Evolutionary Intolerance

So this must be the weekend when I decide to rail against Facebook groups. I realize that it could well be an instance of me taking something too seriously… and by doing so I give more cred to the things I protest… but on the other hand, as I said last night, these ideas are being put into the ether. And I choose to argue against those ideas in the hopes of challenging them.

Last night I was rather bored and idle at my computer. So I saw an ‘update’ from this group I joined about evolution. Some ridiculous challenge to find a million believers by June. It’s kind of silly. Obviously a million people believe in evolution. And obviously, there are also a million people who don’t. It’s a pissing contest. Really… quite stupid.

Well, like I said I was bored. So I was curious to see how close they were to that million number. I went on the page and started reading the comments… and subsequently subtracted myself from the total.

Read this and you know I have a lot of religion angst. I think it fucked with my mind when I was too young to know better. And then… then I saw it do the same but worse to someone I love, love, love. It changed her. In some ways for the better… and in a lot of ways I think it took away a piece of her soul. So I have a grudge against religion in my personal life. In the larger picture, I am disgusted all too frequently by the use of religion to justify a whole bevy of evil and hate. To criticize love, to propagate ignorance, to spread intolerance.

And you know what? After reading those comments on the evolution page, I confirmed a theory that has long been simmering at the back of my brain. Atheists do it too. If not in some instances, worse.

I spent a lot of time thinking about death last year. And conversely… life. I think staring into that dark cave forces… well I’m the only human perspective for whom I can speak … but a glimpse into that murky mirror does frighten me and sprout all sort of question marks. And how can it not? There is NO answer. No matter what any book on this planet says. No one has come back to tell us what happens. One may rationalize that means no one comes back… but I dare you to spend a summer at Beauport and tell me that there aren’t more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt in our philosophy.

But that’s my point. Reading a book – be it the Bible, the Koran, or The Origin of Species doesn’t give anyone a one up on that answer. Sorry. Nope. It doesn’t. You can’t know. I can’t know. No one knows. 

But we’ll argue that science is fact based on careful observation and collection of facts. Um… you know, the Greeks thought they were observing the universe. They didn’t have microscopes and telescopes to understand that the invisible that made things happen were elements and molecules, not a pantheon of gods. They weren’t stupid. They just didn’t have the same spectacles we have in the 21st century.

Does the fact we live in the 21st century mean our spectacles are somehow clearer and more powerful? Maybe. But… science… well, come on, even science is manufactured from human beings. Subject to human error. Toyota technology anyone? Or what about high fructose corn syrup? Are you going to tell me that those elements of science are a purer way to see the universe? What about the studies offered by tobacco companies that claimed smoking wouldn’t kill you? Well, one could argue that was human manipulation – not actual science. But… see, just like religion, science – or what we are told science is can be manipulated by the powerful so we believe a truth.

Honestly, I don’t care what you believe. If you believe in science, I’m traveling that path with you… for the most part. I’m not so sure about genetically modified food or cloning. If you believe in Jesus… you know... as each day passes, I want to be like him. I want to give to the poor and heal the sick. I’ll hang out with the whores and tax collectors. But I don’t want to start talking about eternal fire and needing a special gate key to get into heaven. That’s bullshit to me. But if it isn’t to you… fine. Just don’t let it be your excuse to be an asshole.

The same goes for you evolutionaries. If you really believe in evolution, then put it into practice and stop repeating the dogmatic superiority of the religion you claim to detest. Evolve.