“It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.”
— Carl Sagan
“We cannot be critical of what other people believe about (God).”
Take this quote and replace (God) with any other serious study.
“We cannot be critical of what other people believe about (physics).”
“We cannot be critical of what other people believe about (history).”
“We cannot be critical of what other people believe about (chemistry).”
“We cannot be critical of what other people believe about (morality).”
Nonsense.
In our culture (and many others), it is taboo to criticise religious belief. We can be critical of people’s politics, but not religion. This is the only element of our lives that gets a bye. Taboo.
Now, I’m not talking about hope. I’m talking about belief.
“I hope I win the lottery.”
“I believe I will win the lottery.”
One of these people will keep his ticket in his pocket and keep his fingers crossed. The other will go out on a spending spree and blow their life savings.
Belief modifies our behavior to such a degree that we ignore the facts surrounding us.
Belief is dangerous. It makes intelligent, educated, well-to-do adults fly airplanes into buildings. It makes intelligent, educated, well-to-do adults believe that protecting “the rights” of a small bundle of a dozen cells too small to see is more important than healing the suffering of a child with Parkinsons. It makes intelligent, educated, well-to-do adults believe that God Himself gave Jerusalem to the Jews. It makes intelligent, educated, well-to-do adults believe the world is only 6,000 years old.
Belief is dangerous.
If you are a person of faith, please consider this question. Does your belief teach you to ignore the world around you? Does it teach you that some people are more important than others? Does it teach you that ignorance is a better option than knowledge?
If so, it is time to be critical of your belief.