your-god-is-too-small May. 2016 | Page 200

you’re his “friend” on Facebook? Why are believers not worried about climate change? Because we are in the “end times.” How do they know this? Because of the “signs” that they interpret to be in accord with something someone wrote ages ago. Never mind that they have been wrong about this numerous times in the past. How about evolution? No, they have creationism and intelligent design. Any evidence for this, like a new species, just popping into existence recently? How about the great global flood? Any evidence at all? Archeology, astronomy, geology, biogenetics, and paleontology have conclusively demonstrated that: • The universe, earth and animal life were not created in 7 days; • The existence of water did not predate the creation of the universe and the earth; • There was no global flood; • There was no exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt (nor did the Hebrews wander in the desert for 40 years); • The Hebrews didn’t conquer Canaan; they were Canaanites already themselves; they spoke a Canaanite language, and originally worshipped El, a Canaanite god; • The moon never split in two; • There was no iron-wielding civilization in America with millions of people fighting huge battles before the advent of the Europeans; And so on and so forth. When faced with a complete lack of evidence, religious believers expect others to “respect” their beliefs and not laugh at them. Apparently, if you’re a believer, having faith is all about being able to believe the most patently ridiculous things, and not be criticized or ridiculed for it. There is no such thing as a peer-reviewed paper in religion. Anyone can interpret the holy books any way they want, and there is no way to prove them wrong. If an atheist wants people to believe in something, they need evidence to back it up, and any test results must be capable of duplication. 5. You Get to Take Things That Aren’t Yours, Because God Gave It to You The whole state of Israel falls into this category, and not just the illegal occupation of the lands outside the 1967 borders. In every other context, invading another country, taking their land, and then putting your people on P a g e | 200