religion is proof that god doesn't exist

[miriam_e]

Religion always demolishes its own case for the existence of a god. Any proponent of any particular religion will always say "Oh yes, all those other religions are wrong. Out of the thousands of religions ours is the only one that is right." I'd always been distracted by the incredible arrogance of such a statement, but I'd never noticed before how neatly it invalidates itself.

Each religion lays claim to having some direct connection with its god which can only be accepted on faith. Yet when any religion rejects another's faith it is clearly stating that faith is not enough. But faith is the only thing religion has.

Every believer does a better job of demolishing faith than any atheist ever could.

Comments

[sbarret.livejournal.com]

Any proponent of any particular religion will always say "Oh yes, all those other religions are wrong. Out of the thousands of religions ours is the only one that is right."

Actually, I don't think that is a true statement. I'm pretty sure there is at least one religious leader who feels all religions have a basic fundamental truth and enlightement/heaven/salvation can be achieved through multiple paths - The Dalai Llama. I don't know if that is his personal belief or a basic tenet of his brand of Buddhism.

Also, if you've heard the numerous jokes about folks dying and going to heaven. They are told as they pass one room - "shh. be quiet. The catholics think they are the only ones here..." - That joke and its variants suggest the possibility of multiple paths or multiple 'right ways'.

While many folks say faith is all you need, I think just as many would say that a very good person will go to heaven etc, regardless of religious beliefes. Even in christianity, there is debate whether faith alone or faith in combination with good acts get you the E-train to the pearly gates.

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Thanks Sandra. You are completely correct of course.

I've made a number of other mistakes in that piece too, which I should fix. I kinda rushed it into a post because it had hit me suddenly with the force of a Mack truck how one religion dismissing another actually dismisses itself. I'd never realised this before because I'd always been distracted by the breathtaking arrogance of "Out of the thousands of fables that must be taken on faith, ours is the only one that is correct."

I'll rewrite it soon. And explicitly make the point that only religions that don't condemn other religions escape this self-invalidation. If religious people could understand this it might go some way towards peace.

I'm very grateful for the comment. I need all the help I can get in sorting this damn thing out. I want a character to say it in an up-coming short story. The catch is it has to be in a way that a religious person can understand it. My above example is way short of that and hopelessly clumsy -- just an initial feeling around for the main points. But by chatting with people (like yourself) I'm getting to grips with it better.