Chapter and Worse
Just came across a website, called “Ship of Fools” that had a “worst verse” competition-based on the Bible. They’re not atheists, neither are they people belonging to other religions-they are Christians. Here’s what they said about the competition:
Because the Bible is probably the most important book ever, but it sometimes seems that the only people who care about it are rival gangs of fundamentalists, Christian and atheist, determined to beat it into the shape of their own prejudices.
We want to rescue the Bible from their rival takeover bids. We want to take it out of the hands of people who hit you over the head with it.
It doesn’t have to be a textbook of infallible information and unbreakable laws to be God’s book. And it doesn’t have to be one big pile of lies and atrocity just because it has its dodgy bits.
We want to remind non-Christians that Christians can see the flaws of their own faith as well as others can. And we want to remind Christians too.
Let’s have a bit of balance, shall we?
The competition is now over, but I liked the idea of it of very much. It could do with some replicating across religions and atheisms I think.
The winning entries can be found here: Link
Amazing link.
Hey Ra, the winning entry reminded me of Manu’s diktat on women! It also reminds me of Susan Sarandon’s line in Dead Man Walking, when she counters a priest who cites the Bible to support capital punishment. Saradon who plays a nun quotes other harsh sounding rules from the scripture, highlighting that not everything that scriptures say are followed so why pick to suit one’s motive.
best wishes,
Anjali
>>It could do with some replicating across religions and atheisms I think.
Brilliant link .. Certainly! I can think of a collection from just Manu & Bharatrhari and just any text that goes by the term SmRti. Another pet project. I’d like to see is the “Worst misogynistic quote by writers / thinkers”. From Schopenhauer, to Nietzsche to GK Chesterton & Lord Byron there’s a ton of them out there.
Oh yes!
This is one of the best links I came across in a while. Thanks!
I applaud their honesty and willingness to find and accept the flaws of their own faith.
But am also puzzled why they (or all religious moderates, in general) are unable to infer the obvious conclusion… about the validity of religion itself.
Vishal, I think these are the sort of people who have already pondered that question and decided that they do still have faith (for whatever reason) but are willing to look religion with a critical eye. There are many after all who believe, but see religion itself more as a cultural institution worth of examination like any other cultural construct!
Yeah…
To that, I would like to quote Daniel Danette:
“Each reason for belief in God [or faith] is defensible up to a point, but we need to weigh the indirect side effects of going along with tradition. First, there’s the systematic hypocrisy that poisons discourse, and even more important, our vulnerability to those who abuse the “reverence” with which we are supposed to respond to their indulgences. We can continue to respect the good intentions of those who persist in professing belief in God, but we’ll be doing them a favor if we stop pretending that we respect the arguments they use to sustain these fantasies.”
(Quote taken from here: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/coyne09/coyne09_index.html)
Vishal,
Haven’t time to read the whole article. Don’t want to read a quote out of context. I will read it when I can.
Tradition isn’t static, it’s always changing, I have no argument with trying to change whatever one views as poisonous. I think it is important to respect (not revere) those who do believe in God and vice-versa even if we don’t agree with whoever is in the “opposite” camp and their arguments.
I used to believe exactly that – “it is important to respect those who do believe in God” – before reading Richard Dawkins (and Sam Harris, , Coyne, Danette etc. – the so called New Atheists).
Lemme me know what you think of that (long but illuminating) debate once you read it.
Vishal, I believe in God…and I expect to be respected as I respect atheists
Yes, I agree.
I respect an individual’s right to believe in something (religion, God, etc.) but not necessarily the belief itself.
I can’t respect a belief that’s based on superstition, for example. Religion asks you to believe in things without the need for proof, evidence, and logic. And I am afraid I don’t have much “respect” for that.
I put respect in quotes because one can argue that there’s a need for religion and for faith in God – just like there might be a need for believing in Santa Clause for a kid – but the need for religion doesn’t mean validity of religion.