A Secular Humanist’s case against religion


All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher.- Lucretius


The existence of a god or “prime mover” – whichever name needs be given this so-called “creator of worlds” – can not be denied by any atheist or scientist, as the evidence upon which one would base such a denial, is so to say, non-existent. So too is the evidence for fairies and unicorns. But alas, the unbeliever may only and quite humbly if I may, dub it “improbable”.

“Sometimes the lack of evidence is all the evidence you need”, one of my friends proclaimed in defence of god; “Exactly” I said. Certainly this is a case where the lack of evidence favours both parties? Wrong, because so claims the religious person, piteously proud, that he/she does not need evidence, henceforth is enshrined: FAITH (holy music plays in background). I suppose this is fair, but to the reader I pose this simple question: Why is faith good? (And if your answer differs from the following, you are welcome to come and debate me in person).

It is not, faith is deriving virtue from irrationality and superstition, and it’s nothing to be proud of. The logical reason for the lack of evidence – and if someone proposes once more, that a baby’s smile is evidence enough, I’m going to break something – is that there can be no evidence for something that does not exist.

It does seem to be a magnificent piece of warped logic, however, to make the inference (an ignorant one really), that because science can’t answer the BIG questions (as one would often hear during the infantile ramblings of the religious fundamentalist), there must be a supernatural force to “fill the gaps”.

Even if this were the case, which I doubt it is, the atheist need only leave it to either the religious sect, or very intelligent imperialists, to draw from this an almighty being who cares what you wear, eat, choose to do, who you choose to sleep with and in what way, on which days you fast, and whose buildings you choose to fly into.

And save your soul if you do anything to piss him/her (who knows?) off, you will burn in an eternal furnace! In NOTHING is the man-made character of religion as blatantly evident as in the sick, twisted and sadistic person that devised the concept of hell.  Though, by the sound of things, heaven won’t be any better than, according to Christopher Hitchens, a celestial North Korea.

Notwithstanding that “deity” advocates misogyny, homophobia, genocide, infanticide, and human sacrifice, among other atrocious things (and yes, this is all in the Christian scripture), you should be convinced that it is all-loving as well, that is, god loves every single person like its own child!  The absurdity of this claim transcends every ludicrous idea humanity has had thus far, and believe me, there have been a few.

Religion’s usual response to these types of “inconsistencies”, if I may, and you can be sure of this, will be something similar to: “God works in mysterious ways.” I kindly propose, sir or ma’am, that the only mystery still surrounding “miracles” – in modern times, anyone claiming to have heard the divine will descend through a burning bush will be dubbed insane – is how people began to believe such nonsense in the first place.

Science, on the other hand, in its brief lifetime, has done a great deal, far more than any religion has, in explaining the mysteries and profundities of the universe, and of life itself. On the score-sheet we find achievements such as modern medicine, technology and NASA’s journey to the moon; as opposed to religious crimes which would make the average “sinner” turn pale: The molesting of children by catholic priests,  the inhumane and disgusting ritual of circumcision, suicide bombings, honour rape, ethnic cleansing and the suppression of women and homosexuals. Scientists then and not priests are the true merchants of light.       

Religion not only succeeds to incite hatred, cruelty and fear, but opposes the very humanity it purports to uphold. It should be treated, consequently, with ridicule and contempt. Religion is an enemy to free thought and the intellectual mission. It is detrimental to, and poses a direct threat to the survival of mankind. Without advocating hate-speech, I can only envision a world free from this age-old superstitious garbage that taints the face of our societies. In the words of Phillip Larkin, “Superstition, like belief, must die.”

Science is beautiful, and the scientific method, elegant: It delivers unto humankind transcendent, undistorted truth. One has only to look at the photos from the Hubble space-telescope to understand my point. The pious can’t do otherwise but to cower in the shadow of scientific progress, and the awe-inspiring magnificence of reality.  

As any philosopher will say, you are better off thinking for yourself: A lot more happiness, peace and wisdom will come to you this way.


by Brendan Trollip