Believing the unbelievable.

In tune with the wave of anti-religious publications; most notably by authors Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens, I will attack the subject here.



The three names above might not ring many bells with Thais, except those interested in biology, a field in which Richard Dawkins is a prominent figure. However, they are the spearhead of an international movement fed-up with irrationality. Maybe the largest offspring of irrationality and superstition is religion.


One can debate why people in southern Thailand are being blown up and decapitated, but I doubt that even the slimiest of politicians would deny outright that it has something to do with religion. People are quick to blame this on Islam, and they are partly right to do so. But the people killing innocents and the people buying Jatukam Ramathep amulets because they believe they are magic have something in common; an irrational belief. Although the beliefs are different, they are utterly groundless and deserve no respect whatsoever.


Yes that's right, NO respect. And this goes for all groundless claims; be them nazi ideology, horoscopes or a preacher that says condoms are immoral and so forth.


Why are we so prone to accept the ridiculous claims of such things as horoscopes, spells and a belief in invisible gods? And why on earth are we so afraid of the people that accept these things that it is practically considered disrespectful to question them? If someone walked up to you and said he could summon monsters you would probably tell him he was crazy or demand proof. If you are a man of faith, and someone comes up to you and says he spoke to jesus last night you would probably say congratulations. Buddhism is different in the way that in its essence (but not in it’s entirety) it encourages using rationale and critical thinking. But I am sure that all but the most confused individual will agree that this is far from what is the commoners view and practice of buddhism in Thailand. How many cars have you been in without a blessing in the ceiling? And what are the odds that the guy you stop on the street believes in all sorts of spirits or ghosts; I would say fairly high.



I ask again, why are people so easily persuaded into such irrational thought? Smarter people than me have tried to come up with answers and I won't recite their various conclusions. However, one thing is for certain and that is that it has never been beneficial for a society to cultivate irrationality.


If you indulge in astrology, spirit guides, magic amulets and other irrational and baseless activities or respect such things you act as a fertilizer for the next extremist that thinks; 'I feel that hurting this person in the name of my belief is ok and that is enough evidence for me.'


We tell our kids stories about santa claus, magic and wizards, when they grow up we tell them that it's not true; don't forget to remind yourself of that as well.

http://blog.nationmultimedia.com/narcisuss/2007/08/17/entry-1