Bob Slade

Places of Worship Bob Slade

Science has shown us that we are extraordinarily lucky to have somehow achieved life, given the innumerable number of permutations of the gene pool that could have given life to others instead. But if we are so ungrateful for this wonderful opportunity that all we can do is believe, for no good reason at all, that this life is not good enough for us and that there will be a far better "afterlife", then we are sadly just throwing this gift away in contempt. If you really believe this then you have undoubtedly been indoctrinated, made to accept beliefs against your better judgement. Following the 18th century Age of Enlightenment, the First Amendment to the US Constitution was careful to provide for freedom OF religion. If only it had had the foresight to also provide for freedom FROM religion... but...... In 2018, Pope Francis has written a long, open letter stating that non-believers would be forgiven by God if they followed their consciences. In other words, atheists will also see heaven as long as they are still good people. Of course, atheists don't believe in heaven but at least this should hopefully go some way now to stopping them being perceived as "baddies" by the religious, for not believing in whichever of the some 5.000 or more gods they happen to have inherited, simply by being born in a particular part of the world. Time, now, to find a better way forward that we can all adopt.