Question of Faith Revisited

[joggerjayne]

I was just looking at the post below, asking why Christianity gets "torn to shreds".

It put me in mind of an answer given by Prof. Richard Dawkins to a question about what he would say to a true believer, who has felt the power of Christianity. His answer was along the lines of this ...

If you are brought up in the West, you are taught to believe in Jesus.

If you are brought up in India, you are taught to believe in Hundu deities.

If you are brought up in Afghanistan, you are taught to believe in Allah.

If you had been brought up in ancient Denmark, you would believe in Wotan and Thor.

If you were brought up in ancient Greece, you would believe in Zeus.

If you are brought up in central Africa, you might believe in the Great Juju.

Etc.

There is no evidence (other than "evidence" generated by each of the faiths themselves) to suggest that any one of these beliefs is more likely that any other.

Quite simply ... we believe, because we are taught to believe. It was the first attempt of the elders in our society to explain why we are here. We are taught to believe it.

By the same token, our elders seek to explain the appearance of presents on 25th December by teaching us to believe in Santa Claus (who, like Jesus, was probably based upon some real person).

So, of the 1,000 or so "Gods" who have been worshipped in the past few millenia, maybe there is only a 0.1% chance that Christians have plumped for the right one ... and a 99.9% chance that the Judeo-Christian God is the wrong one.

Maybe we need to pick a new God, and start dancing naked in the woods ... before it is too late !

[askyourgran]

No it doesn't matter JJ, just my imagination working overtime.

Relax wyzard it wouldn't be quite the same thing.

[naomi24]

Oi! Leave the stained glass out of it gran! ;o)

[askyourgran]

Sorry naomi. I thought it was strange you not being on here, although this has ended up being a lighthearted discussion as you can see.

[naomi24]

Oh, we do that sometimes, gran. Unfortunately not as often as we used though. Shame you and Jayne weren't around when we had parties aboard Noah's Ark with jellied eels, knees up Mother Brown, and me in possession of the key to the wine cellar - and George Clooney in tow!!

[naomi24]

Haaaaa!

[askyourgran]

Is that the power of prayer naomi If you've got a key to the wine cellar and George Clooney you've got it all, please give me a shout the next time you open up. (:-)) .

Wyzard gotta go goodnight.
Night naomi.

[naomi24]

Haa! I will gran. Night night. Sleep tight. x