Chrisonomicon

Thursday, December 26, 2002

With Christmas over, I'm left with a sort of religious aftershock from a bombardment of nativity scenes, Christmas eve services, feast prayers and philosophical conversations with the pops. And yet my stance on religion is still as stubborn as my father’s. We continually reach the same roadblock that atheists and deists have come to for ages, and whether out of frustration or sheer inability to articulate myself, I give up and we agree to disagree. I'm fortunate to have a civil opponent in him, whatever the outcome.

The New York Times published an article on the studies of Dr. David Wilson, who posits religion is an evolutionary device or byproduct thereof, one which engenders its followers with greater cohesion and will to carry on in "the absence of information, evidence or immediate gratification" -- the most lucid definition of "faith" I've come across -- and I take a step back from my religious roots to see the enormity of this behemoth that crawls in pace with humanity.

I've had my own epiphanies about afterlife and greater power, yet as sure as the sun sets, the moment I crest that understanding and reach the surface gasping at air, I'm pulled back under with the tide. I may not maintain my grasp on that understanding but the feeling remains, that certainty with which I surfaced, and perhaps my dad arms himself with the same conviction. The idea of religion as an evolutionary advantage makes me wonder if it would behoove me to participate voluntarily, but I have seen so much bloodshed at the hands of religion.

Dr. Wilson:

Religions and other social organizations may preach kindness and cooperation within the group, but they often say nothing about those outside the group, and may even promote brutality toward those beyond the brotherhood of the hive.