It’s very interesting (and amusing) how a “belief” system works.
I couldn’t help but think about that fact after the “May 21st Apocalypse” transpired. Cris had mentioned how many people literally dropped everything they were doing to prepare for the end of the world. And how strange it must feel for them to suddenly find out everything they “believed” in was, in fact, not true.
I couldn’t help but think what if there was no God? How would all the priests, who dedicated most of their lives to their respective orders feel? Or what about all those people who believed you should live your life for the sole purpose of getting close(r) to God – who, in my hypothetical scenario, didn’t exist in the first place. How many years of their lives would they have wasted if that were the case. That would be such a bummer!
Then I think about how everyone mocked those who believed in the May 21st apocalypse – because I’m sure most of us [who thought they were nuts] are of our own respective religious denominations as well. And I couldn’t help but ask “what exactly makes our faith better than theirs?” What makes the belief in an non-existent apocalypse any more fantastical as whatever “truths” our particular brand of faith has?
We thought what they believed in was ludicrous because of what – Science? And if it was Science? Couldn’t the atheists say the same of us? Is it because we believe we are more “balanced” by deciding when science should take precedence in some cases or dogma in others? 1 And in case you missed it, I was being sarcastic with that last statement.
And the answer I keep arriving at is: we aren’t any different from them – or anyone else. We’re just as unsure of whatever we claim as they were… and all we can really hope for is that whatever it is we’re banking on, is the right one. 2 Atheists included
This post is not really meant to put a point across to anyone, I just thought it was interesting thought to have.