Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Illusion of Escape from the Caprice of Man



In the upper left of this picture of a London protest against the French burka ban, you can see a sign that looks like it reads, "The Veil: Liberation from Man Made Laws". This is a really good illustration of one of religion's tempting myths. Many people who are drawn to religion hate to have to make up their own mind about right and wrong. They don't trust their own moral judgement, have weak consciences and find great comfort in the simplicity of allowing religion to make moral decisions for them.

Now, what I said above sounds contemptuous, but I don't mean any contempt for those who struggle with guilt, shame, or an inability to hold themselves to a strict moral code. Lots of people are like that; probably even most. I only have contempt for those who condemn people for having the balls to continue the struggle with their consciences rather than submitting their own judgement to the equally capricious, and even more capriciously interpreted rules and regulations of religion.