOt like Hitler is invading or China etc..
More People in America Die of Car Accidents + Drug Overdoses Annually Then The total Amount Of Soldiers Died in Vietnam During the Entire Campaign!
Where are the All those "WALL-STREET Robber Barons aka [Economic] Terrorists?
__
YES, WE KNOW, "IF Ye See Something, Then Say Something".
But WE Don't Need To Hear The same ole Crapo, "Terrorist This" Levels That, Osama's Momma etc.!
WE The People Don't Need to Hear about (COULD've). Plus LESS Publicity Is How Yo Eradicate more Terrorism (or inflame it; or implants such thoughts etc..).
STOP THE MEDIA/ANXIETY PROPAGANDA CARD/GAME! The Public Does Not Need To Know! It's All Bulll!
STOP THE MEDIA/ANXIETY PROPAGANDA CARD/GAME! The Public Does Not Need To Know! It's All Bulll!
STOP USING THE MEDIA/ANXIETY PROPAGANDA CARD/GAME!
STOP USING THE MEDIA/ANXIETY PROPAGANDA CARD/GAME! DO Your Fkn-JOBS!
Don't Boast. DO silently! GO! Leave Us Citizens alone already
WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT CREATING JOBS! Not some weak Bombs News
YES, WE KNOW, "IF Ye See Something, Then Say Something".
WE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT CREATING JOBS! Not False Bombs News!!
YES, WE KNOW, "IF Ye See Something, Then Say Something".
Where are the All those "WALL-STREET Robber Barons aka [Economic] Terrorists??? DONATING??
NOt Osama Bin Laden Who's Been dead since Summer 2007!???
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 30, 2010 9:39 PM
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HOW To Catch FRANCE, Israel, England and now U.S. in a B I G -- L I E!
Psychologically spakething; Suddenly ALL Before The Elections:
First it started with a FALSE & phony, concocted 'Bin Laden message [WHO is In Fact DEAD; an they know this; message BUT YOU (voting Suckers) DON'T] now
Pleasa Look at the P A T T E R N [of Lies's] created by Governments & Their MEDIA's.: Oye
Another BIG LIE!
"Cargo plane bomb alert: explosive devices 'designed to harm US synagogues'"
BOMBS Found In Borack Obama's Home Town... la la, but Obama is Not Afraid to gout on the campaign trail.
Found Bombs at or Near Sinagogues, lalala
CIA Head Said, lalala...
Al Qaida; from YEMEN etc.. etc.. etc..
___
Note: Between this Hour & by Monday There will be More BOMB, TERRORISTS stuff Fed to Unsuspecting Voters!
Maybe Prez Obama will be Assassinated by an inside-Job" before Tuesday?
Shame on The U.S. Government & CO!
END the lies lies lies! yet More Lies r aComing ye/Yo ways! (not OUR way).
VOTE: GOOD RIDDANCE! BOY/Gal who Cried WOLFE!
VOTE: NO D-E-M-O-C-R-A-P-S Party!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, EXPOSE THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!..
__
Remember: P-R-O-P-A-
BIN LADEN ids DEAD!
BIN LADEN ids DEAD!
b>BIN LADEN ids DEAD!
BIN LADEN ids DEAD!
America created Him, Now They created othew's Bin Ladens??: O' Shame on DEMOCRACY!
Vote: HELL-NO DEMOCRATS! NO To ENGLAND'S QUEENS & KINGS Yoke!
The BRITISH [r the Biggest Trouble Makers on Earth; Not JU's/Israel, Not MUSLIMS!]
VOTE: BRITISH must GO not Come here! Let Them (Includes Australia & New Zealand) Fight the New Bin Ladens & Extinguish their Lamps!
NO MORE USA!
ENGLAND LAST!
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 30, 2010 12:31 AM
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Ommmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Aummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Amennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.. AND now Sing
EKLAhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhht-i.
.
..
...
............................. ._.
........................ ._.|._.|._.
.................... , .|._.| .. |._.|._
.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |._.|
.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |. . |
.................... | .|. . |. . |. . |. . |
................ ._.| .|. . |. . |. . |. . |
........... | .| .) .\ . . ..^ ..^ ..^ . .|
........... | .| . .| . . . . . . . . . .. |
........... | .| . .| . . . . . . . . . .. |
........... |. | . .| . . . . . . . . . .. |
........... \ .\ . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
............ \ .\ . . . . . . . . . . . ../
............. ). \ . . . . . . . . . . .(
............ /. .. \ . . . . . . . . . . .\
.......... / . . . . \ . . . . . . . . . .. \
.......... . . . . . . \ . . . . . . . . . . .\
.......... . . . . . . . \ .. . . . . . . . . ..\
...
..
.
1) Inhale 'E' (sounds like HE/SHE slightly)
2) Exhale 'KLAH' (use 't' for stop-gap in 'time') pause in a Mini Second, THEN
3) Inhale 'i' (sounds like hhii).
.
PEACE,PAZ,SHALOM,SALAAM,AHIMSA,MIR, ZHINGYU..
.
