The
title seems to be overstating the Atheist viewpoint.
It is OK not to believe too whole-heartedly in the
existence of the supernatural but making Atheism to
be near mandatory is overstating that position. Or is
it?
Looking
through the kaleidoscope of history shows that
Atheism has been to the fore since records began. At
every juncture of scientific advance or moral
enlightenment, Atheism has persuaded humankind that
the rational choice was the only one. Sometimes it
has taken centuries for the cry of reason to muffle
accepted superstitions but the persistence of Atheist
endeavour has generally been successful.
Witches
are no longer hunted down and killed, slavery is not
considered a viable or moral option amongst the
educated, nor are gay people seen as an evil enemy in
a more sane society.
These,
and a multitude of like things, were caste aside
because the enemy that is religion had a line in the
sand and its position on these matters was very
clear. And it was clearly just wrong and well
proven to be so.
Religion
has learnt from these catastrophic defeats and now
plays a more subtle and sinister role in the affairs
of educated humans, by working largely in an
underground fashion. The inquisitor is now disguised
as policy formulated by religious people who have
intentionally, by request of church leaders,
ensconced themselves in private and government
positions of power. Decisions that need cool-headed
thinking are more and more being made by those
afflicted with religion.
Disconcerting
as this is, the extent of such a bias in democracy is
an unknown. How many decisions are made with
godhead as the swaying factor is a secret. What is
known is that some
politicians, trapped by their education, and working
through movements such as The
Lyons Forum, propose and
endorse legislation which is not in the best interest
of individuals or society. This process continues
through the decision-making system and there is no
doubt that it permeates all levels of our society.
That we
cannot make a quantitative evaluation of these
religious forces, which, during the Dark Ages held
humanity to ransom, is enough to suspect the worst.
This assessment rests on the governmental financial
indulgence for private schools and the treatment of
the under financed in our society, based on the idea
that if you are good you will have money. The power
of religion is seen in the rejection of voluntary
euthanasia, neglect of the plight of gays, aboriginal
people and single mothers, republic phobia and the
ecological situation. The belief that god will
provide still prevails in parliament and elsewhere.
The Bible observation that the 'love of money is the
root of all evil', has long been disregarded by
religion which continues to see situations in terms
of black or white. You are either good and self-made
(ahem, like I) or you are bad, lazy and self-unmade
like them.
In
Australia, even with a good working democracy, we are
still 'troubled' by direction from the indoctrinated.
Be aware that, under our system of government, these
forces are restrained but that does not apply in many
elsewhere, and there, oft-times, the easy (and wrong)
solutions are applied.
Winston
Churchill described 'Democracy' as the
worst form of government except all those other forms
that have been tried from time to time. We
see systems based on the imagined words of those whom
believers consider to be supernatural persons and
take steps to ensure that such systems never apply
here.
The
Church is having more and more difficulty coming to
terms with ever-expanding scientific knowledge and is
becoming bogged down in ethical debate, thereby
hindering the human race. Technological advances are
about to explode into unbroken scientific territory
of profound discovery and one of those bangs will be
nano-technology and then, perhaps, a replicating
machine. As fanciful as that may sound, the push for
nano-technology will become one of the top priorities
of science. Products made atom by atom to order. Any
product, in fact, anything. Even humans. This appears
inevitable and of such importance that equating it
with extra-terrestrial contact (a most unlikely
event), is not an exaggeration.
The
American Atheists currently march and protest for the
maintaining of the separation of Church and State and
against the rich, numerous and vociferous
fundamentalists. Australian society cannot see the
enemy and therefore does not react by supporting a
vibrancy of Atheism. In a similar way many females
enjoying the benefits of equality are no longer aware
of the struggle which provided the present position.
Before a
rapidly changing technological world is upon us with
numerous ethical questions and decision-making, I
warn that this monster,
known as 'religion',
has to be disarmed while it is faltering under the
realities of science. It is of the utmost importance
that superstitious nonsense is no longer transmitted
by indoctrination of the young, and religion must be
open to the same scrutiny as any other influential
subject.
Worldwide
societies could be on the verge of freedom from
poverty of every type. If, during the next 50 years
(and that is asking a lot) we can make it through the
religious, financial and political quagmires which
threaten our planet, we could be a very different
kind of humanity.
With no
worries about survival, eating, sickness or dying,
imagine how the religious will rage against the
happiness that could be everywhere. You can just bet
that everything enjoyable will be a 'sin'.
Unfortunately,
religious organisations have never been enthusiastic
in regard to innovation and their actions will
continue to impair the forward march into and unknown
technological realm. We will need a progressive
decision-making system. To allow a religious
dilly-dally, with its roots back in century 'dot',
could be the most dangerous luxury ever afforded to a
fantasy.
It is
hoped that the public perception of unjust
interference by the 'righteous' will not be globally
tolerated, because their antiquated input greatly
threaten future survival.
At this
conjuncture Atheists will meet the devil head-on and,
if history is a guide, we and humanity will prevail.
Important
to be Atheist?
IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT.
