(Originally written September 13, 2005 in Book 2)
Why I am not a Christian
Bertrand Russell
1957
Can religion cure our troubles?
Truthfulness and intellectual integrity are virtues that can only be derived if one rejects dogmatic religion.
Intellectual integrity: deciding the answer to questions based solely on evidence. If there is not enough evidence to support a conclusion then we should leave the question unanswered. Intellectual integrity will help the world more than any of the organized religions.
Morals are accepted on solely religious creeds or on an obvious social utility.
There is no need for theological morality because as civilization progresses, earthly morals, regulated through law, can punish and stop immoral behavior by itself. There is no need for a god to judge from heaven.
Religions do not like inquiry because inquiry might lead people to question God's existence.
Religion may be argued to be true, but if it is simply argued to be useful then it is dangerous.
"Christianity... does less harm than it used to do, but that it is because it is less fervently believed" (Russell, 198).
Christianity is not the key to changing the world. Christianity has produced many evils over the course of history.
Only man's intelligence can save us from the current state of the world.
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