It seems some people cannot live happily without knowing everything. I’m not like that. All I have to do is look up at the stars to realize I know as much about anything as an ant knows about the nuclear workings of the sun; and I accept that. Yet, some folks claim they know the answers to the unknowable. These are generally the dangerous people.
Religion: Please understand I have nothing against religion. In fact, I envy those who have faith in a higher being who created the universe. Personally, though, I’m like Sgt. Shultz from “Hogan’s Hero’s”. “I know nothing!”
Strict adherents to religions, whatever the religion might be, believe they have the one true answer. Everyone who doesn’t believe exactly what they believe is wrong…and often believed to be evil. Since every religion can’t be hitting the nail on the nose, this is dangerously problematic.
I remember hearing of instances, during war, when soldiers were unable to sort out who the enemy and the innocent residents were in a village, they decided to kill everyone and “let God sort it out”. But what if there is no God in the sense they imagine? Their scheme wouldn’t work. That seems like a big chance to take.
I’ve heard that ISIS fighters will, if they are martyred, go to heaven and be rewarded with the company of 72 virgins. Or 50, or 70. I’m not sure what the Koran actually promises. There seems to be some discrepancy. But, what if the Koran is correct, but those virgins were groups of women with all the femininity of Bea Arthur, the honest warmth and humility of Hillary Clinton, the singing wiles of a tone deaf Ethel Merman and as snuggly as Nancy Pelosi? Again, that’s way too a big chance to take.
Scriptures weren’t written by God. They were written by men. For example, the Bible contains writings, the selection and inclusion of which, were decided upon by men and doesn’t include other scriptures men decided against. These were men who believed they knew the unknowable.
My point is: Considering the sheer number of religions, it is statistically unwise and arrogant to waste a life in the name of God. If a cognizant God actually exists, I think there’s a really good chance He’d be pissed off.
Of course, if God turns out to be a “She”, rather than a “He”, I will probably have some ‘splainin’ to do regarding my wise cracks about the virgins.