Religion is going to be the death of us!

As you know, we Atheists get asked a lot why we care so much about religion if we don't believe in it. Well, the topic of discussion in my Biodiversity class today may shed some light on it. We were discussing the fact that we may be reaching the carrying capacity of the earth, if we haven't already.

My thoughts: f we do nothing, nature will cull the herd for us, in the form of disease, famine, etc, not to mention the effects of climate change. So what does this have to do with religion? It is my heartfelt conviction that religion is going to end up being the death of the human species, and not only us, we will take every other living breathing thing down with us.

How? Why? Well, what does religion teach(preach)? That none of this matters because Jesus is coming back soon. We have elected officials in Congress saying that we should not worry about climate change because God promised Noah never to destroy the earth again.This philosophy, if you can call it that, is not only dangerous, but incredibly short sighted and selfish.Why do I care? Because I have children and will have grandchildren some day. I'm worried for posterity.

Let me turn Pascal's Wager on it's head. By betting on Jesus returning soon, you're betting not only only your own life but mine too and also the life of your children and grandchildren and their children and grandchildren and mine too. You're saying that you're so sure you're right that you're willing to risk the entire future of humanity and the earth.

And for what? All because of a 2000+ year old mythology. I have lost Facebook friends, including family, for even mentioning this stuff. Apparently, I'm the dickhead because I think we should pull our heads out of our collective asses and start caring about what we're doing. Beliefs, just like votes, have consequences. It is not a matter of you having the right to your own personal beliefs, as if you exist in a vacuum, completely set off from society and the world at large. Your beliefs have consequences because you vote. Truth matters. I personally don't care if I hemmorhage FB friends all the way down to 1, as long as that one person is listening. Are you listening?

3 members like this

Comment by Aaron LaBrash on April 26, 2011 at 9:59pm: Good post! I've lost quite a few facebook friends and real friends with my "apparently" anti-religious statuses about things just like this. I was one of those "everyone get along" people not too long ago, but knowing what I know now, you're either helping the planet or you're killing me. So I agree with you. I'm listening :) haha.

Comment by TeejMcS on April 26, 2011 at 10:00pm: Well said, Brian! I see a trend (I know this is anything new, to alot of us), that as religious enthusiasm goes up, critical thinking and logic go WAY down! It's more a cop-out than anything else. It's a way for people to say, "It's out of my hands". Well it still is in our hands, and we have a LOT of work to do!

Comment by Brian Flatt on April 26, 2011 at 10:20pm: Thanks guys! I get so upset about this stuff sometimes. I try to be positive but sometimes I think it's just all too late because the insane ones are running the asylum.

I also just posted this on my school's blog at volblogs.com Comments would be welcome there too. http://myuniversityblogs.com/volblogs/?p=5891

Comment by Walter Maki on April 26, 2011 at 11:25pm: I especially like your twist on Pascal's Wager. I am just getting started and refuse to willfully let them trash this big blue marble. These xians are an irresponsible lot, kind of like spoiled rich kids who break all there toys because daddy will replace them.

Comment by atheistrising on April 26, 2011 at 11:50pm: Yeah religion maynot have all good things but I personally people of different types should get along. The whole concept of us versus them does not augur well with me. All people should work together and live together. Well religious people have the right to believe what they believe as long as they are planning on taking away the equal rights of atheists I think. Thats why I have toned it down on my facebook, do not get me wrong I am proud to be an atheist but I refuse to force my ideas on other people.

Comment by Brian Flatt on April 26, 2011 at 11:53pm: atheistrising, my post was about the earth and our future as humanity, not about equal rights for Atheists. Do you not see that these people do not want to work with us? I applaud you for trying to take the high road but these people will destroy the earth and us if allowed. We don't need to coddle anybody.

Comment by Birdman on April 26, 2011 at 11:53pm: Hey there, new to the site. Very well said Brian, its nice to chill on a site with like minded peeps. And I can completely relate to the losing friends/pissing people off on Facebook. But hey, if people get mad for hearing the truth and fact, then so be it.

Comment by Brian Flatt on April 26, 2011 at 11:54pm: Very true Walter and in regards to morality they act the same way. Saying if God doesn't exist we can't be moral is like the teenager who thinks he throw a party and act a fool when his parents go on vacation.

Comment by Arcus on April 27, 2011 at 12:43pm: A ban on religion? Hell yeah! :)

Comment by Derek on April 27, 2011 at 3:26pm: I have always thought Facebook friends are in a sense imaginary. That is to say I have a few real life friends and plenty of "cyber friends". So losing a Facebook pal for me would be such an irrelevancy. Anyway yes you are right, the belief that jeebus is coming back in a fiery trail of clouds is destructive because it means this life is not as important as the "next". This belief would seem to imply we can gas guzzle as much as we like and cut down more trees cause everything will be fine when the zombie returns.