Mental terrorists

Crime rates, however, tend to tell a different story. In fact, prison statistics show that there are thirty times less atheists than we would expect by proportionality (U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, March 1997). Such a disproportion would be difficult to explain without having to discuss religious dogmas.

There is much more to discuss about the ethical nature of atheism and theism - I know this because I have discussed it elsewhere (as in my article Religion's Devils). Some of these factors are related to notions of the afterlife, some are not.

The attacks of September 11th, on the other hand, are an eloquent demonstration of the evil consequences of such a belief. The directives given to the terrorists, found on September 29th, are clear on that point : they must "[k]now that the gardens of paradise are waiting for you in all their beauty, and the women of paradise are waiting, calling out, 'Come hither, friend of God.' They have dressed in their most beautiful clothing" (emphasis mine). This relates to the islamic belief in women waiting for them when they get to paradise. "Be happy, optimistic calm because you are heading for a deed that God loves and will accept [as a good deed]".

The document also details how, just before impact, they must remember the glory of God. "When the hour of reality approaches, the zero hour ... wholeheartedly welcome death for the sake of God. Always be remembering God. Either end your life while praying, seconds before the target, or make your last words: 'There is no God but God, Muhammad is His messenger'" (emphasis mine).

Certainly I do not mean to equate all christians with the Sept. 11th murderers. Most religious people, despite their religion, manage to maintain a minimal degree of ethical standards. However, George Bush, an avowed christian, contends that such actions do not do justice to Islam. Yet do not major religions preach the survival of the soul ? And do they not preach also intolerence ? How, therefore, is one supposed to find "true" religion, if these attributes are already in evidence ?

No, believing in an afterlife may be a nice story for children, but it is not rational. Instead of only maintaining hope towards the future, we must also focus on the here and now. Only then can we reach a healthy emotional equilibrum.

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