Religion: a viewpoint

Religion.

My thoughts have changed over the years. I used to get angry with people who had faith, thought they were backward, unintelligent and delusional. I used to have real passion in being so against religion that i felt i was superior because i could see the real truth. I see it on twitter, the arguments between religious and nonreligious people, don’t get me wrong i enjoy an argument (i’m a history graduate) and am still no theist. I describe myself as an atheist on Facebook, but this is not strictly true. Re-reading Richard Dawkins i keep on reading this quote and realise i have to change my status:

“Let us remind ourselves of the terminology. A theist believes in a supernatural intelligence who, in addition to his main work of creating the universe in the first place, is still around to oversee and influence the subsequent fate of his initial creation. In many theistic belief systems, the deity is intimately involved in human affairs. He answers prayers; forgives or punishes sins; intervenes in the world by performing miracles; frets about good and bad deeds, and knows when we do them (or even think about doing them). A deist, too, believes in a supernatural intelligence, but one whose activities were confined to setting up the laws that govern the universe in the first place. The deist God never intervenes thereafter, and certainly has no specific interest in human affairs. Pantheists don't believe in a supernatural God at all, but use the word God as a non-supernatural synonym for Nature, or for the Universe, or for the lawfulness that governs its workings. Deists differ from theists in that their God does not answer prayers, is not interested in sins or confessions, does not read our thoughts and does not intervene with capricious miracles. Deists differ from pantheists in that the deist God is some kind of cosmic intelligence, rather than the pantheists metaphoric or poetic synonym for the laws of the universe. Pantheism is sexed-up atheism. Deism is watered-down theism.”
― Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion

I think according to this I’m a slightly diluted pantheist. I don’t use the word God, but use words like nature, order from chaos, chaos from order and physics both Quantum and theoretical to view my place in the universe. I love the beauty of the universe and the way that something as simple as warming up your hands means that you are in contact with all the electrons of the universe simultaneously. I am stardust and 90 odd percent of me is replaced over the course of my life, meaning that hardly anything remains of the me that tripped in a car park at 5 years old and split my head open on a car exhaust. Science is beautiful and full of wonder and for believers, so is religion. I don’t get angry anymore and realise the good that comes out of religion, but get increasingly frustrated at the so called “theists” using religion to be shitty to other people.

Positive Religious Aspects

• People need to group together for support, religion provides this in abundance.
• Charity - part of Muslim’s pay goes towards charity, Salvation Army, helps people suffering around the world Etc..   
• Most religions promote peace, love harmony and respect.
• Tries to answer humanities most basic and important questions.
• In part provides a moral compass from which the laws of most countries have come from.
• Provides a comfort for the end of life in the form of an afterlife.
• Great architecture
• Inspired some historical greats (Ghandi, MLK,)
• Great artwork

Why I Hate some aspects of religion

• Millions of unnecessary tortures, deaths and suppression of any kind of opposite thought or teaching.
• Is still causing some of the deaths in Africa and around the world through not moving with the times (condom use).
• People misinterpret to cause pain and suffering to those different to themselves. (Not very new testament)
• Watches children die of poverty whilst hoarding Billions of pounds worth of riches gathering dust.
• People use the passages in the holy books to determine who is worthy and who is not whilst disregarding others. A very hypocritical example is Leviticus and Exodus. Watch this as it explains far better than i can. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSXJzybEeJM
• Being anything other than Theist requires just as much as being anything else. Both sides should respect other people’s views.
• Using religion as an excuse not to save lives.
• Using religion to indoctrinate people/family let them make their own decision that is informed and their own choice.
• Making religion an enemy of science - they both try to answer the same questions.
• Different beliefs should be embraced not ostracised. How else can peace be achieved unless we respect others.
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Not all of these relate to all people, but i think people can see my reasons for not being too happy with what some religions do and say. Religion’s could and should be bastions of tolerance, peace, love,charity and goodwill. Some aspects of most religions do this, small aspects and sometimes large aspects forget the major lessons of the Bible, Koran, Torah and others which only fuels the fire between theists and non-theists.
Of course it is a reflection of humanity at this stage that the few can destroy the many, however, how anyone over the generations can kill/maim/hurt/torture/destroy/bully in the name of religion seriously misinterpreted their role.
It all comes down to this in my opinion. If we cannot respect and tolerate all beliefs and lifestyles which do not hurt others, then humanity is destined to destroy itself both inside and out.