The Flying Spaghetti Monster
Bobby Henderson, an Oregon State physics graduate, began a parody religion whose deity is the Flying Spaghetti Monster. This was in response to the debate in Kansas over whether intelligent design should be taught in public school science classes. Apparently, Henderson wanted to satirically demonstrate the ludicrousness of including intelligent design or religion in science classes.
According to Bobby Henderson, the Flying Spaghetti Monster is an omniscient deity made of pasta. Also, The Flying Spaghetti Monster created everything that exists. Most religions have this theme with the exception of a deity being made of pasta.
You cannot prove that the Flying Spaghetti Monster exists. Nor can you prove that any other deity exists. Given this, is religion irrational?
Though I agree with Bobby Henderson's view that religion or intelligent design shouldn't be included in science classes, I don't think that religion is necessarily irrational. However, if a religion promotes disharmony, hatred, violence, or the murdering of other people, then it is irrational. It is irrational because it brings unnecessary pain to others; it is irrational because it brings unnecessary pain to the followers of that religion.
Cause and effect. If you bring pain to others, they will bring pain to you.
Religion can be rational if it promotes harmony and well-being. For example, Christians are encouraged to follow the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule states, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Parallels of this rule exist in the Talmud and Analects of Confucius.
This rule alone can eliminate most of the disharmony you see in the world today. Can you imagine how harmonious the world would be if everyone followed the Golden Rule?
Finally, religion can promote well-being. To see how religion or spirituality can promote your well-being, get the highly acclaimed book
Our Ultimate Reality.
Al A. Gammate's main website is at
http://www.theguaranteedcure.com/
