My Sunday Thought for 073017: Paragons of Virtue?

I am an atheist. I'm not an atheist because it is cool. I'm not an atheist because of religious extremism or oppression in some depraved corners of the world. I'm not an atheist because I don't think evil can exist in a world with a god. I'm not an atheist because I think science can disprove god. I'm an atheist because of one simple fact: The burden of proof lies on religion. If you propose the existence of something, you must follow the scientific method in defense of its existence. Otherwise, I have no reason to listen to you.

-- Anonymous

"The burden of proof lies on religion. If you propose the existence of something, you must follow the scientific method in defense of its existence. Otherwise, I have no reason to listen to you."  Oh you paragons of virtue!  Perhaps it's time for all of us to contemplate the perfection of the humble banana, and then eat it.  The burden of proving the existence of God lies on religion, and I agree with this statement made by an anonymous atheist.  I think the major problem with mainstream organized religious orthodoxy is they really give a damn what people who aren't them think, and seriously prefer you think like they do so you can find whatever path they think you need to be on, otherwise, "they have no reason to listen to you."  Atheists and theists have no reason to listen to each other, and why should they?  Hypocrisy runs deep in both camps.  There are few, if any, "paragons of virtue" to be found among the self-proclaimed righteous, and it has been correctly stated that we all fall short of the mark.  

All anyone asks of religion is to prove what you say is true.  It really isn't the responsibility of the audience to prove if a proffered belief is, or is not, true.  But, in reality, proof doesn't matter where truth is concerned.  Why do you have to prove that which is, unless your life is at stake?    It remains what it is, whether believed or not, and giving a damn what others think won't make it any more true or false, nor will it make someone who doesn't want to believe see that which is in front of their eyes.  For the truly spiritual, being believed is of no importance except to those not believing; their lack of belief is their loss, or not, as the case may be.  The religious, on the other hand, get no congregation, accolades, money, or church, for souls not brought into the fold.

The following are the intro and conclusion of two separate articles for your consideration.  I have included the link for both in case you'd like to read them in their entirety:

Religious people might not be the paragon of virtue and morality that some think they are, according to a recent study. The study suggests they are just as likely to behave badly as secular people. Whether they like it or not, they essentially stand on equal footing with the non-religious with regard to performing deeds which benefit others in their community. The findings are perhaps no surprise for secularists who have long avowed that religion is not necessary for one to behave in a morally upright way. But if religious people are just as ill-behaved as secular people, what is the purpose of religion, if any, and what is our role as ministers? 

Do these findings obviate the purpose of religion as an age-old tool for encouraging altruism and preserving social welfare, and, if so, do we really need religion? Many of the faithful will argue that religion has taught humans to care for the sick, needy, and vulnerable since time immemorial, and has enshrined a code of conduct which prevents civilization from descending into chaos. Many secular humanists, however, will argue the opposite: some of the world’s most violent wars, its most heinous crimes against humanity, and its most oppressive institutions of social control, are the result of harmful, superstitious religious thinking. Why on earth, then, should we view religion as some sort of panacea, and why should it surprise us that religious people behave just as poorly as secular people?

-- TheMonastery.Org, "Religious People Aren't More Righteous"

A new study conducted by researchers in Belgium sought to find out how open-minded atheists and agnostics were compared their religious counterparts – and the results were surprising. There exists a common stereotype that people who are highly religious are unlikely to embrace other points of view or different belief systems. However, according to the researchers’ findings, those who hold strict religious beliefs are actually more tolerant than those who aren’t religious at all.

In addition to measuring tolerance, this study also touches on a larger issue: which religion is the right one? It’s a question that humankind has been struggling with since time immemorial. Is there one all-powerful God? Or perhaps many different gods? Is it possible that religion is simply a human construct and there is no right answer?

--  TheMonastery.Org, "Are Atheists Less Tolerant Than Religious People?"

Wikipedia states, "Religion is any cultural system of designated behaviors and practices, world views, texts, sanctified places, ethics, or organizations, that relate humanity to the supernatural or transcendental."  Religion, religion, religion! Is the business of God all that the naysayers have to consume their thoughts?  That is what religion is, after all, a business.  What everyone seems to overlook, including the religious, are the truly spiritual; those who recognize organized religion as a failed spiritual system and see it for what it has always been.

The truly spiritual simply smile at any thought of proving God.  As much as the atheist might believe "the burden of proof lies on religion," is as much, if not more, than the truly spiritual don't give a rat's patoot what they believe.  Believe what you want and go in peace.  Atheists have a path to follow, as do the religious and the spiritual.  It might behoove every one of us to be about it then, and start acting like the "paragons of virtue" everyone seems to mistakenly think they are.

As I stated at the beginning of this post, I agree with the premise of the burden of proving the existence of God lies with religion. But why should they bother to prove it? The more science discovers about life and the universe, the more science proves the existence of a greater power. You can call it a particle, a force, a power greater than us, or you can call it God. The only ones who give a damn about this argument seem to be the atheists and religious zealots.  As for the spiritual, we have faith in our inner truth and we don't have to claim Judaism, Islam, or Christianity, or some other religious order just so we can see that truth which has been set right in front of us.

How about we all just give it a rest and allow everyone to have their own peaceful beliefs.  Matthew Arnold once wrote, "Protestantism has the method of Jesus with His secret too much left out of mind: Catholicism has His secret with His method too much left out of mind; neither has His unerring balance, His intuition, His sweet reasonableness. But both have hold of a great truth, and get from it a great power."  Perhaps we should all give thought to the virtue of just acting with the unerring balance, intuition and sweet reasonableness of Christ when we live our day to day lives and when we communicate with each other.  All of us believe we have hold of a "great truth" and some of us believe it gives us a "great power" which they try to wield with unfortunate success.  Yet, those that wield it, like a sword or a shield, forget this power was gifted to all mankind and is, therefore, within all of us... once we understand.  But, we must never forget that with this power comes a much greater responsibility - for taking care of humanity, and each other.

It's just a thought, My Sunday Thought, for this coming Sunday, July 30.

Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with an Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as Chaplain Program Liaison, at a regional medical center.