Diaries on or about religion are regular fare around here. I read most of them. I enjoy the exchanges that occur and find the charge and emotion around the topic adds spice to the discussion.
The following diary will raise ire with some. It will be controversial. Say what you wish in response, I can take it.
You may be offended by what I have to say. So be it. Many things I think when expressed frankly, offend others. Today, in this diary, I choose to not self-censor.
You don't know me. My opinions hold no more weight than those of another stranger. So save yourself some grief if you consider yourself the religious type and read no further.
A common assumption in these diaries and comments, and one that is rarely challenged is the notion that an individual's beliefs are, a priori, deserving of respect. I strongly disagree with that assumption.
Most of us distain or discard beliefs out of hand if they are expressed by persons of relatively congruent life experience to our own and the beliefs espoused are so far out and lacking in plausibility that it just doesn't add up. Examples, flat earth scenarios, young earth (6000 year range), creationist explanations for flora, fauna, or geographical features (Noah's flood made the Grand Canyon kind of thing, UFO abductions that included a trip to Venus - or Mercury - or the planet Zenon in Andromeda. If we encountered an adult who still believed in Santa Claus, or the Tooth Fairy, or the Easter Bunny, we might assume that they were either mentally ill or severly retarded - but we would not respect their beliefs.
Many of us speak harshly of christians and christian beliefs. I know I do. Often the complaint is that they indicate lack of respect for those beliefs. Well. Indeed. In my opinion they certainly do.
Frequently the christians who feels slighted will point to the golden rule, or some other ethical structure derived from christian teachings and protest that christian life is good and just and far from deserving of ridicule. Well, the distain has nothing to do with ethics or the golden rule. It has to do with other, many other, beliefs that are fundamental to christian identity.
Let me list a few (And I grant that subscription to all of these is not necessary - just a few will make my point): virgin birth, resurrection of the body(end of the world scenario), physical resurrection of Jesus post crucifixion, Jesus' literal, physical ascention into heaven, the existence of heaven, hell, purgatory as literal physical places (until recently I guess, for Catholics, Limbo), transubstantiation of the body - the eucharist thing, original sin, Jesus as the literal Son of God, that Jesus' sacrifice was necessary to clean up orginal sin and actually accomplished such a thing tangibly, miracles generally (loaves and fishes, walking on water, whatever), the Rapture,
There are plenty more.
These beliefs are - in my opinion, when held by educated, western cultured, individuals with life experiences not unlike my own - totally crazy and lacking in any foundation short of childhood brainwashing. They are, at best, myths - delusions perhaps.
These beliefs I do not respect. And for me, individuals who hold on to them lack critical thinking skills - or at least have chosen not to allow their beliefs to be tested critically.