Newspaper Page Text
1
^ '• vV*>: -. r ■;*/
f " ■ ■ : .;• '••■ ■>. -
.. " -j . '■:
.
RELIGION EQUALS MORALITY?
In the United States, where it is almost
impossible to get elected unless you profess
a strong religious faith, it would have passed
completely unnoticed. Not one of the 100
U.S. senators ticks the "No Religion/Atheist/
Agnostic" box, for example, although 16 per
cent of the'American population do. But it
was quite remarkable in Britain.
Just before Christmas, in Oxford, Prime
Minister David Cameron declared that the
United Kingdom is a Christian country, "and
we should not be afraid to say so." He was
Speaking on the 400th anniversary of the King
James translation of the Bibie, so he had to
say something positive about religion—but he
went far beyond that.
"The Bible has helped to give Britain a
set of values and morals which make Britain
what it is today,"
he said. "Values and
morals we should
actively stand up and
defend."
Where to start?
The King James Bible
was published at the
start of a century
in which millions of
Europeans were killed
in religious wars over
minor differences of
doctrine. Thousands
of "witches" were
burned at the stake
during the 16th-cen
tury, as were thou
sands of "heretics."
They have stopped
doing that sort of
thing in Britain-
now—but they've
also stopped read
ing the Bible. Might
there be a connec
tion here?
Besides, what
Cameron said is just not true. In last year's
British Social Attitudes Survey, conducted
annually by the National Centre for Social
Research, only 43 percent of 4,000 British
people interviewed said they were Christian,
white 51 percent said they had "no religion."
Among young people, some two-thirds are
non-believers.
Mind you, the official census numbers from
2001 say that 73 percent of British people
identify themselves as "Christian." However,
this is probably due to a leading question on
the census form. "What is your religion?" it
asks, which seems to assume that you must
have one—especially since it follows a section
on ethnic origins, and we all have those.
So, a lot of people put down Christian just
because that is the ancestral religion of their
family. Make the question more neutral—"Are
you religious? If so, what is your religion?"—
and the result would probably be very differ
ent. There were attempts to get that more
neutral question onto'the 2011 census form,
but the churches lobbied frantically against it.
They are feeling marginalised enough as it is.
Why would David Cameron proclaim the
virtues of a Christian Britain that no longer
exists? He is no religious fanatic; he describes
himself as a "committed* but only "vaguely
practising" Christian.
You'd think that if he really believed in
a God who scrutinises his every thought
and deed, and will condemn him to eternal
torture in Hell if he doesn't meet the standard
of behaviour required, he might be a little
less vague about it all. But he doesn't really
believe that he needs religion himself; he
thinks it is a necessary instrument of social
control for keeping the lower orders in check.
This is a common belief among those who
rule, because they confuse morality with reli
gion. If the common folk do not fear some
god (any old god will do), sodal discipline will
collapse, and the streets will run with blood.
Our homes, our children, even our domestic
animals will be violated. Thank god for God.
Just listen to Cameron: "The alternative
of moral neutrality should not be an option.
You can't fight something with nothing. If
we don't stand for something, we can't stand
against anything.? The "alternative of moral
neutrality?" What he
means is that there
cannot be moral
behaviour without
religion—so you
proles had better go
on believing, or we
privileged people will
be in trouble.
But Cameron
already lives in a
post-religious coun
try. Half its people
say outright that
they have no reli
gion; two-thirds of
them never attend a
religious service, and
a mere 8 percent go
to church, mosque,
synagogue or temple
on a weekly basis.
Yet the streets are
not running with
blood.
Indeed, religion
may actually be
bad for morality. In
2005 Paul Gregory made the case for this in a
research paper in the Journal of Religion and
Society entitled "Cross-National Correlations
of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular
Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous
Democracies: A First Look."
Sociological gobbledygook, but in a sta
tistical survey of 18 developed democracies,
Gregory showed that "In general, higher rates
of belief in and worship of a creator correlate
with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and
early adult mortality, (venereal disease), teen
pregnancy and abortion."
Even within the United States, Gregory
reported, "the strongly theistic, anti-evolution
South and Midwest" have markedly worse
crime rates and social problems than the rela
tively secular Northeast. Of course, the deeply
religious areas are also poorer, so it might just
be poverty making people behave so badly. On
the other hand, maybe religion causes poverty.
Whatever. The point is that David Cameron,
and thousands of other politicians, religious
leaders and generals in every country, are
effectively saying that my children, and those
of ail the other millions who have no religion,
are morally inferior to those who do. It is
insulting and untrue.
Gwynns Dyer
Gwynne Dyer is a London-based independent journal
ist whose articles are published in 45 countries.
Today, more and morp people are choosing cremation as a way to honor the memories of those
they love. Numerous differences can exist among cremation providers, making it difficult to choose
the right provider for you and your family.
At Bernstein Funeral Home, we are committed to helping all families with compassionate,
understanding service. Our years of experience have made us Athens’ respected cremation leader
and have given us a unique perspective on what it means to choose cremation.
Our caring staff understands the delicate subject, as well as the importance for surviving loved
cnes to have a permanent place to visit, reflect and heal. To accommodate all families, Bernstein
offers a range of affordable cremation services that are tailored to each individual family’s needs.
We are available anytime to answer any questions you may have. Call or visit us at
wuneJBentstemFmtendHome.cam to receive more information and a free Dignity Memorial®
Personal Planning Guide.
Dignity;
Away From Home Protection® 124'Hour Compassion Helpline*
National Transferability I Bereavement Travel l Personal Planning Services
Grief Support I Veterans Benefits I Child & Grandchild Protection
ABiotesl
From Nature For Life
Plasma Donors Needed Now
Please help us help those coping with rare.-chronic,
genetic diseases.
New donors can receive $30 today and $70 this week!
Ask about our Specialty Programs!
Must be 18 years or older, have valid I.D. along with
proof of SS# and local residency.
Walk-ins Welcome.
Wireless Internet Available.
Biotest Plasma Center
233 West Hancock Ave.
Athens, GA 30601
706-354-3898
www.biotestplasma.com
JANUARY 11,2012 FLAGPOLE.COM 7
