Julien Haller Responds

Hi Everyone! And welcome to my first post! Today I want to talk about a common argument you hear in “Creation vs. Evolution” debates. Now, generally I will try and point to specific arguments made in specific debates, but this is too common to pare down to just one debate. Here is the basic form of how this argument goes:

Creationist: Hitler was atheist and he was evil. Ergo, atheism is evil.
Evolutionist: Nuh uh! Bin Laden was religious and he was evil. Ergo, religion is evil.

In picture form, this is what the petty and squabbling children look like:

Clever, aren’t they? This is an argument made by Christopher Hitchens and Bill Maher in the evolutionist corner and Kirk Cameron and Ben Stein in the creationist corner. And yes, they are truly this one-sided. A gander at the Wikipedia page for Cognitive Dissonance might help you understand how arguments like these are perpetuated.

But who is right? Does atheism make people evil, or does religion? Of course, the answer is simple: neither of them and both of them.

Atheism and religion are only two specific forms of a common ailment which gives the impetus behind the evil propagated by men such as Adolf Hitler and Osama Bin Laden. That ailment is fanaticism. Here is a picture of the true situation:

You see, anyone who finds his entire identity and self-worth tied up in a belief that can never be proven one way or another will eventually become a fanatic. Why? Because, without reason or empirical observation, validation of one’s ideas falls back on the tried and true methods of killing anyone who disagrees.

So, in conclusion, let’s all try and be a little less Hitler-ish. Or, in the event your social views are too tied up in these beliefs, please do not run for political office.

How can anyone take her seriously?

Thanks everyone! I hope to flesh out my points on the morality argument in future posts. Until then, enjoy a few links for further exploration!

Was Hitler an atheist?
Wikipedia article on Hitler’s religious views

Examples of cuddly Atheist Regimes?
Rational Response Squad answer on YouTube

Darwinism and Nazi regime?
Ben Stein visits a Nazi camp (skip to about 7:45)