Friday, February 6, 2009

Travelling Alone

Supernatural belief is what corrupts religion: what normally would be a functional cultural system if it were allowed to reflect on itself rationally is turned irrational by its foundation in the belief of the irrational. Religion, as a cultural organization, provides organized study in ethics, cultural direction and identity, mnemonic rituals that highlight important events and meanings, and community services such as organized charities, rehabilitation, financial advice, and even community babysitting. Religion, as a community device, is a great organizer, but supernatural belief causes it to become out of touch with reality and oppressive.

Often the Catholic Church is criticized for "modernizing" previous canon, and taking divine authority to modify the religion, when really it's not the Church who's unreasonable, but the 10,000 year-old infallible "holy word" that's the problem! Why shouldn't it have the right to modernize its canon? Why not worship the organization itself? At least an organization can make rational decisions - an ancient infallible god cannot. Gods only give definitive answers, while the universe is questions stacked upon mysteries. Without definitive answers from supernatural beings, religion would be able to tackle relevant moral issues. Answers close doors; questions open doors to more questions.

Unfortunately, today the journey to supernatural belief is traveled in crowds, but the journey back toward reason is traveled alone.

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