"the whole profiteering, woman-fearing, guilt-gorging, truth-hating, child-raping institution – while it tumbles, amid a stench of incense and a rain of tourist-kitsch sacred hearts and preposterously crowned virgins, about his ears."
"profiteering"--YES
"woman-fearing"--YES
"guilt-gorging"--YES, YES
"truth-hating"--YES, the sun used to go around the earth. And nowadays a "day" is God's biblical code for how ever many years we need it to mean.
"child-raping institution"--surely. The fact that some remain above this peccadillo (sneer intended) does not invalidate the generalized characterization. Be it known, as well, that spirits can be raped outside of any overt sexual fondling...
But one of the most horrific consequences of 2000 years of indoctrinating the public with preposterous nonsense is the crippling of human wisdom. Where could we not have been if we could have but dumped the arsenic water from our cups and drank purely from the stream of wisdom, reason, and clarity? If men like Bruno had not been tortured and burned alive? If the cudgels and torches of force and fear had not smashed the fragile spirits of inquiry?
Moving the stone altars from the jungle to the cathedral did nothing to erase the horrid blood stains from the descending knives of the superstitious apes who have always ruled the spirits of the people. Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice! is still the priestly cry. Because without "sacrifice" they are useless and less than nothing. Without sacrifice their vengeful "god" is simply the wind and the rain and the glorious sun.
"who is closer to God"
To the God who shows his rear end to Moses? Who wipes out entire tribes of innocent men, women, and children? Who dashes babies head first against brick walls? Hmm...do those little sexual proclivities and peccadilloes of the priest qualify him to be close to God? Hmmm....once the matter is thoughtfully considered...I guess it does. Dawkins never had a chance, did he? :-) |
