You’ve Got to be Joking
What I have really been struggling with the past few weeks is the concept that there are tens of millions of Americans who actually believe that the Earth is only a few thousand years old, and the events described in the Old Testament really happened. Granted, maybe I’m a bit old to be grasping this, but until recently I have more or less fooled myself into believing that only a few of these people actually believed, and that most of them were more or less conforming for the sake of fitting in. I grew up in a religious household, don’t get me wrong, but it was a liberal modern denomination, Episcopalian to be exact. We said grace before dinner, we went to church sometimes, Sunday School on occasion … but no one ever expressed the idea that the events in the Old Testament were literally true. Heck, I remember drawing dinosaurs as part of a Sunday School lesson, liberal Christians have no problem with science and its understanding of the Earth and the Universe.
Tens of millions of Americans apparently do have a problem with the scientific view of the Earth and the Universe, and instead believe that a supernatural being created it all a few thousand years ago. This is the logical equivalent of believing that the Earth is flat. These people aren’t mentally ill, they for the most part had at least some scientific education in the school system, and for all practical purposes are functioning members of society. Granted I haven’t met too many of them, but the ones I have met seemed like nice normal folks to me.
And even more interesting, most of the people who don’t believe aren’t all too upset by it. Imagine if tomorrow morning 50 million Americans woke up and insisted that a nine foot tall invisible rabbit was following them around. Most people would be pretty shocked, and would think there was something wrong with these people. Especially if they insisted that this rabbit had impregnated a virgin, who grew up, was killed, and was then brought back from the dead by the very same rabbit. These people would be rounded up and locked away for their own good.
Instead, they are increasingly running the show. Now maybe the people at the top are simply using the Christ myth to manipulate people, but that is still disturbing on so many levels. I guess people encouraging people to believe in nonsense is part and parcel of human culture, but it’s still an ugly sight. Especially when all of those who are so deceived don’t have much trouble recognizing that other people’s religious beliefs are absurdities. It’s depressing and I’m depressed about it. How much future can the human race have when its individual members are easily persuaded to believe in dogshit nonsense? And the idea that Jesus resurrected from the dead, the Earth is only a few thousand yeas old, or there was a global flood (for starters,) … are dogshit nonsense. Turtles, turtles all the way down makes as much sense.
It kinda throws a monkey wrench in the idea of intelligent design too. What kind of God would design people who can easily be persuaded to believe in crap? Which leads me to think that if there is a God, a great designer who set this all in motion with the Big Bang, he must be a little disappointed with these folks. By not appreciating the amazing universe that God created, a universe where the act of creation never ended, and new stars, galaxies, and forms of life are created continuously … aren’t the Evangelists the ones who are denying God? By their own logic, by worshipping a Bronze Age myth put to parchment, aren’t they the ones worshipping a golden calf? The Bible is no more the word of God than a Spiderman comic. Claiming that it was divinely inspired is no different than claiming Stan Lee was divinely inspired. Heck, I could claim God inspired me to write this blog.
On the other hand, this is giving me at least some insight into how people believe other silly things. That however is a topic for another blog post. Have a great week everyone, it’s good to be back.
(The above image came from a site offering free religious imagery. It’s Jesus rising into heaven. Well, white Jesus. Another mythical being. If there was a real Jesus, he wasn’t what most people would call white. And he no doubt suffered from an early case of Jerusalem Syndrome.)
