Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 19 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
Sci Tech    H4'ed 9/24/12

The Non-promise of Earth bound Religions into Space

By       (Page 2 of 6 pages) Become a premium member to see this article and all articles as one long page.   5 comments

   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."

Next Page  1  |  2  |  3  |  4  |  5  |  6

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Must Read 1   Well Said 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Alvin Carpenter, PhD Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Pastor, First Southern Baptist Church West Sacramento
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

The Non-promise of Earth bound Religions into Space

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend