I’ve been out and about traveling the past few days, doing various activities with various clients, relatives and potential clients. I had a conversation about a book I recently put on my Amazon wish list (Go ahead, buy me a present interwebs. I want an Oompa Loompa.). That book is Christopher Hitchin’s new work “God is Not Great: How Religion Ruins Everything“.
The person commenting is upset that I would want to read such a book, claiming that just by reading a “book like that” I’m denying God’s existence. Without getting into personal religious beliefs, let me say that I emphatically disagree. I believe that if you believe in God, you believe in using the gifts God gave you. These gifts include your brain. Your belief should be able to withstand logical thought, and considering the opinions of others. You didn’t get the capacity to think about alternative viewpoints without the expectation that you would use the ability.
Why do people get so frightened of an alternative thought? Why does having friends with opposing views seem so scary to some? I’ve never understood that. I don’t agree with many of my friends on religion or politics, but I can listen to their viewpoint, even debate it, without fear of my personal beliefs being shaken or losing the friendship. That freaks some people out, and I don’t understand why. Shoot, take a look at former child actor Kirk Cameron. He’s become nutty as a fruitcake, and uses his brain for some wacky nonsense now, but he got in a debate with some atheists recently and is proof positive that you can argue your point without losing your faith, if you are so inclined. (Perhaps a poor example, what with the banana argument and the crocoduck and all, but still – he held onto his faith no matter how bizarre.)
So, I read books like this one that make me think, because I believe thinking is key to forming my own beliefs and ideologies about a variety of things. I think you can’t be well-informed without being all-informed. You can’t argue your point without ammunition. You can’t even formulate the thought behind your point without a basis for it. So don’t be afraid to read outside your world view. I promise reading about other religions, ideologies, and viewpoints won’t get you kicked out of heaven if you believe in God. It might just make you more effective at convincing people of your point of view as well – a common side effect of expanding your knowledge.
As to what I believe, that’s fodder for another post, but suffice it to say I fall into the Spiritual Humanist category, and leave it at that.
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Tags: Atheist, God, Spiritual, Humanist, Religion, Debate, Hitchins, Education, Kirk Cameron, ABC
Technorati Tags: Atheist, God, Spiritual, Humanist, Religion, Debate, Hitchins, Education, Kirk Cameron, ABC
May 20, 2007 at 4:23 pm |
Very well said!
And…. I think that if you feel strongly about any topic – including the existance of G-d, it’s smart to read the opposing views.
May 21, 2007 at 3:52 am |
I had to think about this one for a bit. Obviously it’s something we struggle with every day in my household, with me believing in a higher power and G an atheist. Our kids are growing up hearing both sides of the equation, and may end up being better informed because of it.
I think sometimes that people want so badly to feel that they are right even when they have doubts they can’t admit to themselves. Hearing the other side might force them to give those tiny doubts more attention, and they don’t want to do that, because they cling to their faith like a lifeline. Doubts to them are frays in that line, and it makes them fearful.
It’s always been my experience that those with the “strongest” faith are really those who fear the most. People who are truly secure in their beliefs don’t fear additional information, even though they may not appear on the outside to have that very strong faith, they really are the ones who are stronger in their beliefs.
May 21, 2007 at 3:54 am |
That’s an interesting thought, that the ones projecting the strongest front may not have the strongest faith.
May 22, 2007 at 9:17 am |
I think that the issue about having friends with different viewpoints is that it’s harder to stay friends with them. I’ve seen this a lot – you’ll be great as casual friends, but most of your close friends need to agree with you on fundamentals… otherwise you spend your time trying to convince each other of things
So maybe seeing a friend reading something of an opposing opinion is more scary because there’s a fear that you might lose the friend.
Or maybe I’m just looking into it too deeply.
My theory is that faith isn’t really faith until it’s been tested – either by life experience or by additional knowledge. Keeping yourself (or others) in the dark about opposing viewpoints doesn’t do anyone any favours.
May 22, 2007 at 10:23 pm |
Extremely well put! I agree with you 100% I also did not know there was a book like that out there, this may make me a little excited… but don’t tell….