| Believing the Unbelievable
by Cindy Voetsch
I love a good story. I have always enjoyed tales of the supernatural, beings from outer space, and strange other worldly creatures lurking in the shadows. But, as a reasonably sane individual (my husband may disagree with this statement) I know that these tales are make believe. When I watch Star Trek, ET, or Harry Potter, I know these stories are imaginative entertainment and not remotely real. I know that the Earth is NOT 6,000 years old and I know that a talking snake did not give a cursed apple to a women in a magic garden causing the fall of man.......these are stories and myths and NOT reality.
Unfortunately though, there are many supposedly intelligent people out there who actually believe in nonsense. I guess I am wondering how a person, in these modern and enlightened times, wakes up in the morning believing that their personality is shaped by the location of a planet or that any minute God will remove them from Earth and take them to an imaginary place where humans fly around with bird wings singing prases to him.I have a pretty fine tuned "bullshit meter." I can generally separate the facts from the crap and if I am unsure of something, I can suspend judgement and remain skeptical until further evidence presents itself. For example: I know that there is not a vast conspiracy involving reptilian humanoids ruling the government. I know that there is no underground base under New Mexico where our government allow 18,000 gray aliens to preform experiments on humans. I know that as stupid as some of the decisions our government makes, it did not plan and execute the 911 tragedy. I know that there really wasn't a woman named Medusa with snakes for hair who turned men into stone. I know that if a man dies by strapping a bomb on himself and kills inocent people, he will not be rewarded 72 virgins. And, last but not least, I know that the collection of fairy tales called the Bible, was wrtten by ignorant, barbaric men who had no knowledge what so ever about science, nature, or the world around them.
I know from studying and from plain old common sense that religion was invented by man to explain the confusing and frightening world around him. Early man blamed natural disasters, famine, and even plagues on the anger of their Gods. Since they had no knowledge they did the best they could to figure things out and the rituals they preformed at least gave them some semblance of control over the unseen forces around them.
In the Middle Ages almost everyone believed in werewolves, hobgoblins, witchcraft, vampires, ghouls, water nymphs, fairies, and magic of various kinds. Life was short and brutal. Religion gave them hope for a better life when they died and an escape from the hellish one they lived in. It also gave power to those who wanted control. Magic allowed for not only an explanation or sorts but something else to blame their bad fortune on. Astrology, a popular belief in that day, used the alighnment of the stars and planets to explain human and natural phenonomon and to predict the future.
I am no genius by any means but I feel I have a basic understanding of the world around me or at least try. Unfortunately though, many people don't. Oh you expect people who are uneducated or even from a third world country to be ignorant of basic facts but what makes seemingly intelligent, modern people believe the unbelievable? What happened to their "bullshit meter?" Was is broken from the beginning or was it trained as a child to accept at face value, idiocy and nonsense? Can anything, no mater how impossible and bizarre, be accepted in the name of religion? Where do you draw the line? Are demons, magic, and bizarre tales believable if told in a church or written in the Bible, a book of unknown authors and dubious background? Religion makes complete idiocy seem ok.
We are a species that looks for patterns and meaning. In early days people believed the patterns in the constellations were actually dieties. Now people see patterns of the Virgin Mary in clouds, grilled cheese, and wood grains in barn doors and search for a meaning or signs. Over the years science has provided the answers and meaning of the patterns but still many fall back to the magic and mystery of ancient times. Why is that? Why do people who posess so much evidence and information about the truth, insist on believing superstition and falsehoods? What makes people believe the unbelievable?
I have a friend at work who soon will leave her job, friends, and home to travel the country to sing and tell others about Jesus. To me this is mind blowing. Everything written in the New Testement was written by men who NEVER met Jesus. The stories from chapter to chapter contridict themselves and are full of magic and impossibilities. Oh people say that the Old Testement predicited his birth and ministry but really, the writings of the New Testament were just written as self fulling prophosies. If you read a prediction first, then go out and either act or write on that prediction, it is self fulling. So, this friend believes something magical and impossible so strongly she is sacrificing her job and life to tell others about it. Some call it faith but to me, there is a fine line between faith and delusion.
Someone asked me how can I be happy not believing in God? What is the point or meaning of my life without this belief? Well, it is actually quite wonderful being free from superstition and fear. I am free to act responsibily on my own. I can ponder the real wonders of the universe and all their glory and majesty. I can be moral and lead a fullfilling life without doing so in fear of a reward or punishment. Most of all, I no longer feel the need to try and justify things I was told to believe that just did not make sense.
So, where in the line really drawn between, as Michael Shermer says, "Sense and Nonsense?" Where is the line drawn between faith and delusion? When do we as human beings, stop believing in the magical rituals and supernatural Gods of our ansestors? When do we stop fighting and killing in the name of God and focus on educating ourselves and living together as human beings? Education is the key but unfortunately many refuse or are too afraid to learn about the real wonders and want to continue living with their delusions. Someday maybe we can put aside our crystal balls, Ouji Boards, Bibles, and horoscopes and live in the natural and wonderful world. Until then, I spend my time trying to keep a straight face while a neighbor tells me she has evil spirits in her home or a family member tells me of her horoscope. I listen in awe as a vice presidential candidate talks about her belief in the Rapture and wonder, when humanity grow up and stop believing in fairy tales.
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