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Real hope is enlightenment, not superstition and fear, says writer
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Letter to the Editor To Comment on this article Click Here |
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Primitive people invented deities and various gods often multiple gods to explain events or their own fortune or misfortune. These people did not have the wherewithal to seek evidence and form knowledge based on inquiry. As we evolved, so did our understanding of the world we live in and other worlds that exist beyond our planet. Throughout history, religions have shaped gods to suit their various purposes. Christians believe that their god made us in the image and likeness of him. It is however passing ironic that our notion of god is largely based on what we know about ourselves. In fact god has been created in the image and likeness of us. We have invented a god who is angry, jealous, loving, caring, indifferent, personal and appears to look like Zeus. Artwork and music created for the church were created after being scrutinized by church officials to make sure they were consistent with religious objectives. People claim to receive messages from this god either through their particular view of Scripture or via telepathy. I guess we all receive messages but only religious leaders claim to know the “will” of god. The church, and when I say church I mean all religions, has been responsible for the repression of intellectual pursuits throughout history. Scientists have been threatened with death because their research ran contrary to church belief. To mention enlightenment and religion in the same sentence is contraindicated. All the evidence over the history of mankind would say that religion prefers people who believe in the Garden of Eden rather than those who support the evidence of evolution. The uneducated are fertile ground for religion both for support and financing. Pastor Lynda Janzen talks about hope offered in belief but I am not sure of what kind of hope. Could it be the hope of relief from the 300 years of the inquisition that the church foisted upon people? Is it relief for the millions of women who suffer under the rules of Islamic law? Is it relief from religious beliefs around reproduction which has created a world bulging at the seams?
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The only hope is hope that the burden of
superstition and fear fostered by religion be lifted from mankind. I
don’t know how Janzen can rely on people who laboured on Scripture
hundreds of years ago to deliver messages tailored for that time. I
do not wish to be treated by a doctor who believes in treatments
offered by ancient texts.
We have evolved and so has our knowledge not because of religion, rather in spite of it. Real hope is enlightenment not superstition and fear. Mark Ciavaglia Editor's Note: The writer is responding to the following letter:
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