Homer Numan

Homer Numan

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Strange Beliefs


This is from today's Sunday Times:

''It asserts that 75m years ago an evil galactic warlord called Xenu rounded up 13.5 trillion beings from an overpopulated corner of the galaxy, flew them to Earth and dumped them in volcanoes and vaporised them with nuclear bombs. This scattered their radioactive souls, or thetans, which were then trapped and implanted with a number of false ideas — including the concepts of God, Christ and organised religion. These entities attached themselves to human beings and are at the root of our personal and global problems today. ''

So where does this rather strange idea originate? A script from the X-Files or Torchwood? Star Trek maybe?
Nope -- this is the core belief of scientology -- the world's fastest growing religion, which, despite it's name, has no connection with actual science. As of today, scientology has 120 000 members in the UK and over 10 million worldwide. To get that into perspective, that's the population of Ireland, north and south -- twice.

A further quote:

''Scientology has proved exceptionally robust and has grown steadily since its launch. In America it dominates entire towns and even in Britain some children have been brought up as Scientologists. What worries critics most is the religion’s secrecy and intolerance of dissent. Members who are critical of the church are declared “apostates” and are excommunicated and often cut off from family and friends who must “disconnect” from them. ''

The above paragraph sounds a lot more familiar. On this level, scientology begins to look more like 'normal' religions. Secrecy, fear of criticism, insularity, shunning of those who dare to question, all steming from the absurd idea that any one person can know more than another about 'belief.' In other words, the twisting of a religious ideal for the purpose of control over others.

Reading the first paragraph again, most non-scientologists would immediately dismiss this 'belief' as being lunacy. But is it?

50 million Mormons believe that a schizophrenic womaniser was able to translate the book of Mormon using magic glasses.
100 million Muslims believe that martyrdom results in the attentions of 50 virgins in the afterlife.
100 million Roman Catholics believe that bread and wine literally becomes the body of Christ.
30 million Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Christ returned to the earth in 1915 but appeared only to Jehovah's Witnesses.
100 million Buddhists believe that we are constantly reborn as a different animal until we reach a state of perfection.

Given this lot, does scientology really sound so daft? The only real difference is it's age.

So why do people believe this stuff? A major reason is irrational egotism, an inflated importance of the individual self. We really think that we're so important that we deserve not only a supernatural explanation for our existence, but an afterlife as well.

In the same paper today, I read that 35 million 'game birds' are bred in the UK each year, for the sole purpose of being shot for 'sport.' Presumably none of those birds are considered important enough to have any relevance in this great scheme called life. So perhaps someone can tell me why humanity has any greater relevance.
Other than a giant ego and an endless capacity for imagination, are we really any different?
Religious folk in particular appear determined to delude themselves that they're not really animals at all. Hello?

Read those beliefs above again and ask yourself if humanity is indeed the most intelligent creature on the planet.

16 comments:

Hazel said...

tag

Anonymous said...

Good day I am so thrilled I found your blog page, I really found you by error, while I was looking
on Aol for something else, Anyhow I am here now and would just
like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a all round exciting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don't have time to read it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the fantastic job.
Also visit my webpage : liquid diet

Anonymous said...

Unquestionably imagine that that you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be
on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of.
I say to you, I definitely get annoyed even as people think about issues that they plainly
don't understand about. You controlled to hit the nail upon the highest as well as outlined out the entire thing with no need side-effects , other folks can take a signal. Will probably be again to get more. Thank you
Also see my web page :: web design miami beach

Anonymous said...

each time i used to read smaller content which as well clear
their motive, and that is also happening with this piece of writing which I am reading at this
time.
My webpage - Iphones for sale

Anonymous said...

I'm more than happy to uncover this website. I need to to thank you for ones time due to this wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every little bit of it and i also have you bookmarked to look at new things on your site.
Also see my website :: how to get rich

Anonymous said...

Remarkable things here. I'm very glad to see your article. Thanks a lot and I am taking a look forward to contact you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Also visit my blog - cheap dr. dre pro headphones online

Anonymous said...

I pay a quick visit daily a few web sites and blogs
to read content, except this web site offers feature based articles.
Feel free to visit my blog post ; The Truth Teller show

Anonymous said...

We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.
Your website provided us with valuable information to work on.
You have done a formidable job and our entire community will be grateful to
you.
Also visit my web site web marketing

Anonymous said...

Hello! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist
with SEO? I'm trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I'm not seeing very good gains.
If you know of any please share. Thanks!

Also visit my web page - job search

Anonymous said...

Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. That is a very neatly written article.
I'll be sure to bookmark it and come back to read extra of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I will definitely comeback.

Feel free to surf to my page :: fingerprint building in thailand

Anonymous said...

Hi! This post couldn't be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!

Stop by my web page - vegetarian

Anonymous said...

First of all I want to say wonderful blog!
I had a quick question that I'd like to ask if you don't mind.
I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind
before writing. I've had difficulty clearing my mind in getting my ideas out. I truly do enjoy writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are usually lost just trying to figure out how to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Thanks!

my web blog ... Replica Louis Vuitton

Anonymous said...

This is a really good tip particularly to those new to the blogosphere.

Short but very accurate information… Many thanks for sharing this one.
A must read article!

My web site; d'nest

Anonymous said...

When I originally commented I clicked the "Notify me when new comments are added" checkbox and now each time a comment
is added I get several emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove me from that service?
Many thanks!

Visit my site - french kiss

Anonymous said...

You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter
to be really something that I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post,
I will try to get the hang of it!

My blog ... www.learnpaintlessdentremoval.com

Anonymous said...

whoah this blog is fantastic i really like studying your articles.
Keep up the great work! You realize, a lot of people
are searching round for this info, you can help them greatly.


Feel free to surf to my weblog ... cheap ray bans