No Self, No Fear 1

A few years ago, just after apostasizing from Christianity, I realized that the final reason I had stayed in that faith was, simply and sadly, that I was afraid of going to Hell. This is an indictment of religion in general- it is miserable, since all it can give is a fear of eternal fire.

Is there any reason for religion, I mean for supernatural beliefs in a personal Deity, in a scientific and secular society? Not reason, but raison d'etre? Why do most people seek some supernaturalism, whether of a traditional religion, a "cult", or New Age practice? With reason and science providing a better way of life for all people, why does God not go away?

I have come to believe that we are indeed "hard wired" for spirituality. There is just something about spirituality and its religious rituals that satisfy us. I believe that it is pattern.

We naturally want to be in control, or at least know where the next mammoth is coming from. The ones who could see the pattern of animal migration or seasons would be more likely to survive. Being able to discern- or imagine- pattern in the seeming chaos of life would be very valuable. It might even make one into a spiritual leader.

Yet scientists also have patterns in their laws and theories; but science does not fill our spiritual needs. What is the missing element? Putting it another way: what does religion (or spirituality) give us that science (or humanism) cannot give?

In short, I believe it is freedom from death. Religion allows us to believe that we will not end. We love stability; we fear change, and the greatest change is death. We are stark naked terrified of that dark cold end. All religions appeal to this fear. They claim to show us the way to live forever, whether through going to heaven, being reincarnated, or whatever.

By contrast, for all the great good they have done, humanistic thinking and science have done little to ameliorate our mortal terror. We are left to try to be brave, or to pretend that we are not afraid. The main failure of humanism is its lack of hope.

What if there were a natural way, a technique, for people to discover that life does not end, that they are connected to other lives that will go on, that this very connectedness is salvation and freedom from fear? Such a way would free humans forever from our ancient enemy.

I have long sought a means to overthrow the gods. If someone taught how to relieve the fear of death, apart from a god or church, what would that do to religion?