Why Do We Care?

[Squawk]

Personally, whenever I'm exposed to a religion (or, for that matter, any other set of beliefs), the first question that pops into my mind is "what kind of behavior can I expect if you really do believe this stuff?"

As Sam Harris has noted, as we think, so we act.

Part of the reason I focus so much on Islamo-Christianity and less on, say, Buddhism, is the inherent danger of the former belief system. This danger comes in three parts:

1. If you really see the world in terms of Jesus (Allah) vs. Satan, than you see the world in an "us vs. them" mentality. This is why fundies scream "Satanism" every time they're exposed to a set of values non consistent with their own. This worldview (literally) demonizes broadly, from heterodox Christians to New Agers to non-believers. After all, you're with Jesus so anyone who's not with you, well, that narrows it down now doesn't it?

9/11 and the Inquisition should be stark warnings that anyone who sees a neighbors as working with the devil is capable of doing anything to them.

2. If you describe "sin" as acting against the will of Jesus (Allah), than all things are permissable so long as they promote your religion. This is why it's so easy for religious adherents to commit atrocities even as moderates preach a message of love. Sin is, after all, defined not in terms of compassion but obiedience to authority. Since Church authority (or scripture) speak for God, anything they say goes.

3. The salvation message ups the stakes as high as they can go. It's not just your soul at stake but your children's. If you really believe Hell is real, what's a little torture and murder of a few hellbound heretics to save the souls of millions (especially if the saved are among your children)? After all, these heretics are going to Hell anyway. All you're doing is sending them there a little ahead of schedule and saving many other relatively innocent souls in the process. Isn't that a bargain?

They can say "no true Christian (Muslim)" all they like but there's a reason why history plays out the atrocities over and over. All it takes is the right leader to set off the powder keg.

quoted for truth since I think its a great post.