| Frederic, San Pedro |
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I don't believe in god(s) because the world around me, that I've known for over 44 years has offered far more to disprove the existence god than it has to prove it. From starving children dying miserable deaths to ridiculously rich and greedy fatcats, none of it seems very holy. If I were to treat my children as god does, I would be castigated chastised and imprisoned, not deified. I find my arguments often countered with, "Well there is evil because god wants us to figure out how to be all loving and kind. He doesn't want to just give us the answers." Fine. But if he is all powerful, why doesn't he simply make us believe that we figured it all out on our own? Certainly it is in god's power to do so, right? This usually stymies even the firmest believers. I also think, for what its worth that when a pollster asks the question, "Do you believe in god?" (G, if the poll is written) the question presumes the existence of god and makes it psychologically difficult for someone to respond in the negative. It's akin to asking someone if they believe in electricity. This then probably leaves to a highly inaccurate count of non-believers. I was a Catholic for most of my life, attended 12 years of Catholic schools, was an alter boy and was married in the church. I am thankful that I was exposed to core humanistic Catholic and Christian doctrine: Do unto other as you would have them done unto you. Visit the imprisoned, clothe the naked, feed the hungry, etc. Without such teachings I would be a totally different person and not, I imagine, to a positive degree. The same can be said of humanity in general. We are better off for having some religiously affiliated dogma. Still, that religious friction and a failure to truly live by the word, is further proof that god does not exist. I also believe that there is no spirituality whatsoever. Human beings are simply a more advanced life form no more or less valuable than fleas or bacteria. What's more, given our plunder of natural resources and our unabated war mongering ways, I would argue that we are far less valuable than bacteria. Therefore you are either religious or you are not. It is a hypocritical cop out to claim, as many agnostics do, "I'm spiritual, but not religious." The notion that we alone, among all the earth's collections of organized atoms are somehow endowed with an everlasting spirit IS a religious notion, ipso facto. I have found that it is the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus who best summarizes the gist of my own disbelief: Is God willing to prevent evil but unable? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able but unwilling? Then he is malevolent. Is god both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then, why call him god? I am by definition (but not pay grade), a librarian working in an academic law library. I have a BA degree and have worked in libraries for 20 years. I read political non-fiction, listen to real, straight ahead jazz and enjoy the discussing politics and religion. I have 5 brothers and sisters, several of whom are still devout Catholics and my parents have been married for more than 45 years, I don't think they go to mass any more either. |
