"Reason" seems to be a common thread in many reactions to the so-called faithful. Those on the far Right are inclined to invoke faith as proprietary to their own beliefs; those on the far Left invoke "reason" as proprietary to their political agendas. This makes no sense. It is one thing to be a non-believer; it is quite another to rationalize non-belief on the grounds of human reason.
Some say that the far Right and the far Left are the same people – control through Bibliolatry (worship of the Bible) and through government, but nevertheless control.
Historically, the track record of human reason is abysmal. In fact, human reason has consistently undermined the faith of believers by encouraging the thinking that anyone who refuses to believe is unreasonable. Reason is the fly-in-the-ointment that leads to bad religion.
Assuming there is no middle ground between faith and reason, is it more rational to believe in reason than in the supernatural? More to the point, if one fails to believe in the supernatural, is it necessary to believe in anything, let alone human reason? The notion that one must have faith in something is irrational if you reject faith as unreasonable.
Condemning the faithful on the grounds of reason is an exercise in futility. The one thing on which believers are in agreement is that faith is the antidote to reason. One believes because reason has failed to bring hope or comfort. Faith is by its nature irrational and unreasonable. That is why it is called faith.
The Christian Right, predominately Republican, has a lot to say about taking God out of public life. The problem is, however, that the carving of the Ten Commandments over the courthouse portico or prayer in public schools has nothing to do with any god in which you would want to place your faith. It even fails the test of reason that anyone would believe because of a carving. Believe in what? The Ten Commandments or the courthouse?
McChurch, the drive-through, fast-food temple of the Christian Right, has lost its bearings. The trappings of faith, rather than its living, breathing reality, is biblically condemned as a form of religion without the spirit thereof.
Because one is a believer, however, does not mean that one has to take leave of one's reason. The notion that Christian phrases underscore a nation as Christian not only defies the nature of faith but destroys faith as the basis for belief.
It takes no faith to insist that the Ten Commandments be carved over the courthouse door, nor does it take reason to insist that it be removed. Faith should care less about public prayers and slogans; reason should care less about the slogans of the faithful.
As for the destiny of unbelievers, how could anyone who has reasoned God out of existence care less about a Hell that, in his reason, does not exist? Unless, of course, human reason becomes something of a faith, in which case destiny on such thin ice is a far worse bet than belief in a supreme being.
Stan Moody, Christian Policy Institute, author of "McChurched: 300 Million Served and Still Hungry."
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