The devastating number of child deaths raises profound questions about the power and care of God.
The diversity of religious beliefs and the discrepancies in moral accountability call into question the reliability of religious doctrine.
Deep dives
Millions of children dying in suffering
Every year, around nine million children die before the age of five, with the scale of their suffering comparable to a frequent tsunami that occurs every ten days. The alarming statistics of 24,000 children dying each day, a thousand an hour, and around 17 per minute emphasize the sheer magnitude of this tragedy. The parents of these children, who often believe in God and pray for their children's safety, are faced with the harsh reality that their prayers are seemingly unanswered. This raises profound questions about a God who either lacks the power to help or simply doesn't care, resulting in a devastating loss and grief for parents across the globe.
Inequity in religious beliefs and inherent unfairness
The vast cultural diversity of India is home to approximately 1.2 billion individuals, predominantly Hindus. Despite their inherent goodness and virtuous actions, many Hindus are deemed to be doomed due to their worship of different gods. The concept of being condemned to an eternity of conscious torment in hell, solely based on being born into the wrong culture and holding the wrong theological beliefs, raises serious questions about moral accountability. On the other hand, individuals in America who have committed heinous crimes may secure heaven by merely repenting before their execution. This stark contrast highlights the inconsistency and inherent unfairness in a system that claims to be rooted in moral values. These observations call into question the religious doctrine's ability to serve as a reliable guide for ethical behavior.
This is an edited excerpt from remarks that Sam Harris made in a debate with a Christian apologist at Notre Dame University in 2011. The full debate can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqaHXKLRKzg
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