Considered Opinions

Religion

Religion is something I know very little about, but as usual, that doesn’t inhibit me from having an opinion about it. I suppose the reason I don’t know much about it is that I didn’t inherit a religious background, so I had no interest in studying it.

I don’t think of myself as an atheist, but never having taken a strong interest qualifies me as agnostic on the subject. Nonetheless, something that has brought people as much solace as it has, yet caused as much conflict over countless millennia, deserves more of my attention.

I have often said that religion is the byproduct of two conflicting characteristics of human nature: (a) an insatiable curiosity, and (b) the inability to comprehend large numbers. Every human is fascinated by the wonders of the Universe and questions his or her place in it, but answers to those questions are not knowable. At the same time, the very idea that life, in all its forms, could have evolved over the most recent 3.8 billion of Earth’s 4.543 billion years is beyond the grasp of most of us.

So superstition takes the place of reason, and for centuries, we have been making up stories of magic and supernatural beings to fill the void. While the result has been comforting to countless millions, on balance, the cost to human life might well have exceeded the benefit.

 

By: Jim
Written: October 11, 2023
Published: October 11, 2023
Revised: May 5, 2025
Reader feedback always appreciated^[i]. . thoughtful commentary perhaps more so than shallow thoughts