Lay Theism

In light of Tony Snow’s untimely death today, I think this piece he wrote not quite a year ago for Christianity Today is pretty sad:

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/july/25.30.html

To believe in something so fervently just to bring comfort to yourself and your loved ones about the pain, suffering, worry, and randomness of such events makes no sense. Even some of the passages seem written to convince the reader (and maybe even the writer) that his beliefs are not just fantasy.

Blessings arrive in unexpected packages—in my case, cancer.

Seriously?

Those of us with potentially fatal diseases—and there are millions in America today—find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God’s will.

Uh, yeah… it’s certainly a challenge to discern “God’s Will” in a plan that includes as much death, disease, and destruction as His apparently does.  Just because people find strength through adversity does not mean there is a grand design or a designer.  In fact, I would suggest that this is direct evidence that there is NOT.

Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence What It All Means, Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.

OK, this is a problem.  Hints?  Consolations?  If I were all powerful and had left behind a book that was to give My most intelligent creatures some indication of my design, I might do better than vague hints and worthless consolations.  The bible is such a inconsistent mess, it’s hard to believe anything sensible can be gleaned from it. 

I don’t know why I have cancer, and I don’t much care. It is what it is—a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths begin to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.

Here’s where a believer’s logic completely breaks down.  If it is “The Will of God” that you have cancer, why are you seeking a cure?! It’s God’s Will! Quit trying to alter God’s blessing for you. Even worse, these great and stunning truths were already there before you had cancer.  You were mortal before you had cancer. Why is it after these awakenings that people decide to live their life differently or more purposefully?

Love is free, and if you aren’t getting plenty of it, then you are not living right. Experiencing love without God getting the credit is wonderful. It focuses the energy and directs the action… it’s all you.  There is no other force behind your life.  Whatever you do with and for others is entirely your free will.  That’s what makes it so amazing.

Now get off the Internet, and go hug your kids, or kiss your wife, or walk your dog… Go tell someone that you love that you love them, especially if that’s not something you say frequently.

OK, I posted the first Henry Rollins clip, and then found this one… even better. It’s excellent.

A new Zogby international poll shows that 69% of Americans support public school teachers presenting the theory of evolution as well as theories that are in opposition. If only there were any that didn’t have God somewhere in them.

The theory of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin in his groundbreaking work “Origin of Species” published in 1859 has been championed by scientists ever since. And like evolution itself, the science of it, the gathering evidence and data is a ceaseless pursuit of scientists all over the world. In the theory of evolution there is no talk of God, and no Bibles are used. They’re not looking for higher powers, extra-terrestrials or anything else that could be found in the science fiction section because they are not dealing with fiction.

As more is known and more is shown, Christian fundamentalists see their fingers being pulled off the steering wheel as their oppressive shackles are being more and more seen as fear-based nonsense. And so these awful people who favor abstinence only sex education as does the President of the United States seek yet again to put God into public school classrooms. First, it was the re-write of the Pledge of Allegiance, the addition of “under God” between “one nation” and “indivisible” which they insist sounds great. Actually, it sounds like a badly punched in edit that throws the rhythm of the piece way off and totally removes the power of the statement.

Well, they’re back with the theory of intelligent design (ID). It’s not much of a theory. It’s more of an over-fancified collection of sentiments basically saying that there are lifeforms and functions in them that are so complex only God Almighty could’ve come up with them, and we can just stop wondering and just start praising him.

Now the foundation of intelligent design relies heavily upon an idea called irreducible complexity. The breathtaking stupidity of irreducible complexity is only outweighed by the complete lack of science involved. It is just intellectually lazy and cannot be tested or challenged. You can’t get God to come down to the lab and prove a fucking thing.

You just have to believe, and science does not operate on faith. Faith is taught in churches. If you can’t prove it in the scientific world, you’ve got no game. These Christian fundamentalist psychotics are so power-mad they will stop at nothing. Willful ignorance, intimidation and suppression of information are their tools. Intelligent design, abstinence only sex-ed! The new Dark Ages are upon us! Hang on folks, this century’s gonna be a rough ride!

