Dovina28 Aug 2004
Envy is the wrong word for what feel when I see religious people comforted through their religion. Envy implies ill will because of anotherâs advantage. I wish to have their comfort, but know that because of my reservations I cannot. Among my misgivings is the fear of hope such as an ostrich has when its head is in the sand. (Actually, I donât think ostriches do that.)
People want to believe â to hold a position on something. It does not have to make sense. Discrepancies are expunged for them by faith. So religion provides substance for their faith, and in so doing, it gives its parishioners psychological advantage in the storms of life. Your argument for applying real solutions through research and philanthropic funding (instead of spending money on cathedrals and such) makes sense. But people have always looked to gods and probably always will. Thereâs advantage for them; we might as well acknowledge it.