A Closer Look at the Origins of Religion

The religious debate of God vs. Science continues in perpetuity.

Aaah, religion. The source of many a debate and even more wars and bloodshed throughout the ages. It’s no doubt a sensitive topic for most and raises some interesting questions:

• Does religion do more harm than good?
• Is religion necessary?
• What is the real purpose of religion?
• Does God exist?
• Where does God come from? (Who or what created God?)
• Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?
• Is God sovereign or do we have a free will?
• What happens after death?
• Is there a heaven and hell?
• Is there anything God can’t do? (What about sinning?)

If you’re non-religious (or spiritual) already, this collection of articles and books will prove somewhat obvious, but if you’re currently steeped in any particular religion, reading through these resources with an open mind will hopefully give much reason for thought and reflection.

A Few Quotes on the Folly of Religion

“I put it to you that both you and I are atheists. It is just that I believe in one fewer gods than you. When you finally come to understand why you don’t believe in all those other gods then you will understand why I don’t believe in yours.” — Anon

“We must respect the other fellow’s religion, but only in the sense and to the extent that we respect his theory that his wife is beautiful and his children smart.” — H.L. Mencken

“In religion and politics, people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination.” — Mark Twain

“Never meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.” — Spotted on a bumper sticker

You can find an even larger collection of quotes on religion on this page.

Where Did Religion Come From?

A worthwhile starting point to explore the origins of all religions is http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com.  An extract is shown below:

Recommended Religion Reads Online

• Where do religions come from?
• The empty name of God
• 10 Reasons You Should Never Have a Religion

Recommended Religion Reads in Print

• The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Acharya S.
• Aryan Sun Myths: The Origin Of Religions by Sarah E. Titcomb
• A further reading list can be found at Alternative Books on Religion.

Please be patient – this page is still under development, and there are many resources to be added soon.

Common Questions About Religion

• Which is the one true religion?
• Why are there so many religions? Do all religions lead to God/salvation/enlightenment?
• With all of the different religions, how can I know which one is correct?
• What is the difference between religion and spirituality?
• What is the definition of a cult?
• What is the right religion for me?
• Why are there so many televangelist scandals?
• What is religious syncretism?
• What are the core differences between science and religion?
• What is religious science?
• How can I tell who is a false religious teacher?
• What is the best way to evangelize someone who is in a cult or false religion?
• What is the new age movement?
• Should we allow false teachers into our home?
• Should we be tolerant of other people’s religious beliefs?
• Is religion opium for the masses?

Common Objections Against Christianity

Perry Marshall, whose teachings about Google Adwords I respect highly, has been running a Google campaign targeted at Christians.  With over 250,000 followers, he’s received a fair number of questions about Christianity, which he has tried to defend here.  I wish he’d stick to Adwords – that really is his strength.  At some point I’ll prepare a rebuttal on his apologetics, but it will take some time, as I’m sure it took him time to put his missive together.  But I digress — his list of objections is interesting:

• There is no scientific evidence whatsoever of any miracles ever actually occurring.
• The Jesus story just is an accumulation of myths of legendary people, all rolled into one über nice guy.
• Science and faith are incompatible ways of thinking. Separate realms that should be kept separate.
• The history of science is the story of one religious superstition after another being eradicated by reason and logic.
• The Bible is a translation of a translation of tales cobbled together by Constantine in 300AD.
• St. Paul invented Christianity by making a nice rabbi named Jesus into a god.
• Evolution disproves God.
• In their arrogant superiority, Christians think everybody else is going to burn in hell for all eternity.
• The Bible is riddled with contradictions and therefore cannot be the perfect word of God.
• More people have been killed in the name of religion than any other cause in the history of the world.

If you've enjoyed what you've read so far, you'll certainly enjoy my big-picture thinking in the booklet The 2012 Manifesto. You can read more about it here or just click on the big-ass Download button below and I'll take you straight to the download page.

Tagged as: religion, Spirituality