Thursday, September 29, 2005
Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'?
One of the most popular articles making its rounds in the blogosphere this week has been the article, "Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'", by Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent at the (London) Times.
Gledhill references research published in the Journal of Religion and Society that contrary to common assumption, religious belief actually contributes towards higher rates of murder, abortion, sexual promiscuity, and suicide. Religion, therefore, is not necessary for a healthy society.
I haven't read the actual study, so I am limited in my critique. But, some reflections can be made.
First, if these research observations are accurate, it certainly confirms the suspicion that a growing number of people have concerning the demise of organized religion in our society. It certainly also confirms the view of the irreligious teachings of Jesus. Even in Jesus' time and the first century religion was proving itself to be corrupt and in tandem with the oppressive structures of society.
Again not having read the study, I can't judge the perspective of the authors. But from the Times reporting it sounds like a targeted attack on conservative Christians in the U.S. Certainly this group is deserving of appropriate criticism, as their lust after political and social power has been anything but healthy. Having said that, however, the credibility of this research could be called in question if the authors approached this study with an "axe to grind".
Nevertheless, first century followers of Jesus would have been strongly critical of the role of religion in their society. Their strange, new spirituality was perceived as atheist and counter-cultural. Is it time we place modern religion under the same light?
It's time to stop wanting God on our side. Let's be on God's side!
Friday, September 16, 2005
An Important Lesson from Albert Ellis
Albert Ellis was well-known pscyhologist (and atheist) who made several scathing comments regarding Christianity:
"Religion (Christianity), by positing absolute, god-given standards of conduct, tends to make you feel self-deprecating and dehumanized when you err; and also encourages you to despise and dehumanize others when they act unethically. Since self-deprecation is the main cause of anxiety, overweening guilt, and depression, and since damning others is probably the chief source of hostility, rage and violence, religious moralism patently produces or abets enormous amounts of severe emotional disturbance"
In a short, but valuable article in TheOoze, Mark Karris responds to this quote by honestly examining the path Christianity has taken:
It seems that modernity has molded Christianity into everything that it was not meant to be: An individualistic, consumeristic, hedonistic, moralistic, mechanistic, humanistic and other harmful “istics” which are contrary to love, community, relationships and “others-centric” instead of “me-centric” living.
Modernity’s focus on the exterior of the well oiled machines and it’s products unfortunately brain washed the church (not the church as a whole but enough of it) into thinking if we can use our hegemonic language to persuade people to not sin and keep the outside of the cup clean then we have accomplished the means of Christianity.
Again, Christianity as a religion has often moved very far from the way of Jesus, but is sadly unaware of how it has sold its soul.
