Beliefs

Often people dont really choose not to believe; they simply cannot believe in ideas they find incredible or false, and decide to face reality without myths or pretence or false comfort. The problem of evil makes it impossible for many people to believe in a loving, all-powerful, all-knowing deity, who would allow so much suffering in the world to be caused by human and natural evils, or who was unable to prevent it. Religions claim things to be true for which there is no supporting evidence, and encourage belief in the unbelievable and superstition. The rigidity of many religious codes of behaviour stifles our opportunity to think and act rationally, and, sometimes, ethically. Ancient religious rules are seldom helpful when thinking about new moral issues, where reason and compassion are more useful. Religious authority has been, and is, used to justify oppression, discrimination and injustice (for example, against women, homosexuals, other races and religious groups), and religions cause deep divisions between people, communities and nations. Religious differences have been, and are, a major cause of war, even when religions preach peace. Religious authority is often used to justify a puritanical and pointless repression of pleasure. Religious authorities often stifle free debate and censor the arts. The promotion of prayer and offerings to gods can prevent people seeking more active and practical solutions to problems. The promotion of life after death means that people have less motivation to fight injustice and misery in this life, and so they endure suffering when they should be fighting it. The idea that there is a better life in a better place devalues this life and this world.