$WHACKD - BRITBONGLOGPOST

Christianity teaches that a triune God, an eternal Community, created humans in his image so that they will be eager for intimate relationships with him and each other (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18, 22-24). We were made to be in relation with each other. Knowing another and being known by them is what it means to be a person. God knows us intimately and we were made to know him (Acts 17:26-27).

However, our father and mother chose to live selfishly and so they, and the Earth they were caretakers of, were cursed with death (Genesis 3:17-19). God is the Source of Life (John 1:3-4). After their sin, they were spiritually separated from him. That intimate communion between God and Man was lost. Our connection to the Source of Life was severed. And not only that but human relationships were broken. Adam blamed Eve, his wife, and tried to throw her under the bus (Genesis 3:12). Cain was jealous of Abel, his brother, and killed him (Genesis 4:8). And so, death and sin reigned. Death is a terrible enemy. It is not natural. It is a curse. And it needs to be destroyed.

Out of an abundance of love for you and me, Life (John 14:6) defeated death on the cross by entering its domain (Matthew 12:40), taking its keys (Revelation 1:18), and rising from that domain to rule heaven and Earth (Matthew 28:18).

Jesus Christ is both God and Man—the forever embodiment of our destined inheritance—communion with the Divine (1 Corinthians 15:28). It is in him, through his work, and by his mediation that we have our intimate relationship with God restored (Ephesians 2:14-18).

And so, because we have found our blessed hope in God, we are more eager to commune with him and others. We are empowered to obey his Law which can be summed up in two commandments: Love God and others (Matthew 22:36-40). We are commanded to go out and proclaim this good news to disciple the nations so that they too can experience the love and communion of their exalted, incarnate Lord (Matthew 28:19-20)—the only Sovereign, King Jesus (1 Timothy 6:15).

Now, I am told by many users here that religion is the oldest conspiracy. That it is the oldest institution for brainwashing and propagandising. That conspiratorial, critically-minded individuals who are into religion have really missed the boat.

But what exactly about the Christian story is beneficial to the powers that be? What exactly about believing that humans are morally accountable to God and that they will find their soul’s rest in him beneficial to them? Is it for ‘blind trust’ in the Bible? The same Bible that says to love God and others? How are those commands useful for them and why is that teaching a matter of “propaganda” and “brainwashing” and not “wisdom”?

If God and religion are made up, then what roots justice? How do we know what is just and unjust without a higher standard above fallible, human opinions by which all humans are subject irrespective of time and location? Is it morally wrong for the powers that be to manipulate and brainwash people with religion? If so, on what basis is that condemnation philosophically warranted?

Without God, human beings do not have inherent value and dignity above all other living and non-living things. Isn’t that more useful for those manipulating others? To tell them that they aren’t inherently special or more meaningful than other living and non-living things? We are told that we are literal star dust—nothing more. Are carbon and hydrogen moral things? Do nitrogen and oxygen engage in ethics? Does phosphorus or sulphur condone and condemn? If not, then what one star dust does to another star dust is ethically irrelevant.

It seems to me that the irreligious are caught between a rock and a hard place. By denying God and rejecting religion, they have undermined the moral sting behind their condemnation that the powers that be are brainwashing people with religion. From their perspective, it is morally inappropriate and wrong to brainwash people with religion and propagandise religious views and yet deny the higher law that grounds any condemnation whatsoever.