The Division of Humanity

So here we are. New year (albeit 17 days in), a new beginning, and one step closer to a brighter future. The recent events in Haiti really proved to me that there really is good in humanity, which is something I’ve wondered about for some time. However, no sooner did I regain a bit of hope than this video shows up online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5TE99sAbwM

If you don’t feel like following the link, I’m sure you’ve seen it before. It is of everyone’s favorite minister, Pat Robertson, declaring that Haiti had sworn a pact with the devil in order to be released from French oppression. Shortly after seeing that, I found this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBTtv7nTYzY

To summarize for those of you who are too lazy to follow the link: A “prayer-cast” was organized in an attempt to stop health care reform (If you were at the meeting in which we watched Jesus Camp, you may see a familiar face in that video).

That’s right, we need to pray to end health care reform. That’s what Jesus would have wanted. Everyone knows that Jesus was heavily in favor of an economy run off of greed and money. While I don’t know that full universal health care is the answer, I know what we have now is not working.

So why show these videos? It is to show the kind of people who divide humanity. Using their religion, they cast people into clear distinctions of “them” and “us”. It is people like this who do no good for this planet or the living things on it.

All of that being said, it is easy to cast the blame on the religious. Religion has, to an extent, a history of dividing people. This doesn’t mean that the godless are blameless though.

For those of you who did not see the fund raiser last night, it began with Jon Weyer having a discussion with PZ Myers. Key word: discussion. This was not meant to be a debate. The conversation went well, in my opinion. Both PZ and Jon having their high and low points. This morning, I found on PZ’s blog that he had posted that he was on BlogTV. Here are some of the comments that his readers have posted.

“Couldn’t watch all the way to the end. The pastor just keep ranting on and on. He said he didn’t agree with the “God of the Gaps” idea, however, when PZ asked what compelled him to Christianity, he basically pulled out that argument and was ranting on about nothing.”

“             Quote- “Theology is self-correcting, like science.”

Yep, gotta love all them peer-reviewed theological journals that strictly evaluate the data and evidence, and would never deduce any conclusions based on what’s written in their holy books.

Crackpot.

Quote- I think I gave a good example of why I think theology is self correcting during the chat. However, I’ll be posting something about it on the Thomas Society blog in the next day or so

Thanks, I’ll pass.

Changed Quote- I don’t want to hijack PZ’s space for that discussion be laughed out of the room.

Fixed.”

And the Nicest one I could find: “Yeah, PZ doesn’t look as clear but he sure speaks more clearly. The pastor stutters and doesn’t make any kind of sense. Another nice guy who doesn’t know how to think straight. Sad really.”

Clearly, the religious are not the only ones to blame for the division of humanity. When one is so stuck in their belief that they aren’t willing to budge an inch on anything, they become the exact same thing that they claim the other side is.

So who is responsible for the division of humanity? It is clear; those who aren’t willing, at all, to give anything to the other side. Those who refuse to work with the other side, even for the good of all. Those who aren’t willing to even hear what they other side has to say.

With each side we have to judge people on an individual basis. No stereotype of Christians will accommodate all, nor will one stereotype of Atheists cover all. Fighting over little details when we all have the same basic moral principles will lead to nothing good. In one of the waiting rooms during the broadcast, there were atheists defending the viewpoints of others from people who would attack them. We must be willing to work with, and accept, those who have different views and beliefs. Otherwise, we as a species, will eventually fail. Don’t do what you accuse others of doing, or you are just as guilty.