Also, you might want to take a look at the VERY powerful story of Henry Rollins speaking to a wounded soldier.

Henry Rollins — Ember of Rage

I never was a Black Flag fan, but he is an interesting guy. I don’t necessarily think he’s a genius, but to combat the likes of Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh it may take exactly this sort of tough, straight talk.

Freedom is under attack…under attack by hysterical and well-funded Christian psychotics; intellectually undernourished leaders who lie and manipulate information; over-fed, Baby Huey, coward-bitch motherfuckers like Karl Rove and their suck-up coward-weakling apologists like Sean Hannity. To question authority is to be somehow unpatriotic? un-American? and in league with terrorists world-wide? Fuck you!

Obama is a true believer in the religion of Environmentalism. Not the science of the environment. Where that science survives, it provides us with a vital service; and it doesn’t take any faith to believe in the findings of genuine scientists doing science properly.

Read more below in the column by Orson Scott Card…

Freeman Dyson’s thoughts on the subject are stunning:

All the books that I have seen about the science and economics of global warming … miss the main point. The main point is religious rather than scientific.

There is a worldwide secular religion which we may call environmentalism, holding that we are stewards of the earth, that despoiling the planet with waste products of our luxurious living is a sin, and that the path of righteousness is to live as frugally as possible.

The ethics of environmentalism are being taught to children in kindergartens, schools, and colleges all over the world.

Environmentalism has replaced socialism as the leading secular religion. And the ethics of environmentalism are fundamentally sound. Scientists and economists can agree with Buddhist monks and Christian activists that ruthless destruction of natural habitats is evil and careful preservation of birds and butterflies is good.

The worldwide community of environmentalists — most of whom are not scientists — holds the moral high ground, and is guiding human societies toward a hopeful future. Environmentalism, as a religion of hope and respect for nature, is here to stay.

We have to be cautious of Environmentalism as a religion vs. a science… The Environmental Puritan movement is anti-American to the core. You can’t follow their advice while being president of the United States — we don’t need an anti-American president.

read more | digg story

I found this very moving and worthwhile.  I hope to find a local event to attend on May 10, 2008.  I am a huge TED fan, and knew that Jehane Noujaim would go on to do very important work.  Raising the consciousness of people around the world in this way is important work and will go a long way towards creating a future that we can all look forward to rather than fear.  Incidentally, Pangea refers to a time millions of years ago when the land mass on earth was contiguous.

What is Pangea Day?

Pangea Day is a global event bringing the world together through film. On May 10, 2008, live events in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will be linked by satellite to produce a program of powerful films, live music and visionary speakers. The program will be broadcast live to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones.

Who started Pangea Day?

Pangea Day was created by award-winning documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim in collaboration with the TED Conference after she won the prestigious TED Prize, which granted her a wish to change the world. Together, Jehane, TED, and the Pangea Day team — led by Executive Director Delia Cohen — have created Pangea Day to harness the power of film to enhance empathy, compassion, and peace.

And if you aren’t familiar with TED, check it out.  I watch and listen to the free podcasts all the time.

What is TED?

TED stands for “Technology, Entertainment, Design.” It started out in 1984 as a conference bringing together people from those worlds. Since then, its scope has become even broader. This annual conference brings together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers and challenges them to give the talk of their lives. Talks from the conference are now made available online, for free, and have been watched more than 35 million times worldwide.

What is the TED prize?

The TED Prize was created as a way of taking the inspiration, ideas, and resources that are generated at TED and using them to make a difference in the world. The prize was introduced in 2005 and recognizes three individuals annually with the talent to change the world. It’s unlike any other award, and here’s why: Although the winners receive $100,000 — that’s the least of what they get — the real prize is that they are granted a wish. A wish to change the world. The TED Community then comes together to make that wish come true.

How amazing is that?

To get an idea of how moving and clever this will be, take a look at the world through someone else’s eyes for a minute… Tank Driver:

Very well done.  We should all take time to reflect on our common human experience.  We are all in this together.