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Faith or Superstition?Posted by Victoria Bresee, 3/31/05 at 6:27:29 AM.
Although David Morris may be ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater, in his proposal to rename faith-based institutions as superstition-based institutions, his article in AlterNet, "The End of Reason," is well worth a read. He, unfortunately, has many examples of the dangers of religious beliefs, especially when they inspire political agendas. Of course, it only masquerades as inspiration, it is much more likely that the Bible gets used to justify agendas. He states that "organized superstitions might be more socially supportable if their creed included a provision accepting the organized superstitions of others. Unfortunately, modern religions do not practice tolerance," giving this example among others: "Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence explained why he knew he would win his battle against Muslims in Somalia. 'I knew my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol.'" "In 1885, Elizabeth Cady Stanton explained how organized and assertive religions around the world have restricted women's rights. "You may go over the world and you will find that every form of religion which has breathed upon this earth has degraded woman ... I have been traveling over the old world during the last few years and have found new food for thought. What power is it that makes the Hindoo woman burn herself upon a funeral pyre of her husband? Her religion. What holds the Turkish woman in the harem? Her religion. By what power do the Mormons perpetuate their system of polygamy? By their religion. Man, of himself, could not do this; but when he declares, 'Thus saith the Lord', of course he can do it." Stanton's enduring motto was, "Seek Truth for Authority, not Authority for Truth" |
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