First, a story from the Daily Record:

A PRIEST has died after trying to demonstrate how Jesus walked on water.

Evangelist preacher Franck Kabele, 35, told his congregation he could repeat the biblical miracle.

One eyewitness said: “He told churchgoers he'd had a revelation that if he had enough faith, he could walk on water like Jesus. He walked into the water, which soon passed over his head and he never came back.”

I tried not to laugh, I really did. But I failed; I failed miserably (I know, I know, I’m a horrible person). I include this story only because it’s a rather extreme example of a type of faith I’m about to examine (oh, alright, and because it’s funny).

Faith Type 1: Belief in God.

This is also known as ‘belief without evidence, lacking any rational reason to suppose its truth.’ On its own, this type of faith is most closely approximated by deism, but is shared by all religious persons (obviously).

Faith Type 2: Belief, not only lacking evidence, but in the face of evidence to the contrary.

Also known as ‘believing you can walk on water when you’re up to your balls in wet stuff.’ As I said, it’s an extreme and absurd example, but it’s the functional equivalent of denying evolution, or believing Noah’s flood story, Adam & Eve, or that the earth is less than 10,000 years old.

The problem with organized religions is that Faith Type 1 arrives pre-packaged with a hell of a lot of Faith Type 2, and FT2 is a commitment to some pretty serious stupid. Belief in God, by itself, shouldn’t be too much of a problem. What is the practical difference between persons who differ on natural vs. supernatural causes of the universe at large? Very little; it should in no way have any effect on how those people live their lives or on politics across societies. As we start to slide along the continuum from FT1 towards FT2, however, the negative effects of religion on society become more apparent, and religious faith begins to encroach on the rights and freedoms of all.

FT2 is a serious problem in the United States, as more than half the population are evolution deniers and believe the earth to be less than 10,000 years old (pretty much a form of insanity). The further towards FT2 an individual is, the more likely they will be committed to denying the rights of fellow citizens, and to vote for ignorant morons like George Bush. Such ignorance among populations is a fundamental problem for democracy, as it’s easily manipulated by politicians. I see it as somewhat ironic that America wishes to gift the system that gave them a retarded leader on the Middle East. If I was an Iraqi, my response would be: “thank you, but fuck off.” Democracy, however, is the best system we have. What was it Winston Churchill said?

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those others…”

I guess my point is that if you have to be religious, please try to avoid faith type 2.

Now, lest everyone think I’ve gone mental and am defending belief in God, I should point out that believing in something without evidence is silly. Here’s why: by what criteria are faith-based beliefs accepted or rejected? Why believe Christianity over Islam, or polytheism, or astrology, or the tooth fairy? All of these beliefs are faith based beliefs that have not a shred of evidence in favor of them. All are contradicted by logic and evidence and all are pretty much equally likely to be true. Ah, I feel better now.