It is certainly possible for a species to evolve (either biologically or technologically) to a stage where it (in our eyes) appears to possess god-like abilities. Does this make that being a god? Perhaps if you go by our traditional somewhat primitive definitions. Then are we not Gods to ants? Does this mean if member of an extra terrestrial species were to visit earth and that being had omnipotent abilities we should worship it? Imagine a being with the ability to create whole worlds and star systems with living ecosystems and billions of species to inhabit them. That does not entitle it to be called a God. Who knows how far our own species will have come in millions of years from now? If we haven't annihilated ourselves with our (or rather the powerful people, corporations and governments of our world's) stupid primitive wars and power games then I'm sure we will be much more advanced than we presently are.
I do not consider myself a narrow-minded individual however the idea of a God just seems like an idea that hasn't been thought about a great deal for the logical reasons I mentioned above.
Just because a belief exists for many, many generations it does not mean it should be continued. Many of our ancestors probably believed in witches and approved of the witch burnings of their time. That's certainly a belief I'm sure most people will agree is better left in the past. What about religion? Do we continue to believe in the existence of a God just because our parents and grandparents and great-grandparents (and so on) possessed these beliefs? Yet when we think deeply about these belief systems we find no proof, evidence or logical reasons - just old books passed down throughout the generations, written by people thousands of years ago at a time when our world was very primitive in comparison to the technology and knowledge at our disposal today.
Admittedly one may experience some emotional guilt at relinquishing their beliefs which may have been their family's only hope in life but I think it's sad when people can't enjoy life without the (probably false) hope religion gives them. My own family are Christians and I make my being atheist no secret to them. I feel no guilt - I didn't ask when I was born to be baptised and forced into joining a religion when I certainly didn't have the mind to consent to doing so. I don't try to preach to my family nor do I approve of people preaching atheism to religious people (or people preaching religion to atheists/ members of other religion/ people who don't welcome their preaching - people preaching anything when uninvited to do so). However this is my blog where I will post the thoughts that exist in my mind and I don't consider that preaching, just spilling my thoughts and opinions out where anyone can view them. Feel free to believe whatever you want, the above is just what I choose to believe and my explained reasons.
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. - Seneca the Younger
No comments:
Post a Comment