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:: 11.21.2006 ::
Atheism is to blame for mass murders?
Read this - Dinesh D'Souza's response to claims that organized religion is "the most potent source of human conflict, past and present." His central thesis:Whatever the motives for atheist bloodthirstiness, the indisputable fact is that all the religions of the world put together have in 2,000 years not managed to kill as many people as have been killed in the name of atheism in the past few decades.
Consider one question: could the atheist mass-murderers of the last century have inflicted as much damage had they lived in the Middle Ages? Technology seems, to me, to be the key to rebutting D'Spuza's argument, which is that since Stalin and Hitler killed many more people than died in the Crusades, or the Inquisition, atheism is therefore much more deadly than the Church. I reply, sir, with a sentence from your own column: Using the latest techniques of science and technology, man seeks to displace God and create a secular utopia here on earth. Imagine, if you will, Crusaders with machine guns and explosives, or Inquisitors with access to Hitler's ovens. How you possibly compare today's apples with the oranges of 500 years ago?
I don't know about you, but I can certainly name, off the top of my head, a lot more instances of violence done in the name of religion, than I can violence done by atheists. D'Souza himself only names 3 "killer" atheists.
No one would contend that religion is the sole cause of violence; but it has been involved in an awful lot of it, throughout human history.
What's so great about a moral code you read in a book, and in many cases feel free to interpret or ignore? How is that better than one you develop from your own life experience, learning from your friends and family, and larger community?
I have an idea. Let's all adhere to the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Jesus said that, right D'Souza? There's nothing in there about God, but I think you would agree that it is a moral code worth following. Imagine: no genocide, no racism, no spousal abuse, no priests sexually molesting altar boys. And I know a lot of atheists - gasp! - actually believe quite strongly in the rule of reciprocity. I happen to be one of them.
:: Deb 7:03 PM :: permalink ::
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