The Phantom of Faith

          Charles Darwin, many years ago, and with great ridicule, suggested the evolution and metamorphosis of life. He believed that, through years of trial and error, all life forms, from humans to insects, and from plants to fungi, changed and mutated in order to survive and reproduce more beings like themselves. Any organism whose hereditary traits did not adapt to that species' specific environment, did not survive, and thus no longer exists. In one way or another, all aspects of life undergo this process of elimination, -this system of thinning the herd. Even an inadvertent eye can identify this speciation of culture throughout the course of human development. For instance, the dawn of the gasoline-fed motorcar brought forth the demise of the horse-drawn carriage, and the emergence of television retained and tamed the former rampancy of radio. Mile high sky scrapers drowned out the family farm, as thousands of disposable napkins from fast-food restaurants brushed away, forever, the sweat of preparing home-cooked meals. As the steering wheel replaced the dinner table, and the cell phone usurped the prominence of inter-family conversation, the world sat idly by, taking in the sweet scent of capitalism and comfort. Likewise, as human invention and determination increased, it repeatedly and bitterly choked out the unnecessary antiquities of the past, casting into history outdated methods of society that once seemed to be set in stone. Man has always been quick to forget, and swifter yet, to omit and repress, memories and trifle teachings that they once were forced to adhere to, whenever confronted with a  pattern of development that's more efficient, effective, and influential than the one they are presently pursuing. There is, however, one seemingly major kink in this chainlike ideal of mental succession; there still lies a fetish to follow false prophets. Wholly out of step with today's society, religion incapacitates learning, and stunts scientific exploration, by lathering the title of heresy into the very fabric of anything that doesn't align itself with the Church's archaic fables and mythologies. The burden of religion has grown too heavy to continue existing, and mankind should no longer be required to bear this cross.

          Many theists, and otherwise religious sympathizers, make the claim that religion has done more in the way of service to society than it has ever done harm. They state that, between religious volunteer groups and church collections, as well as virtuous advice dealt from between the pages of Bibles, Korans, Vedas', and Psalters, religion has committed an irreplaceable element within the framework of human development. The argument is often made, that without the psychological training and conditioning that religion saturates people with, all humans would deteriorate into mannerless and deranged animals.  Civilizations everywhere would degenerate into frenzied packs of unfed wolves, bearing their teeth and lashing out at the den's weakest link, solely to satisfy their own addiction to insanity and anarchy. Theists, likewise, argue that religion is the law book for life, the guiding hand that pulls men their personal pitfalls, and the very spiritual channel of the Creator Himself. Ultimately, they argue that man is incapable of autonomous thought and self-control, and consider religion to be a cage that humans can safely and securely lock themselves within.

          These short-sighted individuals fail to see, however, that religion itself was created by man. Granted, many cower behind a wall of misplaced credit, by claiming that the men who invented whichever religion he or she adheres to, was divinely inspired by the Father almighty. This is problematic already. There is no way to prove, or, for that matter, reason to believe, that the scribes who chiseled out religion's rigorous restrictions and responsibilities were any more 'deistically designated' than any other human in existence. Rather, by casting off the shackles of formal religion, men can grow in their spirituality, as opposed to festering in the same facade of faith that people been wired to for centuries. By emancipating the world of Churches, all people are freed from the bonds of dogma. No longer would people be forced to resort to lackluster and partial participation in their own spirituality, or held in a vice by the title of 'Cafeteria Christianity'. Everyone can create their own morals, forge their own sacred writings, express love however they so choose, and seek out whatever it is in life that makes them happy. Put short; the dissolution of religion and church does not mean the end of virtue or morals, but actually, the birth of the freedom of conscience. All people can  decide for themselves what is a sin, and would never be made to fear an unreasonable yet eternal fiery damnation. An exodus of religion is a renaissance of individuality.

          Furthermore, the abolition of religion is fueled by something far greater than a hunger for individual and personal growth. Tearing down the levees formed by rival churches and disbanding the hatred that is bred by the majority of these faiths will likely bring about a new era of peace and unity. No longer would humans be enslaved by an overbearing feeling of pity for others that the priests claim will burn in Hellfire, simply because they've prayed to the wrong incarnation of God. No man would develop a sense of superiority to those who fail to follow the well defined faith to the same significant degree that he does, because everyone will be following their own rules. Hence, society would develop respect. No longer would anyone feel guilty for standing up for their rights, or for questioning those who attempt to control them. Therefore, society would learn to cherish insolence. Men and women all over the globe could finally sheath their crusading blades forever, and join hands for the first time, not as families united in faith, but simply, as a singular family united.

          Upon the exile of religion, unity and togetherness finally come into practice, yet not at the cost of individuality. Everyone is divided in their thoughts and opinions, yet when they are free to possess those ideals, they choose not to enforce them. When given the choice, humans do not enslave themselves, nor do they feel any desire to force others to their same personal standards. This cultivation of cultural transformation seems to be the epitome of Darwin's theory; it appears to be the very pinnacle of evolutionary perfection, that a society of beings, each so completely different than one another, can be free to exist as they are. Each and every one acts as their peers' protective environment, mutually ensuring each others' safety and progeny.