Doug's Darkworld 
Hey why not talk this shit about Islam? Cause it came from the same basic tenets (Q. Do Muslims believe world is only few thousand years old?) ‘Children of Abraham’ bla bla bla… Only difference is they’re living in the dark ages literally…
Steve
June 12, 2012 at 3:55 pm
Where, exactly, did I “talk shit” about anyone? Yes, there are religious people all over the world, including many Muslims, who also believe in nonsense. I wasn’t discussing them though, just the people in what is supposedly a modern country, and who for the most part got modern schooling, who still nonetheless reject reality in favour of a Bronze Age myth. Thanks for commenting!
unitedcats
June 12, 2012 at 7:01 pm
Don’t you see? Christianity reflects a wide range of related, but distinct gradations of spiritual beliefs that, while untrue, is mostly harmless, while Islam is a vast, unified mass of Evil that Threatens Our Way of Life. I think that’s what he meant.
doktorzoom
June 15, 2012 at 9:04 am
Irrationalists. The fear of so much uncertainty that accompanies scientific inquiry sends some scuttling to the opposite extreme where apparently some comfort can be had in relying on traditions. Plus it is intellectually easier to accept answers handed down rather than to think critically for oneself. Though, I believe the eventual consequences of these religious movements will turn off many of its even highly devout followers, and then they may be forced to come to terms with the fallacy in their decision to deny reason. That’s just my guess, considering the truly worrisome direction in which the political-religious forces are aiming to push whole societies. People are blinded by utopian fantasies and many cannot yet fathom what they’re robbing everyone of, including themselves. History repeating…
BobtheProphet
June 13, 2012 at 7:00 am
Just sayin…be afraid, be very afraid. Not long before the media and government will be in the control of the religious right. Even the people who approve programing for some of the best TV channels like Discovery, NatGeo etc., are dumbing down their fare in favor of back woods redneck and bimbo reality shows. So, Dave, are you really surprised that the consumers being wooed by media and religous dogma are dumb and gulible and misled?
Lee Whittaker
June 13, 2012 at 7:12 am
Hence why we should cease paying for this crap tv programming. We enrich these companies and individuals by paying for subscriptions that make them wealthy and us stupid. It’s the craziest thing to me — why people absolutely refuse to cancel their cable subscriptions despite complaining of how much junk it’s become.
BobtheProphet
June 13, 2012 at 7:57 am
Wow Cat you really backed off on that one… Unhappy to say the least. First of all, the of people of ‘modern life’ who actually believe the Earth is 5000 years old learn it the exact same way Muslims do… Second, the number has to be miniscule, and those that do could be defined as IDIOTS.
Anyone who looks at the science (so easily broken down a child could understand) and disagrees is an IDIOT, plain and simple. Has nothing to do with religious right taking over media (really? C’mon). These people believe the same basic tenets of Islam, but you pass on comment there… Only difference I see is Christian Fundamentalists aren’t trying to blow anyone up…
Steve
June 13, 2012 at 10:54 am
About 40% of Americans ascribe to strict creationist views. That’s not my definition of minuscule. As for those violent Muslims and peaceful evangelists (snort,) I’ll take that up in a future blog. Thanks for commenting!
unitedcats
June 13, 2012 at 12:48 pm
…Except abortion-performing doctors and their clinics?
BobtheProphet
June 13, 2012 at 1:54 pm
40% of Americans believe that bullshit? WAKE UP DUDE… What you are saying is 4 of the 10 people u or I know believe that tripe? Or nobody believes it where u live or where I live (Florida) but somewhere out there is a place where alot of people believe this… Dude, get in yr car, drive three hundred miles in any direction… People are pretty much the same… Maybe Utah is a little different with alcohol, n’ Texans more friendly than the rest… But country is pretty much homoginized. Take a ride…
Steve
June 13, 2012 at 4:46 pm
I would assume that 40% is accurate. How many Americans or Canadians for that matter believe what their governments tell them, or promise them ? It takes someone who can not only believe that not everything in the world is set in stone but alsoto live your life by what you choose to believe or not believe. Sometimes not being part of the crowd can single you out and make lives difficult- you know “they are different” attitude. Personally live and let live. I do feel pretty bad for the folks that think the earth is only a couple thousand years old. Science was my best subject, and we are continually learning more amazing things about our planet every day about its origins and the universe. To think it is only young yet is kind of boring. :)
Jennifer Goodyear
June 14, 2012 at 2:55 pm