Good thing I got back on this camel. Its the first hump I've had in nearly two months. Yeah, it was a cheap joke (though, sadly, based in reality). I expect better from myself, but you know, I really have no basis for doing so. Anyway...

As I sit here on top of Old Smokey (that's what I named my camel being as that he has a mountain on his back and he is covered with cheese (long story having to do with nachos and Jack Daniels (who knew camels couldn't hold their liquor (these parenthesis are starting to get ridiculous (its like tunneling down to the core of the sentence (I wonder if I will encounter the mole people soon (Anyway...))))))), I realize that a blog like this, where I confront beliefs that people have, for some reason, designated as special in that questioning them is taken to be an attack, could be interpreted as mean spirited. So, I thought I should take this opportunity to give a few reasons for my confronting these beliefs instead of respecting them, as we are often told we should do. There will be nothing funny in this post past this point... not that there was anything funny in this post before this point... but there was intended funny... which there won't be anymore... past here... starting now... Okay... go.

There are a few reasons I speak out against belief in a supreme being. While some may see me confronting their beliefs as mean or bigoted or disrespectful, I contend that though everyone has a right to believe what ever it is they wish or think to be true, and no one should be forced to believe any certain way, beliefs, religious included, are not beyond question and deserve no special pass from being taken into the public forum and examined for validity, and for the benefit that they may or may not offer to a society. For too long people have left religion unchecked and unquestioned for fear of offending and this unspoken policy has led to what I consider undesirable circumstances. That being said, I would like to take the time to outline my reasons for confronting theistic beliefs, and why I consider having such a discussion to not only not be disrespectful, but to be a vital step towards building a better society.

The first and most obvious reason I consider it important to confront religious, or theistic, belief is because it is an inherently dangerous ideology. If one can be convinced that a god, who holds their eternal fate in its ethereal hands, desires them to do something then no matter what that thing is or how it may be counter to their natural inclinations, it not only becomes very easy to rationalize doing it, but it becomes ridiculously self destructive not to. If there was a god who could torture you eternally, and someone convinced you that it wanted you to kill every blond haired baby, then for you not to attempt to do so would be utter stupidity. Flying planes into buildings, shooting doctors who run clinics, condemning condom use and assisting an epidemic in all but eradicating a continent of people, shunning, condemning, and at times physically and mentally torturing those whose lifestyle differs from your own; these things, while horrific acts through secular eyes, are only steps towards a glorious destiny, and reward worthy to the tune of eternal bliss in the eyes of one who has come to hold certain religious dogmas as truth. This reason alone is enough that everyone who has a concern for the well being of one's self and one's fellow man should speak out against such ideologies. But, I will continue with more.

Second, such beliefs, which aren't supported by evidence and therefor hold no reliability as truths, are fundamentally flawed foundations on which to build societies. When moral and legal systems are built upon false realities we have no reason to expect them to conform to what is actually best for society. By continuing in the centuries old cycle of allowing religious doctrine to be a factor in our moral and legal systems we have no reason to expect to ever be able to achieve a better society and free ourselves from the tribalistic tendencies that are the basis of most human conflict. Only through striving for a true depiction of reality, and accepting ourselves (human beings) for what we are and reality for what it is, can we, as a social species, expect to be able to arrive at a clear and socially applicable understanding of right and wrong and how best to deal with the problems that arise from a social lifestyle.

Thirdly, theistic belief is completely unnecessary. Belief in a supreme being adds nothing to a society. Anything positive that can be achieved through a god belief can be achieved through a secular understanding of the needs of a society. For people to hold to a dangerous and inherently flawed ontology which is not only unsupported but completely without unique benefit should be considered, by all people with a social conscience, to be completely unacceptable.

And last but not least, belief in a god is simply unfounded and therefor, regardless of whether it were beneficial or not, regardless of what makes one feel warm and fuzzy, regardless of whether or not one wants there to be a god, it is a ridiculous belief, and for that reason, not one that should be held. No one would suggest we should encourage people to believe in invisible giants or talking cows or space rabbits simply because it makes them feel good to do so. There is no good reason to believe in such things and that in and of itself is good reason to discourage belief in them. A belief in a god is no better supported and no different.

So, that is the reason for this caravan. Hey, nobody said this trip was going to be fun. I will try to make it at least mildly entertaining from time to time though. For now, who wants a slightly furry nacho?