Video
Twitter
Facebook
RSS Feed
Religious belief is not insanity
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?
The real difficultly that we face developing a rational approach to the inclusion religious belief in our public debate is the assumption that, by its nature, it is the opposite of "reason" and "sanity." Clearly, there is an increasingly vocal and visible minority of religious adherents who are close minded and even violent in their dislike of everyone who does not believe as they do. They have caused an increasing number of people in the world to become turned off to anything religious and to find comfort instead in a "non-theistic" view of reality. In short, fundamentalist extremists, both the violent and the non-violent, are having an undo influence on the dialogue about religion, and they are causing more and more who disagree with them to think that all religion and all religious believers are like them. This is far from the case.
When we look beyond the minority of extremists, what becomes apparent is that the majority of people in the world are not fundamentalist, they want to live in harmony with others, and, when given the opportunity, they can do so. For most people, their religious beliefs are the source of their morals and values, are the inspiration to awaken their compassion and selfless service to the less fortunate, and are what give them comfort in an increasingly combative, violent, and divisive world. Removing religious belief from the public debate runs the risk of removing much of the goodness that religion has to offer as well. Mao's China, the old Soviet Union, and North Korea are good examples. Of course, countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have religious belief, but they have largely replaced open debate and discussion with indoctrination, so they are no better. We need more goodness in our world, not less, and including various religious beliefs in our public discussions of how to address our problems can be a valuable resource.
In the Richard Hawkins Foundation article linked above, there is an assertion that non-theists need "to reclaim the public forum for freethinking." By its nature, a public forum does not belong to any one way of thinking. The article goes on to imply that non-theists have "a more rational view of the universe and a more compassionate view of those who live in it." Rationality and compassion are not the exclusive purview, or even inherent qualities, of non-theists. I know many who are as much fundamentalists as many religious believers. They are convinced that their way is the ONLY way and that anyone who believes in a divinity is ignorant, crazy, or dangerous. Many such people are commonplace at universities today, including Religious Studies departments. A past chair of the department in which I teach once told me flatly, "Anyone who believes in a God is unqualified to teach religion." Is that rational and compassionate? It is hard to get more narrowminded and fundamentalist on the subject than that.
This is why I don't see a great deal of difference between fundamentalists like Richard Dawkins, the non-theist preacher, and Franklin Graham, the theist preacher. Both believe they have the absolute truth and that everyone who thinks or believes differently is wrong. In our world today, we have far too many religious fundamentalists who create division, distrust, and hatred of "the other." We don't need non-theist fundamentalists to add to the problem. Narrow mindedness and bigotry are not combated with more of the same.
I left Christianity because I had come to think that it and all religion is narrow minded. I was fortunate to find that was not necessarily the case. What attracted me to the Hindu monastic life was that I found teachers who emphasized rational thinking, self understanding, non-violence, and truth. They focused on inner awareness, not the external condemning of others who think or believe differently. One of the common answers to questions I would ask about truth, life, and the various issues I was dealing with was "God gave you a brain, use it." I was encouraged to think, reflect, and develop self awareness, not memorize, blindly adhere to some doctrine, or denounce those who are different. Sure, there are narrow minded Hindus, as there are narrow minded people in every group, and they will likely always exist in our world. No religion has a monopoly on goodness and badness. However, they all also have teachings that can benefit the world if used compassionately. We should not let fundamentalists of any type prevent us from searching for goodness and truth wherever they can be found. As one of my teachers once said regarding the presence of narrow minded and hateful people in the world that also has beings of great wisdom and compassion, "When in the presence of light, don't focus on the shadows."
By
Ramdas Lamb
|
October 26, 2010; 10:27 AM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: Cubby-hole thinking |
Next: If you want reason, you won't find it in religion
Posted by: eezmamata | October 28, 2010 7:14 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Religious belief is not insanity, but making "I believe" the most important thing about religious or non-religious belief is insanity.
Posted by: NonPseudoSecularist | October 28, 2010 5:30 PM
Report Offensive Comment
hmm, Ok maybe there is room for reason in religion - thank you Ramdas Lamb.
woodstock-41 - please, take your medication.
Posted by: sux123 | October 27, 2010 4:39 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Correction:
IF [IMAM] Luis Farrakhan of the Nation Of Islam of Chicago, really Loves America & is "Peaceful" Then
He Should Go To the SANITY & REASONING RALLY in Washington D.C., This Saturday & candidly Apologize {100% HEART & Look into The Camera while saying it} To fellow AMERICANS (dead & Living) & The Rest of The World. The NOI has a 'once in a life chance' to Mend Wounds and Reconcile with Us Kafirs! We are talking about more than just a 'Million-man-March'. IF he doesn't show, then then it means the NOI Muslims/Moslims/Muslums Still Haven't assimilated. So Why should the others.
