Religious believers–too stupid to be protected by law?
14 January 2008 by The Uncredible Hallq
(Cross posted at The Uncredible Hallq)
This is not a thesis I am inclined to advocate, but I wonder if many people–even and especially people who claim themselves to be believers–intuitively accept it on some level. What got me thinking about this was that yesterday, Ed Brayton had a post advocating that a ban on fortune telling be lifted. Interesting stuff, but then the day before that Ed was not so confident when he examined the question of whether preachers of the prosperity gospel–”give me money and God will make you rich”–should be prosecuted. Certainly, people like James Randi have occasionally suggested that spirit mediums should be prosecuted.
This immediately brought to mind David Hume’s incisive observation on religious beliefs from his Natural History of Religion: “Hear the verbal protestations of all men: nothing so certain as their religious tenets. Examine their lives: you will scarcely think that they repose the smallest confidence in them.” Similar observations have been made by Bertrand Russell and, most recently, Daniel Dennett with his comments about believing in belief. People may claim to belief in the doctrines of a religion, but they would never seriously rely upon them in any practical matter. Do they further think to themselves that anyone foolish enough to do so doesn’t deserve legal protection against fraud? It’s one way of explaining reluctance to prosecute the likes of Benny Hinn.
15 January 2008, on 7:54 am
If they practice truth-in-advertizing like this one, why not.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52819048@N00/364905378/
15 January 2008, on 9:56 am
Religious “belief” and all the rhetoric etc. that goes along with expressing and claiming it often function as sign of belonging to a group. It is a way to differentiate one from non-members, even if those claimed beliefs seem not to influence behaviour.
This is not always the case but it happens often enough. It also evident in non-religious spheres of life with strong implications for group identity like politics, nationalism, and so forth.
I think any claims and appeals for “donations” for healing, financial security etc. should be regulated by law. The ploy of asking people for “Faith offerings” in exchange for a “gift” of some preacher’s book or a prayer cloth should be regulated as commercial transactions.
15 January 2008, on 2:13 pm
Ahem.
give me money and God will make you rick
But what if I don’t want to be rick. What if I want to be bob?
15 January 2008, on 2:16 pm
(way to go Spirula! Point out someone else’s typo and the use the wrong punctuation. Gord I’m an idiot)
15 January 2008, on 2:26 pm
Spirula, that’s why I stopped pointing out people’s errors in blogland. It’s happened to me too often (making errors while correcting errors
). What’s that saying about while pointing a finger three fingers are pointing back at you? 
Many people are rushing to do this between tasks at work and not a whole lot of time to proofread, so even as as a person who has a Master’s in English, unless it’s an uneducated fundie troll, I let it slide.
15 January 2008, on 3:37 pm
Stardust,
Usually I don’t. But the way it is worded had me laughing. I was trying to figure out a way to get that whole “Why do I have to be Mr. Pink?” in there but couldn’t come up with it.
15 January 2008, on 5:28 pm
It was a good joke. I’ve gotten better on that front since Firefox added a spell check. I hope they add a stupid check soon.
15 January 2008, on 5:32 pm
yes, it was a good joke.
…a funny little play on words.
Sometimes, with getting older I have a brain fart about spelling certain words, so thank gawd for spell checker!
(I need the “stupid checker” as I have just deleted someone’s comment in the moderation queue instead of “approve”. d’oh!)
17 January 2008, on 9:01 am
The statement regarding the non use of religion in practical situations is so true.
The only time I’ve ever seen anyone serious about talking to god or using prayer, outside of a church, is when they’re about to die or go to prison.
Desperation makes you do stupid shit.