Pray for Boston?

N.B please do not take this blogpost in the wrong way. I am personally horrified to hear about the incidents in Boston and make no attempt to offend or hurt anyone with my views. I fully acknowledge the reality and horror of the events and would not wish that anyone would be upset by the ideas in this blog. My concern comes well before my skepticisim at this time.
 

A series of explosions in the capital city of Massachussets has served as another reminder that the world is far from rid of evil. On Monday afternoon, an explosion occurred amid a crowd of marathon spectators in Boston, which was followed by another several hundred yards away. Several were killed by the blasts, and dozens maimed.

Along with the global worry sparked by reports of developing nuclear technology in North Korea, the incident has reopened many concerns and debates about terrorism and the security of our society.

But aside from the politics, there lies a more subtle and unnoticed evil. A certain group of people believe they know who is responsible for this incident. But instead of accusing this figure, they are worshipping it. Which group am I talking about? It is of course, the Christians.

Now, I'm not as arrogant or ignorant as I sound. I am completely aware that "Pray for Boston" or "#pray4boston" is the response of millions of those who are concerned and upset about the news over in the states. I know that for many, "pray" is simply a metaphor for "think about in a caring and empathetic way". And I am in full support and admiration of the amount of care being lavished on the incident. I am personally distressed by the fatalities, especially that of an 8 year old boy, who's siblings were also seriously injured.

But it pains me that so many are blindly turning their attention and praise to an invisible being which, by definition of their beliefs, actually caused the explosions.

Because, after all, Christians never fail to boast of their God's omnipotence, the idea that he is all powerful. Most Christians even go as far as claiming that everything happens as a result of God's will. And if God wills and controls everything that happens, then it stands to reason that he must have caused the explosions.

If this is the case, then it beggars belief that those faithful in the existence of this deity would pray to it post-catastrophe. I can't help but wonder if Christians would ask a serial killer for his support in their time of woe, after he himself killed several of their family members.

And if everything that happens is God's will - if everything is, as it is often called, "God's plan" - then how would praying to him even make a difference? If you pray to him and it fits in with what he wants, it'll happen. But it would have happened anyway, because it's a plan, that God formulated well before you were born. And if you pray for something God doesn't want, he won't make it happen. Prayer is pointless. And when it comes to praying for help after difficult events which were actually brought about by the figure you're praying to, well that's more than pointless, it's an insult to human intelligence and reason.

A healthy approach

To the large group of skeptics across the world of which I consider myself a member, the idea that there is a God that causes everything to happen is ridiculous enough, but when our peers begin praying to this being after it supposedly willed a disaster, it annoys and frustrates us. We want our fellow man to be reasonable. And not because we're pernickity, or want everyone to be like us. But because a good combination of reason and ethics leads to a healthy society. If billions can pray earnestly to a serial killer, then billions are capable of any kind of wacky and dangerous thoughts and actions.

We've already seen how terrible and threatening brainwashing can be, in the form of our other leading world religion, Islam. Its deceitful spreading techniques and crazy ideas are no different to those of Christianity in nature. The only difference is that its implied teachings are rather more barbaric and bloodthirsty than Judeo-Christian ones. I can't help but worry about human nature when I realise that the only thing stopping Christians acting like fundamentalist Muslims is the content of their holy book. In fact, looking back at history it's revealed that Christians in fact have behaved like fundamentalist Muslims. Just look at the Crusades. Look at all the burning of "witches", the stoning of adulterers, the safe-guarding of scientific ignorance, the death sentences given to those who dared to challenge religious authority. Religion has proven itself over and over again to be a force both insulting and threatening to the human race. Many may argue that Christianity was a foundation for our increasingly moral Western society which, come to think of it, is far from true - a society built on Biblical values would be putting to death anyone who worked on the Sabbath, burning anyone who is suspected to be a witch, and still be teaching that God created the world 6 thousand years ago. A more reasonable argument is that a Christianity was gradually modified to ignore the nasty bits and emphasise the good morals. This idea alone shows us that morality certainly doesn't come from God, because if we can cherry pick the best bits from the Bible, our moral compass must be external to Biblical teachings. Anyway, I digress.

The point is, religion continually attacks our reasonable and scientific minds. It stamps "EVIL" upon the forehead of science and free thought, promoting the close-mindedness of its followers. It warps our sense of morality, teaching that every human being deserves eternal damnation. And it teaches us that even though God kills and tortures people all the time, we should pray for his help and love. Religion does this with authority and arrogance, all the time claiming to be the way, the truth, and the light. And although most people see praying for Boston a good thing - although I recognise it is a caring response - it is, deep down, an unhealthy, unreasonable thing to do. The problem is, nobody realises it.

Thanks for reading.