By Donald A. Collins | 23 March 2020
Church and State
As we fight a worldwide epidemic and recognize we as humans “are all in this together” I wanted to take this propitious moment to consider what a potentially massive huge change in religious viewpoints this Coronavirus crisis may have engendered!
For so much of history humanity has suffered under the yoke of religious beliefs which systematically continue to drive dire discord worldwide.
It is naive for me or anyone to expect such centers of temporal power as the Vatican or Mecca to cede sway over their absurd beliefs but (and this is the heart of my discourse) anyone who realizes the absurdity of religious fantasy does not have to write an op ed like this or rant against it in the public square! Or suffer great personal danger in so acting.
So how does their power get undermined? Well it already is very much so lessened in the minds of a huge number of humans worldwide.
How Many Nones Are There? Maybe More than We Thoughthttps://t.co/ezAxOaY677
— Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science (@rdfrs) March 10, 2020
I suspect a substantial similar number of people around the world are simply anxious to ignore in their daily lives any deference to insidiously influential beliefs! Proper human conduct is not owned by the Christian 10 commandments, but by the observance of such parts of that list as “thou shall not kill” and not by thou shall put only one god before you!!!
As our solar observations reveal endless other likely worlds out there the adherence to any fixed orthodoxy becomes more and more absurd.
So why will religion get ultimately back benched!
My opinion: because of the current worldwide efforts to contain and treat Coronavirus.
What a profound message never before posed as it is now with “all hands on deck” around the world.
Yes, the 1918 Spanish flu infected 300 million people—one quarter of the then world’s population— and killed 50 to 100 million, but its viral origins were not then discovered. No doubt grieving those immense human losses was used by religions worldwide to honor the dead. No problem except no cure either.
Now humans, not some high priest, are heroes and better yet concreate solvers of this humanistic medical crisis.
Never again will this electronically connected world population be unexposed to this revelation!!
Religious fantasy can no longer be offered as a route to human survival. We humans are in charge and responsible.
What a profound moment which may not be immediately recognized but in a short time (in cosmic terms) organized power-seeking religions will lose face if not place!
There must be some better educational use St Patrick’s Cathedral and all those other lush palaces of religious righteousness which in time no doubt will be found.
Thus those long time no no’s such as access to contraception or safe abortion or the right to die on one’s own schedule will be more and more ignored and made accessible by and to the growing numbers of humanistic people who see the light on why freedom from thoughtless religious orthodoxy is vital.
So, whether Pope or others get it, the die is cast and the example of worldwide response to COVID-19 could well in retrospect be seen as the main instigator of relieving humans from religious bondage.
Former US Navy officer, banker and venture capitalist, Donald A. Collins, a free lance writer living in Washington, DC., has spent over 40 years working for women’s reproductive health as a board member and/or officer of numerous family planning organizations including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Guttmacher Institute, Family Health International and Ipas. Yale under graduate, NYU MBA. He is the author of From the Dissident Left: A Collection of Essays 2004-2013.
From the Dissident Left: A Collection of Essays 2004-2013
By Donald A. Collins
Publisher: Church and State Press (July 30, 2014)
ASIN: B00MA40TVE
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What a pity such a significant number of the human race, need such a tragic prompt to start their gradual separation from the superstitions of the knowledge of 2000 years ago, to today’s amazing scientific and engineering, knowledge and achievement. If I am unfortunate enough to be inflicted by this amazingly adaptable and versatile virus, I certainly won’t be visiting my local priest, parson rabbi etc, still relying on the dogmas and preachings, apparently from 2000 years ago. I will most definitely rely on the versatile adapting collective skills and knowledge of our amazing scientific/ medical researchers and practitioners. They will eventually understand this formidable threat to mankind and bring it under control for all of us, regardless of colour, creed, belief, gender, sexuality etc.
Pretty sure I saw that the Pope has asked God to stop the virus? Curious as to where we are on that request? If he asked for this I assume he has also asked for a few other fixes like the priest issue and children, homelessness, war, cancer, death in general, Arsenal winning the league? If anyone has a hotline to the Pope can we please get a progress report on Gods work on these issues also?
Without an educational campaign of equal proportions to the daily reinforcement of beliefs offered by religions: A daily reminder on mainstream media, a year of re-sharing on social media… I'm afraid only few, beyond the already contemplating, will unshackle themselves from the ancient social clubs.
No doubts following human pseudo leaders of any kind is absurd.
No only the religious ones that use their positions and influence to advance their particular points of views about how people should live, but also those who in the name of a science no yet definitive believe they already have the complete truth.
However, that is a very simplistic way to perceive the complexities of the human race.
For sure I am not the first considering a more holistic approach where our needs are fulfilled by the right combination of science and spirituality.
Adopting an approach tipping the balance to only one of those will create more of the chaos we experience today in our World.
Scientists working on those problems on their field may solve those problems but will not offer the compassion and moral support that many times is even more important for our internal peace.