Guff Worth implied that we should allow people to believe as they wish. He also mentioned ” other readers who aren”t all that interested”
In my opinion beliefs matter a great deal. Belief guides our actions, therefore the truth of those beliefs matter a great deal. The best yardstick we have for finding objective reality is science, which is based on testable, observable evidence. Science has proven to be an embarrassment to the Bible. As science discovers more, the biblical divinity is finding fewer places to hide.
If science had never challenged religious belief we would still be in the dark ages. Consider the imprisonment of Galileo as a heretic for only one example.
Irrational religious belief has held back the enlightenment of humanity and still does. Fundamental Christianity still tries to stop progress in stem cell research, contraception, gay rights, and the teaching of evolution.
Extreme examples are Muslim extremists who still faithfully believe in the appalling concept of God as described in the Old Testament. Muslims, Christians and Jews are called “people of the Book.” How would you like these guys ruling the world under Sharia law?
Perhaps in the stone age these myths of supernatural forces provided our minds with something to explain the unknown and laws to keep us in line.
The stone age is over, let us move on.
“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
-Buddha
Tim Snider, Lakeport
