If one bothers to read through all the contents of my blog, it is all too easy to notice my focus on Christianity. But the thing is, I was never a Christian. And for the record, I was never part of any organized religion.
My interest in these matters of religion and irreligion has largely been influenced by American culture. It comes as no surprise that Christianity, being the largest religion in America, comes up most often in discussions concerning religion and politics. Since my favorite podcasts, The Atheist Experience and The Non-Prophets Radio, are produced in America, I have learnt a lot about Christianity (or at the very least, the American brand of Christianity).
The result of those influences is my greater interest and knowledge in Christianity compared to other religions. This also means that I will, in all probability, NEVER become a Christian.
Why?
Because Christianity is morally bankrupt. Perhaps even more so than Islam or any god-fearing religion you care to name.
Before anyone suggest that I'm bashing somebody's religion, read those holy books first and think. I'm simply discussing the ideas here - their religious ideas, taken to their logical conclusion.
Christianity's doctrine of salvation is disgusting on so many levels. Firstly, the idea that the original sin requires a human sacrifice to forgive is absurd on three counts.
One, Yahweh, who is alleged to be omniscient, cannot relinquish his responsibility of the Fall. If he created everything including Adam and Eve as well as the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil, then he must know that Adam and Eve would eat of the tree. Despite this knowledge, he created all the conditions leading to the Fall. To put it succinctly, Yahweh created the Fall. He has no justification for punishing anyone for the events he knew would happen.
Two, the way by which Yahweh chooses to forgive humanity of the original sin is obscene - ie, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is both absurd and morally reprehensible. Yahweh who creates the rules of this game decides that the only way he would forgive humanity was by making a human sacrifice to himself. Couldn't Yahweh just forgive? Isn't that more godly? To make matters more absurd, the sacrifice is himself in human form. Think this through - Would you kill yourself to forgive someone (of a crime he is not to be blamed for anyways)? Where is the rationale in doing that?
Three, the abdication of moral responsibility on the part of Christians. If you do accept the premise that humans are all sinners and must be forgiven by God, how is accepting the sacrifice of Jesus as atonement morally acceptable? If you committed a crime, can your mother serve the jail term for you? Accepting someone else's sacrifice as atonement for your sins is analogous to having your mother serve jail term because you committed some crime.
Christianity does not offer salvation. It is an entrapment coupled with an immoral contract to relieve the imposed guilt.
Worst of all, Christians, sheep and shepherd alike, exult about how Jesus saves. Something so wicked exulted as divine mercy. In all honesty, I can barely stomach that. Such profound warping of thinking only serves to demonstrate the power of indoctrination.
The path to heaven according to Christianity is too horrendously twisted.
Depending on the denomination of Christianity you are looking at, there are some variation in the criterion for entry into heaven. Some may consider details like baptism and doing good works. But the single most important (in many cases, the only) criteria for salvation is belief. As long as you accept Jesus as your lord and saviour, you are safe. Otherwise, to hell you go.
Such a system is anything but just.
As if that wasn't enough, going to hell meant eternal torment in the lakes of fire according to Christian doctrine. Emphasis on eternal. That is also fundamentally unjust. Infinite punishment for finite crimes is not justice. To use an extreme example, take Hitler. Hitler regime killed millions of people - a finite number. A just system will punish Hitler for a finite length of time no matter how egregious his crimes were as those were still finite crimes.
But it gets better. Simple non-belief also warrants eternal torture according to Yahweh/Jesus. That means an atheist who lead an ethical, fulfilling life is just as deserving of hell as the murderer who wasn't a Christian. Sweet, eh?
And these are just about the core doctrine of Christianity. There is so much more I haven't said.
Yet just these alone is revolting. So bloody fucking revolting. Yes, I deliberately used profanity for the emphasis. I find it personally disheartening, scary, tragic and mind boggling that there are so many Christians. Fortunately, I can retain composure because I have the knowledge of how religions created those conditions in the first place.
Christianity has no morality. It has obedience not morals.
And don't even get started with the Bible.
5 comments:
"The Atheist Experience and The Non-Prophets Radio, are produced in America, I have learnt a lot about Christianity (or at the very least, the American brand of Christianity)."
You've learned a lot about Jesus from His enemies? And that doesn't cause you to pause for thought?
Paused for thought. Yes.
That's why I specifically worded the statement with "American brand of Christianity". I did additional research on my own.
To address your point. Does it matter if those doctrines in question were accurately portrayed?
So why don't you address my points directly since you seem to think they're inaccurate portrayals of the position?
"So why don't you address my points directly since you seem to think they're inaccurate portrayals of the position?"
Since the points to which you refer have been answered and reanswered since probably before you were born, I wasn't going to bother replying, but then I got to thinking.
Even if every one of the points were addressed so clearly that you could see where they were in error, do you think it would make any difference in your position?
Well, I've been a Christian before, for close to 2 decades, unlike you.
For what it's worth, I would say your comments on it are pretty accurate.
On a personal note:
The doctrine in Christianity actually made it harder for me to forgive people. Nowadays, when people offend me, I put it down to culture, upbringing, genes, etc. So I forgive and forget quite easily.
In the past though, I always hesitated in forgiving people. Especially those who don't ask for it. I mean, was I supposed to be more forgiving than God? After all, He sends people to eternal hell on pretty much a daily basis. (Since at least 1 person per day dies that is not a bona fide Christian.)
If I forgave people whom God Himself had not forgiven, was I not committing a travesty?
"Even if every one of the points were addressed so clearly that you could see where they were in error, do you think it would make any difference in your position?"
If you actually addressed the points, then yes, I would actually change my position. Presumably, I would think that Christianity is less immoral than I thought it was.
Still, I wouldn't think it's any more true.
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