This article from Huffington Post look as if it was tailor made for a Nairaland discussion/debate.

Read , enjoy and comment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-a-lindsay/moses-jesus-mohammed-and-_b_6247604.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

Here are some important excerpts from the article.

1. I'm not going to address the Exodus story. It's a heroic myth not dissimilar to Greek or Roman stories about Heracles, Aeneas, or other heroes. If you're willing to believe that God would slaughter thousands of innocent children to punish a ruler for his decisions, then you're probably inclined to accept a plague of frogs.

2. What is especially ironic about the false claim of Moses's influence on the (US)Constitution is that all religions which are based on revelation--and this would include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism, among others--are inherently anti-democratic.

3. Sure, you can claim you talk to God in your prayers, but if you want to remain a member of one of the major religions you cannot claim that God has provided you with a revelation that contradicts the views of the accepted prophets of your religion. If you're Muslim, try to contradict Mohammed and see what happens.

4. If you are a faithful Jew, Christian, Muslim, or Mormon, then you must accept that God does not convey any really important information except through the medium of a few prophets. In other words, there is a rigidly hierarchical, cognitive class system inherent in revealed religion. There are a few people who have been in direct contact with God and are in the know about his plans and instructions. These are the people who tell us what to believe and do. Then there are the billions of the rest of us, who just have to follow along.

5. And, of course, the ultimate twist to this bizarre anti-democratic system is that the revelations are in conflict with each other. One has to choose between Moses talking to a burning bush, Mohammed getting the word from Gabriel in his dreams, and Joseph Smith finding wisdom at the bottom of his hat, among others. Later revelations may borrow from earlier ones, but they're not consistent.

6. There's a better way, of course, to determine how we should behave, what rules and laws we should adopt and follow. This way is democratic. If our moral norms and our laws are to serve human interests--and what would be their point otherwise?--then humans need to talk to each other and reason together. We cannot and should not rely on supposed prophets to tell us what to do; we should figure that out for ourselves.

7. During the childhood of humanity, we did rely on gods and kings to direct us. The myths of the various religions provided the pretext for dictatorial rule by authoritarian rulers (and, sadly, in some parts of the world, they still do). It's high time we grew up and accepted our responsibility to govern ourselves, without the dubious benefit of prophets and divine revelation.

plaetton:
This article from Huffington Post look as if it was tailor made for a Nairaland discussion/debate.

Read , enjoy and comment.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-a-lindsay/moses-jesus-mohammed-and-_b_6247604.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

Here are some important excerpts from the article.

1. I'm not going to address the Exodus story. It's a heroic myth not dissimilar to Greek or Roman stories about Heracles, Aeneas, or other heroes. If you're willing to believe that God would slaughter thousands of innocent children to punish a ruler for his decisions, then you're probably inclined to accept a plague of frogs.

2. What is especially ironic about the false claim of Moses's influence on the (US)Constitution is that all religions which are based on revelation--and this would include Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism, among others--are inherently anti-democratic.

3. Sure, you can claim you talk to God in your prayers, but if you want to remain a member of one of the major religions you cannot claim that God has provided you with a revelation that contradicts the views of the accepted prophets of your religion. If you're Muslim, try to contradict Mohammed and see what happens.

4. If you are a faithful Jew, Christian, Muslim, or Mormon, then you must accept that God does not convey any really important information except through the medium of a few prophets. In other words, there is a rigidly hierarchical, cognitive class system inherent in revealed religion. There are a few people who have been in direct contact with God and are in the know about his plans and instructions. These are the people who tell us what to believe and do. Then there are the billions of the rest of us, who just have to follow along.

5. And, of course, the ultimate twist to this bizarre anti-democratic system is that the revelations are in conflict with each other. One has to choose between Moses talking to a burning bush, Mohammed getting the word from Gabriel in his dreams, and Joseph Smith finding wisdom at the bottom of his hat, among others. Later revelations may borrow from earlier ones, but they're not consistent.

6. There's a better way, of course, to determine how we should behave, what rules and laws we should adopt and follow. This way is democratic. If our moral norms and our laws are to serve human interests--and what would be their point otherwise?--then humans need to talk to each other and reason together. We cannot and should not rely on supposed prophets to tell us what to do; we should figure that out for ourselves.

7. During the childhood of humanity, we did rely on gods and kings to direct us. The myths of the various religions provided the pretext for dictatorial rule by authoritarian rulers (and, sadly, in some parts of the world, they still do). It's high time we grew up and accepted our responsibility to govern ourselves, without the dubious benefit of prophets and divine revelation.

Wonderfully written piece.
Isn't it quiet mysterious that the world's largest religious groups all have their origin in the middle east? What happened to our own prophets and priests? Did I hear someone say man-made gods? All gods are man-made. We have lost our identity around here.

"If you're a black Christian, you have a really short memory" - Chris Rock.

Zikdik:

Wonderfully written piece.
Isn't it quiet mysterious that the world's largest religious groups all have their origin in the middle east? What happened to our own prophets and priests? Did I hear someone say man-made gods? All gods are man-made. We have lost our identity around here.

"If you're a black Christian, you have a really short memory" - Chris Rock.

Yup.
Sadly so.

Hmmmm, true.

Zikdik:


"If you're a black Christian, you have a really short memory" - Chris Rock.

Likewise a black Muslim.

Not to speak of black Mormons...

I smell confusion, i see confusion atheist showing their anger and frustration on religious people since they became frustrated and insane.

plaetton:


Yup.
Sadly so.

2cato:
I smell confusion, i see confusion atheist showing their anger and frustration on religious people since they became frustrated and insane.

Wow! This is an Einstein moment.
Clap for yourself, for, you have successfully made a comment on Nairaland Religilous section.

2cato:
I smell confusion, i see confusion atheist showing their anger and frustration on religious people since they became frustrated and insane.

Of course you will see confusion even when there is none. After all you hear God talking to you and you even see him sometimes.

2cato:
I smell confusion, i see confusion atheist showing their anger and frustration on religious people since they became frustrated and insane.

A deluded man is worse than a confused man.

Dapo777:


A deluded man is worse than a confused man.

yea. And that is the atheist

2cato:
yea. And that is the atheist

Lol you are the deluded one here. You believe in an entity that created the universe who is siting on a throne watching every action and thoughts of over 7billion people, obsessed with their actions and inaction, wanting them to serve him,if truly there is a Creator of the universe he wouldn't give a damn about insignificant creatures he made himself to reside in a insignificant microscopic area of the universe. Aren't you deluded?

These Gods are all mute or something. If they were really speaking to people, there wouldn't be no point of keeping the books of myths.

One could simply ask God a question anytime.

What I see is a perceived conflict between believing in God and democracy, one that does not exist. Believing in God does not remove you from the community of human beings and so you must participate in your responsibilities to your community, better still if that community is a sane one.

I can't see the OP's point because the same democracy protects my freedom of religion and association so what exactly is the hullabaloo about?

Weah96:
These Gods are all mute or something. If they were really speaking to people, there wouldn't be no point of keeping the books of myths.

One could simply ask God a question anytime.

Obviously you've never experienced the Holy Spirit.

He tells you the exact same things you were thinking anyway, effectively ensuring that no one gets the same message.

Can y'all make a reasonable argument?

Leave aside the jibes and insults...

...what is this thread meant to tell us?