Faith and knowledge should not be intermingled. Moreover, I believe it has lead to dangerous thinking and introduced intolerance between religions. This is not something we haven’t seen before, as the most popular reason humanity has waged war amongst each other is because of religion. This type of intolerance that emerges from the war of ideas and religious conviction has become a natural phenomenon since the birth of civilizations.
What is most troubling is when ethics becomes legitimized through faith. Since knowing things will result in the contemplation of what is right or wrong. A person relying on oneself to confirm what is right or wrong triggers an egoist mindset. Of course, you may hear from religious believers that good ethical behavior is dependant on religious scripture, yet so much we see that even those are ripped apart in so many small pieces of different interpretations. Ask any religious person, what their common beliefs are, they will ask you which religion, what denomination, which sect?
Our religious convictions are divided, distant from one another, we almost see strangers around us like aliens. This is a dilemma that plagues all religions, as extremism becomes more apparent than ever. The perception of taking all on faith results in the rejection of reason, emotions and sympathy as one’s beliefs will now be only guided by his own interpretation of God’s will.
I do not know much in eastern Holy Scriptures, but I do know enough that everything in Judeo/Christian bible can’t be taken literally or face value, context is always important. For instance, let’s say I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. In Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it? Or in Leviticus 19:27, that males are expressly forbidden to get their hair trimmed, including hair around their temple. Am I obliged to kill everyone who does not follow this religious law? This might sound ridiculous to some of us, but is this any different than Muslim women being stoned to death simply on the assumption of infidelity or Hindu practice of Sati, live burning of a widow?
These are not questions of ridicule or attempt to mock religious traditions or beliefs. For these questions are taken extremely seriously by religious fundamentalists and used as evidence in their judgment of moral standards. Yes, these are obscene scenarios, but an active abortion doctor being shot to death by a Christian extremist is not and is part of our reality in modern society.
This is why I am strong advocate for the separation of church and state, as I do not believe religion has any footing politically in modern society. Issues like these not only create strife between secularists and believers, but as well encourage competitive religious beliefs within a multi-cultural society which then can result into undermining or oppressing the religious convictions of minority groups.
Here is a video that clearly shows my point.
2 comments:
I think many middle-eastern countries and even USA with the current Bush administration would disagree that the church and state are entirely separate. I could care less that the faithful pray during meals at their own discretion. What I am against are people like George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, the Hamas government, government of Iran and others who use religion for political and violent purposes.
I am by no means against religious practice, as long as it is peaceful and does not intrude or oppress the rights of others who are not from the same faith or unfaithful.
Btw, I have attended church since my childhood and still continue once in a while. I listen carefully and even engage in religious discourse with many Christians. I think I have done enough inquiry about Christianity. I doubt there is anything left to ask, but thank you for your invitation, nonetheless.
if i read my history correctly, catholicism actually had a lot to do with the creation and further advancement of modern science.. perhaps this thought relies primarily on the fact that europe was predominantly catholic back in the day, but never the less..
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