Religion and Reason

For me, thinking is writing is thinking. This blog is really nothing more than an attempt to understand myself better and to clarify my thoughts. I have often noted the tension between religion and science, but I never really gave it a whole lot of thought. Lately, something inside me has grown impatient with, even intolerant of ideas that clearly contradict what my observation and reason tell me is true. The more I learn about the beauty and wonder of what we have discovered through methodical study, invention, and experimentation, the more my mind revolts at having to live with contradictions that "make reason stare."

But the other day, I had an epiphany. I have a real and valuable tool for resolving these discrepancies! The Book of Mormon defines faith in the following way in the Book of Alma 32:21:

"...faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true." (italics mine)

To paraphrase, a person's faith in something is only valid if the object of faith is true! I can believe with every fiber of my being that 2 + 2 = 5, but my faith is invalid and misplaced because this is a fact that is unchangeable for all time. And we have an unparalleled tool for getting at the truth of things in the observable world: the scientific method.

What I derive from this is that any statement of faith that I am asked to believe must be consistent with the facts I observe, what my reason and judgement tells me is true, and what science has proven to my satisfaction to be the truth. To be sure, I am very far from infallible. But I have a compass inside me that has guided me well my whole life, when I have heeded it. And so, if my reason is offended by a statement of faith, or if such a statement clearly contradicts an overwhelming body of incontrovertible facts, I now feel justified in discarding that statement without prejudice.

On the flip side, I admit the possibility that the universe we can observe with our physical senses is not the complete universe. Also I am aware that some of what we "know" today will be contradicted by what we "know" tomorrow. So if I note a strong feeling in my heart, or a persistent idea in my mind that I cannot account for "scientifically," I have generally found it worth my while also to pay it heed even in the face of apparent evidence to the contrary.

Organized Religion

I will start off by saying that organized religion has accomplished many good things. Under the banner of religion, people have performed countless wonderful and selfless acts. On the flip side of that coin, even a cursory glance at almost any period in history will not fail to show just as many terrible acts committed in the name of God -- so many in fact, that, if I were God, I think I'd be tempted to change my name. Just off the top of my head, here are some of the more infamous occurrences where religion has been used as either an excuse or a cover-up for acts which God would no doubt disown if asked:

• Various parts of the Old Testament, which are awash in blood. One loses count of how many times one reads that God commanded the armies of Israel to fall on some city and wipe out every inhabitant, rape the women, slaughter the children, and burn anything that's still left standing.
• The Crusades -- or, come into the loving arms of Jesus or I'll gouge your eyes out, you heathen infidel.
• The Salem witch trials.
• Wars between the Catholics and the Protestants ravaging just about every country in Europe, and which still break out from time to time.
• Events in the Middle East, where it seems like the Old Testament just keeps on going.
• Racial segregation, intolerance and bigotry, which should be the last things one sees taking place in a church if the teachings of Jesus are understood and practiced.
• The Catholic church's current woes around pedophilia.
• Illegal Polygamy.
• Jim Jones and the 1978 Kool-aid episode in Guyana.
• The September 11, 2001 attack of the World Trade Center in New York City.
• The Branch Davidian massacre in Waco Texas.
• Various "televangelists" and their massive financial empires gained from defrauding gullible people.

So it's not difficult to claim that organized religion has a spotted history that leads right up to today. Of course the forces which have been antagonistic toward religion can also claim their share of the mayhem (see Nazism and Joseph Stalin as just a couple of examples). On the whole, though, one can't help wondering if, on balance, the overall effect of religion on the world's stage has been a negative or a positive one. Certainly it is a phenomenon which tends to divide people when uniting would probably be more productive and result in better outcomes.

Introduction

Hello, World! I am a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. My family was always active in the church and I grew up to do all the typical things a good mormon boy is supposed to do: served a mission, graduated from BYU, married in the temple, and raised my children according to the principles of the Gospel as taught by the church. Unlike some of the experiences I have read from people who have left the church, I personally have nothing but good feelings for the people I have known in the church. I have a lifetime full of good memories and few negative experiences. My family and I have been welcomed and loved by the church members in almost all the places we have lived and we have met many truly magnificent people who have had a profound and wonderful effect on our lives.

In spite of all this, I have recently had an experience that came to me un-looked-for and completely out of the blue. In a very short time, the church fell away from me. I say this because nothing obvious changed in my life or my behavior. I suddenly and inexplicably grew revolted by the constant talk of sinning and repenting. The clear line in my mind that has always separated good and evil has become much less distinct. The doctrines of the church that once seemed so solid have crumbled like sand in my mind. Many of the things I once considered vitally important now seem inconsequential. And most strange, I don't feel bad at all -- just relieved; I feel freed though I had never noticed feeling trapped.

As you can imagine, this experience has been quite disorienting to me. I have been preoccupied for many months questioning things that were, for many years, beyond question. Sometimes I am confused and feel a real sense of loss. At other times I experience moments of clarity that bring keen exhilaration and joy. This blog is my attempt to come to terms with this huge change in my life. If it helps others who are struggling in a similar way, I am glad.

At this time, I have no plans to leave the church. It would be very difficult and there are a multitude of ties that I have no wish to sever. Also, my good and faithful parents would be crushed and I have no desire to inflict that or any other pain on them. However, I am currently participating at a very minimal level and have no wish to increase that right now.