Religion and the new technology

[intaglio]

2. For me this is easy

It's easy because I have spent some time thinking about it in relation to faith.

Near as 10 years ago I would have classified myself as an "agnostic" and carefully explain that I meant that literally, I was a-gnosis without the revealed knowledge that would allow me to believe in any deity. This was my position because, like many others, I had neither the time nor inclination to investigate what I now see as the trivial and deceptive arguments of the religious apologists. Then came the information explosion on the internet.

Suddenly the resources to counter these nonsenses became available and the previously isolated individuals, agnostic and atheist, could talk to each other. Information could be shared and the foundations of faith could be shown to be human not divine; full of contradictions and primitive superstition. The writings of oily academics like William Lane Craig could be analysed by many minds acting together and revealed for the santorum that they actually are. Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia and texting allow the previously unempowered to answer the hubris and falsehoods of those who seek to count the unshriven amongst the "saved" of the preacher's particular fantasy.

The downside is that the technology and resources are available to the religious as well and will be used to spread the faith and to find special pleadings that counter the arguments of the faithless. This is fine after all "what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander" and I believe that reason and fact are on the side of the unbeliever.

10 years ago I claimed to be agnostic; in fact I did not believe in God or Gods, I was atheist but lacked the gnosis to admit it.