Posted by
Conservative Wordsmith on Saturday, September 15, 2007 10:51:49 PM
Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Here is a great alternative title to Christopher Hitchens' Bestseller God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything: "If men are so wicked with religion, what would they be if without it." According to Wikipedia, this quote is from a letter that Ben wrote to Thomas Paine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin
#Virtue.2C_religion_and_personal_beliefs
These are my sentiments exactly. Would the world be a better place, and less evil, if no one believed in God, or any religion? (Think of John Lennon's song "Imagine":
"Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too").
http://www.oldielyrics.com/lyrics/
john_lennon/imagine.html
I guess Benjamin and John did not see eye to eye on this matter. Many have praised this song in the same manner that many are now praising Hitchen's book. But is either one "spiritual" or "true"? Or is the esteemed Mr. Franklin right?
What would men be if totally without religion? It is more difficult for me to "imagine" this than to picture the world according to John Lennon or Christopher Hitchens. Would there be any true charity or concern for others in a world without God or religion? Would all of the "caring" and "ethical" atheists really do a better job than the true religious thinkers, leaders, saints, and martyrs that have marched throughout history with their messages of hope for humanity? I think not.
My Related Posts
Christopher Hitchens Is Not Great
The Religion of Christopher Hitchens
Ben And Mitt Match Taxable Wits
Benjamin Franklin on God and Prayer
Thoughts on Benjamin Franklin and Rabbi Hillel
Kevorkian Released, Polish Man Wakes Up
*The original date of this revised post was
June 19, 2007.
Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.