Mon, 22. February 2010
Where is Religion X?
One of the most extraordinary religious propositions - that a supernatural 'being' hears their prayers - continues to be submissively accepted without question. Yet if this claim were to be investigated by any independent consumers watchdog inquiry it would be quickly thrown out for lack of evidence. The 'Prayer Hypothesis' is never critically examined by it's believers and – crucially - no religion ever monitors the effectiveness of it's own prayers. Despite this, prayer power has been a core belief of all religions since humans evolved from chimpanzees over 250,000 years ago. The 'Prayer Hypothesis' states:
There exists a powerful spiritual 'being' with phenomenal mind processing capacity and physical powers that:
1. Tunes into the thoughts and utterances of over 6,800,000,000 human beings, simultaneously,
2. Does this in at least 503 world languages, non-stop, forever; and
3. Grants wishes by altering the natural course of worldly events; and
4. Either employs direct physical intervention or deploys intermediary angels, saints or other dead people to achieve it's aims.
Scant regard is given to the preposterous unlikelihood of such stupendous powers, despite being considerably less plausible than Santa clambering up and down the chimney of all the world's children in one night. Whilst there is no way to prove or disprove that prayers are being heard, what can and should be tested is the even more astonishing claim that they are being answered. All religions claim their prayers are heard and answered but none can submit anything more than anecdotal evidence in support.
The evidence for a supernatural response to prayer can easily be critically examined. There are many strains of religion and no more than one can be true. If one strain, Religion X, has the monopoly on the 'one and only true god', the effects would be observable. With a true god answering the prayers of Religion X and the prayers of other religions going unanswered, the overall effects would be very noticable indeed.
The true believers prayers would be answered and the prayers of other religions would not. The population of that religion would prosper. Every Religion X adult would live in peace and prosperity; every child would pass their exams; every harvest would be nourished by sufficient rain and sunshine; natural disasters would not kill them; they would be kept safe from accidents; those affected by malevolent deseases would be cured; they would live longer; and of course, their national football team would win every match. Religion X would prosper above all others.
Not only that. Word would soon get around that the god of Religion X is the only effective religion. There would be a gradual transferrance of faith from all other religions to Religion X and within a relatively short period of time there would be only one credible religion remaining on Earth. I have looked in vain for signs of any such a credible religious effect but there are none. If it was going to happen we would all have observed it by now, so clearly, there is no Religion X and there is no super 'being' answering believers prayers.
The world is entirely consistent with what it would look like if no religion had it's prayers answered.