FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Democracy was around long before the Bible 

Democracy was around long before the Bible 

In the past few weeks some astonishing letters on the subject atheism have appeared.

First, one letter writer commented that atheism is a belief comparable to other beliefs. No! The atheists I know formed their opinion on the non-existence of God based on science. Science explains the universe without the necessity of inventing a god to believe in. Another reason some choose atheism is they find it impossible to accept a God who is a mean, egotistical, sadistic bully as demonstrated by history and the world we live in.
One contributor wrote that even if we believe in evolution, there had to be “something” for evolution to work on. Science disagrees. In his book “A Universe from Nothing”, physicist Lawrence M Krauss states the necessity in quantum theory that something has to come out of nothing.
Other letter writers prefer to show off their erudition by quoting mystics whose experiences they hold to be proof of divinity. Such experiences are subjective and thus differ from person to person, which implies many “truths” and undermines any claim for a single Truth!
I would suggest that teaching philosophy is far more useful than the study of comparative religion, as all religion is evil. In philosophy the subject of god is treated with scepticism and a debunking of the evidence.
Another writer lauds the influence of Christianity on our moral values, individualism and democracy. Moral values were established long before Christianity, to enable humans to live together in groups. Democracy was propagated by the ancient Greek thinker Solon, long before Christianity existed, and the ethos of individualism runs contrary to following a cult (religion).
Egon

nationthailand