IMAGINE if the the 911 Ishlami "Magnificent-19" Martyrs could appear & thus have MUHAMMAD ATTA Stand-Before the Cameras in D.C. and given an opportunity to Apologize to the Dead Americans and the Rest of the World to Both Kafir & Islamics??
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 27, 2010 4:22 PM
Report Offensive Comment
....
Here is another SOBER Ishlami Creep/Scare Development (Let alone Building in Ground Zero Nabe): IT's in
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana
Fact: In the "Land of the Waters" Guyana is the place where ISRAEL could have settled and Should Have Arisen. But It's too late.
With Less than 800,000 folks, It is Already 17% Ishlami. And with the Help of The Elders of Saudizion, Elders of Turkeyzion and Elders of Iranzion, now Elders of Syriazion r sneaking in there and greasing & corrupting a Dictator therein; which is a great Conspiracy to ISLAMICIZE GUYANA from within in less than 50 years(and via BRAZIL Territory; who's Ishlami population is growing exponentially too and taking over cities or building them).
POINT: ALL 54 OICs Must "FULLY-OPEN-UP" To all KAFIRS Religions. Note: I've Been to many Nations. And when i[WE] was in Jehdda, Mecca. If i had a Megon david (Star of David) or cross on me neck openly, i'm sure the Religious Police would've had a field day.
Interestingly, as mentioned so so many times: The U.S. Should have their Own [Secular] "RELIGIOUS POLICE"!
___
Another Fact: Out of 192 Nations on Holyi S.pace S.hip Earth yet crawling with 1.4 Billion Crazed IShLAM/ESAU's; that 1/4 Of Them Reside/Live in KAFIR Nations (138 Kefir Nations less 54 Islamic Nations = 192).
SUGGESTION: U.S.A. & Other "KAFIR Nations: Should round-Up All Ishlami Immams 1st, Pay them Fair-Market Value for their Mosques & property's & then Kick them out (with choices to live in any of their 54 OIC holy-lands of Crude oil & Honey)! And Let their Congregations follow them wherever they Go! GOOD RIDDENCE!
America needs MEXICANS not Islamis!
So, Better to VOTE: For SARA PALIN as Prez & MiTT ROMNEY as V.P. Or The Other way around. Better a MORMON xrstian or a 'Non Denomination' Xrstian.
But There is one Catch: Any President or Vice Pres & Any Public Official at large; SHALL never let their "LOYALTY" conflict w/Their respective RELIGIONS! i.e.:
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 27, 2010 3:45 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Out of the Thousands of Religions on Earth, AMERICA should never have a "Open-Arm" policy to Any iSLAMI//ESAUmi (Muslims)!Why?
By Citing, in vain, Mr. Akbar ahMAD's tome on our Forefathers & Mothers {peace be upon Them ALL} in order to justify (Islam) as be on 'EQUAL' terms or at Par with US "KeFFiRS (none Ishlami//Esaumi) all because President JEFFERSON {pbuh} insinuated or had a copy of the first English translated Koran that ALL Ishlamis should be "WELCOME AS FULL CITIZENZ" Yet
Yet, SATANIC VERSUS LOVING Fundamental Ishlami's don't want to give US KAF{FIRS the same-Equality {Especially any Kaf{fir RELIGIONs} as he seeks here, in say SAUDI Arabia, or Yemen, Or Pakistan, or Malaysia et al or in Most of the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_the_Islamic_Conference ???
COMMENT: Before Any Islami can have 100% Freedom Here or recognition, That ALL of the 54 OIC Nations must Disolve themselves (or else Leave withdraw from The 'SECULAR' U.N.'s 138 nations) and Make a 1st Amendment Law [same There ins] thus guaranteeing true freedom! Then HEALING OF NATIONS , World Peace & Happyness will BE realized. But Not Until Then! Any Body?
___
Talking about U.F.O's Fanatics, let alone Scien{to{ogy and our Islamic Threat within U.S.A's. WHAT ever happened to the American Islami "White{Cracker" Hater's
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Islam HELLLO? HELLLO? WE[i]. Maybe if NOI really wants or means PEACE & LOVE they will show-up in D.C.' on Saturday's "Sanity" Rally, aye?
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 27, 2010 3:29 PM
Report Offensive Comment
oye...!
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 27, 2010 3:24 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Someone said, "RELIGION SPOILS EVERYTHING" Yet Even Dr. Phill (Psychologists & Psychiatrists) will tell you that a Person who believes in "U.F.O"s or claims to of seen such is not crazy nor delusional.