..... Credit "JJ"
.
http://onwapo.wordpress.com/2010/05/27/w-e-l-c-o-m-e/
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 28, 2010 1:33 PM
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It Appears? That the Middle-East & Nearer East via [NATO] Offensive or Counter was based on a "BIG LIE" (something That Governments Do Well in their bags of "WORD-MERCHANTizing" War Games. And So
NOW, It is Time To END those "Big Lie"s With [OUR] Truth, Not Theirs!
Behold: Even Governments Must get on Their Knees or Spread EAGLE & 'REPENT'? i Say!
O' Evil Nations, Whom Know What They Are Doing, Bow Down to YE/YO Holyi EKLAHt-i, and ask the Miraculous "IT" for 'FORGIVENESS', Ask not for 'SALVATION' alone.
Note: SALVATION is Never ever by the JEW's! Not The iSHLAMi's! Nor The ESAUi's! Nor The >a>XRSTIANi's! Nor via the MORMONi's! Nor The HUNDUi's! Nor The BUDDHAi's! Nor The SEIHKi's & Other {HUMAN} PRE-APOCALYPTARIANi's {unlike Us APOCALYPTARIONi's, aka HUUMATES of} crawling on OUR (not Their) HOLYi S.Pace-S.hip momma/poppa EARTH, aka S.S. GEOiD, S.S. GAiA, S.S. TELLUSng something.
OyeVazemeer! eye givolt! Amazing, NO Grace!
As Predicted & Expected via "iNSIGHT & PATTERN RECOGNITION" abilities (power), THAT
The "Pre-Apocalyptic Run "JPOST", aka the "JERUsalem Post" [NOt The Original Secular 1] played into US hands and is once again 'falsley' & WAR-BLESSINGLY, instead-Of-PEACE-BLESSINGLY, creating artificial [intel] News or Stretching the TRUTH (opposite Myth) by attempting to COUNTER the real REVEALATION (opposite Secret or Hidden Manna, aka Hidden UMMAH or Hidden Karma..) or get boldly contrary to thee Fact THAT: Satanic VersUS Lover & Gods player OSAMA BIN LADEN IS TRULY DEAD! Nice Try!
Pleazza see This
'France says Bin Laden tape appears? authentic'?? .. in a new-tape?, al Qaida leader threatens to kill French citizens because of their support for war in Afghanistan and new law banning burkas.
http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=193123
OYEVAY(O' Lordy)! FarVoos(Why)? FarVoos "IT" (G_D, Not A HE nor a SHE)?
SEcret (opposite Revelation) Note: This is the 4th Time or 5th that some Syndicate (can't Mention now) who've Responded with some 'Bin Laden's Message (not Messenger) within a 24/72 hour period!
Talkin about Counter INTELi, Pleazza!
Note: This NOt a 'wicked-Leak' copycat (un)kinda thing.
THE WORLD WILL KNOW THE TRUTH [About the Death Of Bin Laden & how He Died with PROOF, beyond a Reasonable Doubt!!!) So Help me/i EKLAHt-i!
As a Duty; It's A SCOUTS PROMISE (of the Dispensation) Especially to me/my/OUR Dear Fellow sweet sweet AMERICAN(s) et al!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!
STOP THE LiE's, REVEAL THE TRUTH!..
SHAME on 'JPOST" & CO. (Sorry WAPO but you should spank ye little sister/brother Sin-dicate. sorry for telling!)
Praise The Holyi NO MAN/WOM! Praise "IT"!
HAiLAYOUYA to "i[WE] the People", a/k/a Automatic Born Citizenz/Denizens of Blue.Dot.
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 28, 2010 1:15 PM
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Just as you say "Stating your personal religious beliefs should not disqualify you from office..." (which I assume means you believe non-believers should be able to speak out), I would say the converse is even MORE true:
Stating your faith is absolutely no way to QUALIFY yourself for office. If you are running for office and relying on "faith," then I'm pretty sure you operate on the "It's not what you know, it's who you know" principle.
Posted by: beyondbelief007 | October 27, 2010 11:55 PM
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Excellent post. It is true that sanity/reason and religion are not incompatible, but it's like a Venn diagram in which the two overlap only slightly. Many religious people are nuts (or at the very least holding contradictory beliefs for bad reasons), and many sane people are not religious (arguably because they are sane).
It would be great if religion and politics didn't mix so much. Can't we argue about things that are objectively verifiable?
Posted by: NickJWallin | October 27, 2010 11:08 PM
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Great post!
Posted by: Chris6330 | October 27, 2010 5:42 PM
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Man, if I could cosign this post...
Posted by: Cobalt_Blue | October 27, 2010 2:56 PM
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Great post. I could not agree more.
I think faith should be compared to the morning horoscope. If someone wants to read the horoscope for fun, it is probably harmless. I might have other rituals, such as making a pot of tea, to mull over thoughts and recharge my batteries. However, if a politician (or Nancy Reagan!) states that one can get daily guidance from the horoscope page and furthermore we need need to attack another country on June 1st because the stars are perfectly aligned, then we rightly get very scared. We would also question the claim that the tea gave new insights, rather than just some downtime to engage in careful thought.
Unfortunately, religion is still seen as "guiding light" and honored in politics. In fact, it is somewhere between horoscope (a blatant lie) and tea time (a break to regroup and recharge). To propose that is anything more, or anything close to reason, is just wrong.