Those of faith are arbitrarily committed, so it is impossible to speak intelligently with them concerning matters of fact, science, mathematics, philosophy, and other commonly accepted standards of thought. Because faith blinds its followers to the realities under which they must operate, and because faith lends itself to manipulation which in turn causes its followers to be subsequently manipulated, use of this thought product damages reason and intellect, interferes with critical thinking, abrogates dissent and debate, and generally visits harm upon both those who believe and those who do not.
Divisive is all faith. Capable of squandering the love between family members, friends, and total strangers at the altar of belief, it brings with it an inherent malevolence against which no follower can willfully stand lest they challenge their god or gods, bring upon themselves the wrath of other believers, and incite further violence betwixt the theist and atheist, for it is only the atheist who will stand by the free thinker and support their effort to evaluate with discretion and care that which has been so ingrained in their character as to be placed in a position of unquestionable authority. Yet nothing in the guise of human experience and knowledge can ever attain such stature. No man or woman, no faith or cause, no government or state, and no science or religion should be allowed to exist free from analysis, question, and challenge. Party to such contemptible hopes is the downfall of free will and the most sacred personal liberties with which we deem ourselves gifted, rights known to those of good character as unalienable.
Bound to that accepted without empirical evidence, taught by threat of eternal damnation, enjoined on the young as authoritative without allowance for impugning, and enforced through systematic quelling of disagreement is nothing short of the vexing kin called slavery of the mind. It is without subjugation that we learn, it is through doubt that we grow, and it is only via true freedom of spirit that we can exist and live.
The use of faith to subdue nonbelievers and define national morality is immoral in itself, a contradiction of belief by imposing it with law and violence. Tyrannical indoctrination of children by adults is mental abuse of the first order, a preemptive silencing of skepticism, and a violative process with which young minds are forever damaged for want of exploration. What child so raised has been gifted with judicious parents inclined to instruct their offspring to see critically that which is taught, to seek out truth despite teachings, and to explore within and without the sense of self and purpose forcibly imposed by religion? Assault upon and invasion of those formative years is nothing short of brainwashing of future generations. And so it is when the faithful utilize their political strength to compel the masses to adhere to whatever restrictive and misguided standards not likewise enforced upon themselves, or enforced only for the proletariat and plebeians.
The unfortunate effect of faith is a dulling of intellect and a refusal of incredulous examination. What infallible platform supports such certainty as would be necessary to question inarguable scientific data as being deceptive and untrustworthy? How comes it then that anyone capable of the simplest human thought can find within themselves absolute certainty even when it contradicts all that our species has thus far learned? It is the same faith that once declared Earth the center of the universe. It is the same faith that once declared slavery acceptable. The blind lead the blind so as to ensure such discrepancies are overlooked and forgotten, that claims to infallibility unable to withstand faith’s own history are upheld by deception and redirection.
Find disillusion with belief. Discover the wonder of free thought not overly burdened by threats and violence against those who seek inquiry over blind acceptance. Comprehend for even a moment the insincerity of faith, the emotional and mental injury it births, and fathom briefly the iniquity of defining faith as something so contradictory as the evidence of things not seen and the substance of things hoped for. Dreams are so defined, yet we care not to look within them for gods and eternal delight. Why then focus on empty words proffered by men, written by men, and cast down through history from times ancient which serve no purpose other than to control the minds and lives of humanity? Acceptance of such things coupled with obedience contrary to our very nature is not substantive by any stretch of the imagination. Instead, it is harmful and disingenuous, contrary to the foundations of learning itself, and contradictory in that each person can assume their own faith capable of invalidating the faith of all others. What makes your god any more right than someone else’s? It is equally wrong, yes, but no more right. Upon what grand and irrefutable epiphany is built this arbitrary acceptance of the insubstantial? No rational being would allow themselves to be controlled thusly, which leaves the conclusion that irrationality itself drives these flights of fancy. It offends the intellect to think such unreasoned acceptance can wield such tremendous power over so many, and they then wield that power against so many others.
Yet it rests not upon the shoulders of the faithful to withstand inquiry. With commandments to critically review science widely accepted and testable, repeatable, and provable, believers insist upon the credulous to be incredulous in matters of science and fact. Why do they not also insist on the same for their own faiths? The systematic exploration of the cosmos is an open process and readily accepts in-depth analyses by the learned and the layman alike. Such review is accepted as an integral part of ensuring only the most solid facts are included. What makes religion so different? Is it not enough to ask others to critically examine what is already shown to be true but discourage them from doing the same with what can never be proved and is most certainly untrue? Is faith such an unstable environment that its proponents fully understand the same approach as is advocated toward science would ultimately prove detrimental to the control they wish to have over others by way of faith? Such blatant hypocrisy and insecurity is lost on far too many.
May we someday expel ourselves from dark caves and the mysticism and mythologies buried in them so we might see the sun does not revolve around us, that the stars are not angels sent to watch over us, and that unseeing obedience and adherence is servitude of the most primitive nature.