Ten Myths We Tell Each Other
I'm surprised at times when I learn something I always thought to be true turns out not to be true. Here are some statements many believe to be true which are not:
1. If the Supreme Court reverses Roe v Wade there will be fewer abortions.
Evidence from before Roe and from countries where abortion has been made illegal tell us the number of abortions continue as they were before. The number of abortions in the U.S. has been falling due to better birth control.
2. The U.S. was founded as a Christian Nation.
Those who wrote the Constitution met in Philadelphia during the summer of 1787. While there, they voted against starting each day of deliberations with a prayer. They knew how to write Christianity into the Constitution because some of the existing states had it in theirs. They didn't do it. Some of those who most aggressively argued against putting Christianity into the document later hinted Christianity was in it when they later they were rounding up votes for ratification.
3. Same sex marriage undermines heterosexual marriage.
The marriage of same sex people has no effect on marriage between men and women.
4. The Bible tells us sex between men or between women is a sin.
There is no clear statement and/or explanation in the Bible against sex between people of the same gender.
5. The U.S. is God's favorite nation.
What we claim to know about God's thinking is told to us by those humans who wrote the Bible. Those who wrote the Bible died over a thousand years before the U.S. existed. They never said God favored the U.S. because it did not exist.
6. Heaven and hell are real places.
So far as we know, heaven and hell exist only in the minds of Christian and Jewish believers. They do not exist in the minds of those in other religions nor in those with no religion.
7. Prayers are answered.
Experiments have been conducted measuring the effect on medical patients who have been prayed for and those who have not been prayed for. No difference in the outcomes was found.
8. Morals in the U.S. are in decline.
There is no way to measure a general decline or improvement in morals.
9. Christians have moral grounding. Non Christians do not.
There is no evidence Christians are on a higher moral plain than non Christians.
10. Reading this blog will turn people into atheists.
I have not heard of one person converting to atheism here yet. :)
10 myths make a good list of things to be examined closely before they entrap your mind into the myth of religion.......then addiction, don't be a sucker.
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate your articles and insights. Thanks. Michelle
ReplyDeleteWith regard to #10, most people who read this blog are a fraction of one percent less atheist than me. That is they only believe in one of the gods of human history, and none of the thousands of other gods that humans have worshipped over the millenia.
ReplyDeleteLike you noted John, gods come and go all the time as the superstitions of our species change!
1. If the Supreme Court reverses Roe v Wade there will be fewer abortions.
ReplyDeleteTrue. It is axiomatic that if you criminalize something, prosecute it and sentence it, it will cease or diminish.
2. The U.S. was founded as a Christian Nation.
True. The evidence is overwhelming.
3. Same sex marriage undermines heterosexual marriage.
The marriage of same sex people materially and seriousily damages both heterosexual marriage and the welfare of society.
4. The Bible tells us sex between men or between women is a sin.
Yes, it does.
5. The U.S. is God's favorite nation.
One can make an argument for Israel to be God's favored nation throughout the Old Testament. I believed America is a blessed nation but that blessing can change over time.
6. Heaven and hell are real places.
Real in what sense, actual physical places? A case can be made for both. People with visions of both or either related what the see as very physical places. Are you afraid? Obviously, both are spiritual places.
7. Prayers are answered.
Thou shalt not test the Lord. He is not a magic wand at your command or my command or the Pope's command.
8. Morals in the U.S. are in decline.
Some areas are improving, some declining. If youre not sure how to measure it, just call your local diocese or Wiccan cove. The Catholics will tell you that morals are in decline. The Wiccans will tell you they are improving and to prove it they will skewer you and cook you for dinner.
9. Christians have moral grounding. Non Christians do not.
Both have moral grounding. The devil is in the details.
10. Reading this blog will turn people into atheists.
The best news I've ready in this blog.
You lack the facts to back up your claims. Thomas Jefferson & James Madison both made it perfectly clear that the U.S is NOT a Christian nation & they wrote our founding documents. There's nothing that can top their words. Sorry but you're wrong. This nation is full of uneducated idiots but no one calls us the "Idiotic Nation". They do openly point and laugh at us since January 20th, 2017 but no one can blame them.
DeleteAs for abortions, punishment won't stop women from obtaining them. Do you know how easy it will be to claim miscarriage while obtaining a back alley one? Numbers will be the same. Don't be naive and think they will go down even further. Birth control is why they're going down now.
You also know nothing of Wicca/Paganism. What a pity. The first rule of Wicca: Do as ye will but harm none. There's no skewering anyone and cooking them for dinner. It's all about nature worship. I suggest you actually research the religion before speaking of it again. You just look very uneducated when you try to talk of it.
DeleteMatt your comments kinda ,sorta , lack any actual fact. Your first statement about we are a Christian nation is false .
ReplyDeleteWe all can assume you never read The Treaty of Tripoli !
A signed and ratified document clearly states the U S A is not in any sense founded on the
Christian religion. Wishful thinking misses the point
Bob, actual facts confuse liberals like yourself.
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