___
On This Blog me Moniker (woodstock-41) is been censored//blocked on Most of "GUEST VOiCES" and Most of Georgetown, Liz Tenety, David Waters and Guhstav Niebuhr. So i've been swept into these "DISCUSSION" forum mostly.
Note: They (the JEALOUS folks) can still read me Essay's here, and of course still do in-fact Plagiariaze or Steel and then re-hash me Novel Ideas as if be theres. i know, i see the pattern; and i'm a "CRUXOLOGIST" (less than a Dozen on Earth) soo i[WE] see what they think they think we[i] WE[i] don't see. Ha Ha Ha... Includes Neewsweek & CO's, via Lisa Miller et al who's desperateness hath Stole or copycat'd me HTML Styles at ONWAPO.COM (no longer active for a reason]. i.e.; Go to Neewsweek.com, and see the entitled 'WHITE Rectangles' on All Pictures. And Creating Catagories in Box's. Now They have an permanent Education-Tab too? see also some features of MSNBC.com too. Oye Vay!
___
COMMENT here, on Jealous "GUEST" Frankie Martin etal, a SITUATIONAL LiAR & Cunning WORD MERCHANT'S, in defense of SATANIC VERSUS LOVER AKBAR AHMAD and ganging-up against LAURA RUBENFELD et al, under his weak caption: "Exposing the infrastructure of anti-Muslim hate"
Before i[WE] Begin: Never forget that ISLAM has thier own United [Ishlami//Esaumi] NATIONS. It's called the "54 Organization of ISLAMIC Conference" (aka code name for States).
We[i] agree with ex- Asst. Secretary of State, FRANK GAFFNEY's analysis of The real-Threat posed to US Non-Islamic [KAAFIR nations] via The ISHLAMI CREEP, SCARE, aka AL TAQIYA or via the ELDERS Of WAHHABI-zion & ELDERS OF AYATOLLAH-zion tricks to annihilate Israel & then Conquer the West via a New-CALIPHITE {TURKEY + SYRIA + IRAN& CO. taking the Lead}!
Note: Awhile back, Sunni PAKISTAN has long ago secretly gifted the "SUNNI-A-BOMB" or Pledged Such, to SAUDI's!?? And Lately IRAN (Who has the SHIA-A-BOMB) & SYRIA (includes Pakistan) have Given the new Islami-Nazi OTTOMAN TURK's the Secrets to making a JIHHADI-BOMB.
Note again: Again. Islamic Nations, like Ishlami Suicidal Bomb Individuals, will commit such but using ATOMIC-BOMBS on a National Level (simultaneously). This is what they are up to; besides crawling into/Sneaking into our (Not Their) Free Society's creating Great Distractions & the AL TAQIYAists & their ventriloquists planting Future Plots within.
So, The 54 ISHLAMi U.N. [O.I.C.] are too dumb (low I.Q/'s) to be Superior; So they are massively Buying our Weapons, yet Satanically are Copy-Cating Our Patents etc.. and Mass Producing them secretly. And Their sneaky 3-face helpers are the EVIL-CHINKO EMPIREs (China, N. Korea).
there is nothing-Wrong by having ISLAMIC PHOBIA thoughts or rut gut feelings.
continued:
Posted by: woodstock-41 | October 27, 2010 1:37 PM
Report Offensive Comment
I have no problem with people believing anything they want about the existence or non-existence of God. As far as I'm concerned, ALL religions are equally valid.
Where I must object is when someone tries to codify THEIR religious belief into the laws of the United States. If a woman and her doctor believe it is in her best interest to have an abortion, that is a private decision that the government should not involve itself in. I do not want polititions saying that the country should go to war because God spoke to them and said they were doing the right thing. If two people want to enter into a loving relationship and enjoy the benifits of marriage (emotional, finacial, legal, etc) then I don't want anyone pointing to Leviticus and saying they can't.
There is a reason the Founding Fathers added the 1st Ammendment to the Constitution. They did not want the country burdened by people trying to impose their own religious beliefs on the rest of the country.
If your religion informs your moral sense, that's great. But your religion should not have anything to do with the formation of the laws and public policies of the country.
Posted by: lgaide | October 27, 2010 1:06 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Professor Lamb
Excellent essay. Thanks.
Kishor Trivedi
Posted by: kst2 | October 27, 2010 12:49 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Anybody today worshipping Zeus or Quetzalcoatl would be considered insane, even by you christians.
Religious belief is insanity, just as it was then, just as it is now.
And you know it.