There are
many different religions in the world; of these there are many varieties of
each religion. Within Christianity alone the World Christian Encyclopedia
(Oxford Univ. Press, 2nd edition, 2001) states there are 34,000 different
branches comprising the Christian religion. These divisions within Christianity
did not occur over a cup of tea but were the result of infighting of the worst
sort. One thing we know for certain and that is Christians themselves cannot
get along with one another. With that in mind how will they get along with
others on a starship?
All of
these religions claim a special relationship to the Divine, and all seek to
expand by some form of coercion. If they did not reproduce themselves in some
form they would cease to exist. Coercion is the most effective. Fortunate for
us, history has recorded the acts of these religions as they made war with one
another and with the King. Historians have preserved for us the long history of
violence, war, anti-science, anti-scientists, anti-education, homophobic,
xenophobic, patriarchal, religions.
Yesterday (9/13/12) in a speech by the Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton ask the question: "Can we have religion without violence?
Because until we do the world will never have peace." I think these same words
will be repeated a thousand years from now here on earth because there is
little indication much has changed and there is no willingness to initiate
change by religious leaders.
Religions acknowledge this history and yet they feel they
are ready to take to the stars. No, they will demand you take them to the
stars. They say they have come a long way but the daily newspaper tells a
different story.
The question is: Why? What is their motive? What can they
bring that will be so valuable that it will compensate for all their potential
to do evil?
Having been
a minister for over 40 years I find their motive a simple one: To convert, to
spread the word, to evangelize, to insure all in the interstellar community
will not burn in hell for all eternity as infidels. The word Islam means to
"submit," and the Christians are commanded to "Go into all the world and make
disciples of all people." "Turn or burn," as they saying goes. Religion must
make new converts or else it will die in a generation. All power and wealth a
religion possesses comes as a result of evangelism and on a starship it will be
no different than it is here on earth. Already I have heard one religionists
bring up the idea of using the tithe on the starship. The tithe is a doctrine
that 10% of all income belongs to God. This lunacy has enriched the church and
impoverished the people. Do we need 10% of the wealth of all the citizens on a
starship going to a religion?
Were this
star ship to leave next year, instead of 100 years, which religion would you
take with you? Scientologists, Roman Catholics, Mormons, Southern Baptists, the
fundamentalists of any religion, Unification church, Falun Gong, who would you
take right now? Most likely none. This decision will be faced some day and if
they (religions) are not willing to be a part of the scientific community and
act for the benefit of all humanity, even if they must act against their own
self-interest, then they are unworthy of being a part of future humanity.
Arguments they will make for
inclusion:
1. The
good they do.
Hospitals, orphanages, feeding
the hungry, clothing the naked, digging wells for impoverished people,
comforting the sick, sitting at the bedside of the dying, all of these and more
are pointed out as justification for the existence of religious bodies. They
would have us believe that there would be no hospitals were it not for
religion. I have been in many hospitals, as a minister, and once through those
doors there is no difference between a "Methodist" hospital and those built by
Kaiser.
I have
pastored for 40 years and there is
nothing I have done that could have not been done by an atheist. The
Church would have you believe if they were to disappear in a moment all good in
this world would cease. While running in San Francisco with my wife I took a
terrible fall and was in great pain, I was lying on the ground unable to move
while all the "good people" walked around me, then two gay men, those hated by
my own denomination, ask me if I was all right. Then the largest of the two bent
down an picked up my, dirty, sweaty body, held me against himself and set me on
a bench, made sure I would be fine and then they strolled off. Good is not the
exclusive domain of any religion and never will be. Whenever a religion tries
to use the good they do to justify their existence, or as an excuse to cover
the evil they have done, I always ask, "what else do you have."
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