RELIGION’S CONTRIBUTION TO ATHEISM

Chapter 4

As mentioned in the previous chapter, atheism's real nemesis is religion, not God. While religion is, has been, and will continue to be a necessary and important factor in sustaining civilization, we must admit that atheism's complaints are not altogether unfounded.

Historically, religion has been the source of much hatred, strife, abuse, bloodshed, violence, war, intolerance, and discrimination and, in many ways, has been a drag on society due to the slowness of religion to correct itself. Even in modern times, when many religions are purging themselves of violence and intolerance, other religions persist in promoting discrimination in the form of a "chosen people" mentality, in unwisely holding fast to ancient mores that have no application to modern society, and in using violence as their method of proselytizing. Such religions rely and thrive on the ignorance and mental laziness of their members.

But let us not forget that secular ideologies and governments have caused far more hatred, strife, abuse, bloodshed, violence, war, intolerance, and discrimination than has religion. It is disingenuous to claim that all such behavior is caused by religion. Thus, even if religion were eradicated, which it will never be, all these negative factors would continue to exist in secular, Godless societies. In fact, without religion, we could expect more violence, more bloodshed, more discrimination, and more death. But back to our point.

Religionists and mature believers must recognize that religion in general, especially in the Middle Ages, was a fierce persecutor of science, scientists, and scientific discoveries. Matters that 21st century religionists now accept as fact were once violently opposed by "the Church."

Consider also the absolute control the Church had over practically every aspect of the lives of the populace, and even the governments, often repaying disobedience or dissent with a painful death.

Yet it was the rebellion and challenges of unbelievers that freed not only the scientists, but also the believers from oppressive theocracies.

Thus, atheism's challenges to religion have had, and continue to have, the positive effect of purging religion of much superstition and error for which mature believers can be thankful. But never should a mature believer have any fear that atheism's challenges will be successful in its ill-fated attempt to remove God. As will be shown, the arguments against the existence of God are based on misinterpretations of snapshots or small windows of time in an eternal panoply of a divine reality.

So, we should not be surprised that the rise in atheism is a direct response to the dogmatism of blind theology, superstition, intolerance, and religious abuse.

Religion can do much to nullify many arguments of atheists by taking a sober look at itself, its doctrines, and its behavior and then making the needed adjustments.

For Christianity, that would mean taking a closer look at their professed exemplar, Jesus of Nazareth, and conforming their doctrines and attitudes to what Jesus actually taught and did. At the same time, they must abandon the "old wine" of pre-Christian theology and the new "Kool-Aid"[^1] of post-Christ doctrines and rituals that originated with "church fathers" and theologians. So much of what is offensive in Christianity has no relation to the authentic Christ.

Jesus was a pioneer in independent thinking. When he was chastised by the dominant religion of his day for failing to hold on to their antiquated traditions, Jesus did not capitulate. He reasoned with them as to why their traditions were unreasonable and then went about his life doing what he knew to be right and just. He was a superlative example of enlightened worship and living truth.

Jesus knew the Jews of his day held on to fanciful stories and misconceptions about God and God's purpose for humanity. But instead of destroying the faith of those spiritual babes and condemning their doctrines, he simply ignored their erroneous teachings and presented his "new wine" of spiritual liberty and freedom. He provided the Jews with a way out of their religion of animal sacrifices by allowing his death to be a sacrifice that would end all sacrificing. He elevated their view of God, identifying God as a Spirit and not an anthropomorphic representation of their own limited understanding. And he demonstrated the enlightened way a mature believer should comport and conduct him or herself.

Contrary to popular opinion, Jesus did not condone the old Jewish stories or the old ways of worship. He occasionally used their stories to teach important lessons, but he in no way affirmed them as true.

The first-century Jews who listened to Jesus progressed from their primitive religion of laws and rituals to the new religion of freedom and personal responsibility. They understood that truth is progressive, as the apostle Paul wrote:

We know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (1 Corinthians 13:9--12)

See also Hebrews 7:11--25 where it says that the Old Testament law and priesthood were imperfect, weak, and ultimately useless; and Hebrews 8:7--13 which says that the Old Testament covenant was lacking and is now obsolete.

The apostle Paul, who promoted the teachings of Jesus, explained to the Jews of his day that all who continue to hold on to the old stories written by Moses would remain blinded to truth:

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2 Corinthians 3:12--17)

Thus, according to the apostle Paul, a Christian who holds on to the ancient stories of Moses will be incapable of seeing truth, whereas believers who have matured in their faith and turned to Jesus will have the freedom and the wisdom to know and accept all that is true.

The above biblical references show that the writings of the Bible are not perfect, complete, or infallible. But when religionists represent their religions, doctrines, or writings as infallible, they are actually providing atheism with the very pillars used to prop up Godless conclusions. Those who refuse to accept the possibility that their religion, doctrines, or writings may be incomplete, misunderstood, or in some ways in error will find themselves complicit in the erosion of faith.

The burden for godlessness must be borne equally by misdirected atheism and dogmatic, unyielding, unprogressive religion.

By contrast, all believers who look at religion and the Bible through the eyes of Jesus (with the "mind of Christ") will be left with their faith intact when the stories of Moses are found lacking.

[^1]: "Kool-Aid" is a reference to the Jonestown Massacre in 1978 where a charismatic leader (Jim Jones) forced his followers to consume a drink (Kool-Aid) laced with poison resulting in the death of over 900 of his followers. It carries the idea of blindly following the commands of men. (https://www.britannica.com/event/Jonestown)