It's good to be challenged...

Recently i have been reading a great Blog by professor and Athiest Matt McCormick. He raises a ton of great questions that everyone who believes in God should consider and think through. I appreciate his thoughts and views and I am sure we could engage in a thought provoking discussion, but he would certainly make me feel like the idiot that i find myself to usually be.

Simply put, I appreciate him, often think his arguments are accurate and yet disagree with him on some of his points. I think he is probably stereotypically right on the following quote, yet I felt the need to answer him to show that at least one ordained, Christian pastor might not fit the following stereotype.

"Myth: Even if it isn't true, there's no harm in my believing in God anyway.

"People's religious views inform their voting, how they raise their children, what they think is moral and immoral, what laws and legislation they pass, who they are friends and enemies with, what companies they invest in, where they donate to charities, who they approve and disapprove of, who they are willing to kill or tolerate, what crimes they are willing to commit, and which wars they are willing to fight. How could any reasonable person think that religious beliefs are insignificant."

The stated myth was whether or not belief in God (real or imagined) caused harm. I agree that far too many Theists throughout history and the present have caused harm because of their belief. Using faith and God to hurt or harm our world or people is deeply troubling to me. Granted using any belief system to harm others is rather offensive to me.

Matt closes with "How could any reasonable person think that religious beliefs are insignificant." I agree that religious beliefs make a significant impact on our lives, yet do not think that equates to causing "harm" as the myth stated.

Here is who i am:

• People's religious views inform their voting & what laws and legislation they pass: I am tired of the view that Jesus was a right wing Republican. I vote for candidates and laws based on my view of them and the issues. As a result I find myself voting for candidates who are Democrats, Republicans, Independants, Libertarians, and Green party members. Some of them are Christians, some of them are Athiests, some of them are worshippers of Krusty the klown. Being a Christian does not make you a "good" politician and thus does not earn my vote. Sometimes i find myself voting for a candidate who is pro-life and sometimes they are pro-choice, other times i dont know, sometimes i simply do not care. Their view on one issue does not inform their ability to represent the people on other issues. So yes perhaps my voting is informed by my Christian worldview, that we are all messed up people in someway and we can all accomplish good or evil whether or not we affiliate ourselves with any particular belief system. I can show you just as many corrupt and unethical Christian politicians as any other politician with an associated belief system. Just like I can show you a number of great honest and ethical Atheistic politicians.
  

• how they raise their children: I raise my three children to love everyone they encounter regardless of their race, social status, income level or faith background. I teach them to care for their world and environment by being environmentally aware and sensitive. (see the biosolid mixer blog) They spend time with me at our local homeless shelter sitting at the table with those less fortunate than them to try and show them that every person has intrinsic value. I teach them to be honest and loving to all people, which I think are probably the best two things i could do. All of that is definitely 'informed' by my faith, but again I do not believe that is causing 'harm'.

• who they are friends and enemies with: I like to imagine I have many friends. And i will admit most of them are at least on the same general spectrum of faith as myself. But i also have many, including some of my closest friends who are far from believing in any sort of higher power. This has more to do with the way social networks function than anything to do with faith. When i meet someone in the park or in a restaurant, their basic faith system is not a consideration as to whether or not we connect and become friends. I have family and friends who are deeply religious in other faiths and others who are atheists. Our ability to care and love for one another is not determined by our belief. I totally agree with your statement that my faith informs who are my enemies. My enemies should be nobody. I believe in a God who commands us to Love all people, including our enemies. Too be honest I sometimes find it harder to love those who fall into my "faith camp" because we can sometimes be so obnoxious.

• what companies they invest in, where they donate to charities: I know that I have for sure avoided companies based on their environmental record or their business or production practices, (I try and shop local!) but can not think of a time where any sort of religious/Christian "reason' influenced my involvement in a business. I donate to charities that are doing good things in our community and world. Sometimes they have a Christian foundation, sometimes another faith, sometimes they are purely secular. The common thread is a desire to impact our world for good, to better the world for someone who is oppressed or suffering...

• who they approve and disapprove of: See the friends and enemies section! Jesus hung out with all the wrong people. I think I have learned something from Him in that...

• who they are willing to kill or tolerate, what crimes they are willing to commit, and which wars they are willing to fight: At this point in my life i am not willing to kill anyone. I don't like the word "tolerate". I try to care and understand everyone i encounter, even when i disagree with them or they just simply annoy me for some random reason. To tolerate implies to me that i just suffer through being around them because i have to or whatever... I would rather know them deeply and understand their perspective while potentially still not coming to a consensus on an issue. I think you got me on the crimes one... I definitely try to avoid committing crimes. Which unfortunately for me seems to be a little bit harder as a Christian...(thus why I have never cut my hair or beard and never plow my field with an ox and donkey yoked together...) I am a peace guy, not a war guy.. I know there is a place in our world for "just war". But it seems like so often when i think the military should get involved they dont, and when they do they shouldnt... (can anyone say Darfur? Rwanda?)
  

Well, that ended up a lot longer than I expected. All I meant to say is that yes religious belief does have a significant impact on my daily life. But i think it is possible to have faith and if we found out it was all for not, to have lived a life where we caused no more "harm" than the next guy. Can you live your life as an Atheist and cause no harm? Of course. Can we live in community and disagree on essentials components of how we view the universe? I sure think so. If you were my neighbor would we be friends? I would look forward to discussions over a beer at the pub... (tho if you were a creepy neighbor... we might not be friends...but that would be a secondary issue...)

Thanks for spurring on some personal reflection... Your views are appreciated.

B