Dictionary.com defines faith as “a belief that is not based
on proof.” The same site defines superstition as “a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the
ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance,
occurrence, proceeding,
or the like.”
So, what’s the difference? Basically, there is none. The only difference is
your point of view. “Well, but the Bible says….” Using a book as proof that
same book is legitimate is not an example of critical thinking. Rather, it’s an
example of illogical thinking. I can produce books that say Santa Claus is
real, or Superman or Spiderman. That makes them no more or less real than
anything in the Bible or the Torah or the Koran, no matter what your faith in
that book is.
Religion has become a very hot topic lately. There are
extreme points of view from religious and non-religious people. There are even
arguments over whether the government should make laws enforcing a particular
religious belief, or at the very least make laws that coincide with particular
beliefs. The notion behind such thinking is that because these people believe
their religion to be the one true religion, everyone else should be required to
follow the tenets of that religion regardless of their own personal beliefs.
One problem with this is the First Amendment. According to
Archives.gov: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…. This includes forcing
others to follow your religion despite not believing in it. For example, if
those of the Jewish persuasion managed to get a law passed banning pork
products, imagine the uproar by Methodists and Baptists. “That’s not OUR religion, so why should WE have
to follow their rules?” Yet so many want to do just that with issues such as
gay rights and birth control and many other things. “Well, but that’s because
we’re right. Our holy book says so. And besides, their ‘religion’ is just a
bunch of superstition and not real.”
Unfortunately,
there are already laws on the US books that are based on religion. Many areas
won’t sell alcohol on Sunday because of religious reasons. Same sex marriage is
illegal in most of this country because “the Bible says it’s wrong.” I’ve
talked to several people who call themselves Christian, and one thing most of
them agree on is that anyone who doesn’t believe the same way they do is
condemned to eternal damnation. What they don’t seem to understand is that
damnation is a construct of that religion. Those who don’t believe in that
religion also don’t believe in the constructs of that religion.
What I’m
trying to say, in the words of Shepherd Book, is that it doesn’t matter what
you believe in as long as you believe in it. The catch is to let others
believe as they will without forcing your faith onto them. Accept their
superstitions. Absolutely, be willing and ready to share yours. Just don’t
force it. Human nature is such that (and anyone who has raised children can
vouch for this) the more you push, the more resistance you meet. Understand
your own beliefs and let others understand theirs. If you don’t believe
something is right, then don’t do it. Just don’t try to claim everyone should
live by your rules just because you believe your superstition is right and
theirs is wrong. Yeah?
3 comments:
Some very fine points Chris.
I completely disagree.
Anonymous #2: Would you like to elaborate? Or is it just on general principles you disagree?
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