pause for lightening strike

December 23, 2012

“I don’t believe in God”

A tentative half-thought on a speeding train at the age of 19, followed by a pause waiting for the lightening strike that never came. It’s difficult to think your way out of religious belief, even when all the logic posts are pointed the other way. It’s designed to sink its pincers in deep.

But why on earth do human beings have to find a higher, unseen being to refer to? And please don’t tell me it’s because one exists. Every little tribe, every civilisation, every culture has it’s own very weird superstition that involves some invisible deity tinkering around on another plane. Most of them insist that theirs is the only true religion. They can’t all be right and every one of them is equally bizarre for any rational mind that’s managed to extract itself from the labyrinthine trap of belief.

It seems to me that the most obvious reason for the appeal of religion is that it’s like the idealistic extension of a perfect childhood. The deity is the parent – someone who knows you intimately, understands what this chaotic existence is about and who loves and looks after you. Although some people prefer to believe in the angry parent who wants you to follow orders. Or maybe a combination of the two.

With all the information available about the development and evolution of the huge variety of religions kicking about, how can anyone actually continue to follow one? Read a book or two, think about it, shake off those shackles of nonsense.  And don’t forget to pause for the lightening strike …

Post navigation

← just in case

picking wounds →