This message marks the inaugural “sermon” of the First Amendmist Church of True Science (FACTS). I place “sermon” in quotes because I’m somewhat uncomfortable with that word. According to my dictionary, the first definition of a sermon is:
A discourse delivered in public, usually by a clergyman, for the purpose of religious instruction, and grounded on a passage of Scripture.
The second is:
A lecture on one’s conduct or duty; a homily; hence, an annoying harangue.
Obviously, my intention is not to engage in anything that approaches this latter definition (although I can’t guarantee that the reader or listener won’t feel that is the appropriate characterization). The first definition, on the other hand, fits perfectly … except for the last clause. Although Scripture may well provide valuable lessons and insights, the same may be said for just about any other prose, and to start off this church with excerpts from theistic religion would hardly be in keeping with the ideals that it is hoped members of this church will find persuasive.
As the acronym suggests, FACTS is not based on the supernatural. Any present-day “god” is no more likely to represent a reality than is Amen-Ra, Zeus, the bogeyman, Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. Our religious philosophy is that the true and eternal bonds of righteousness and virtue stem from reason rather than mythology. It recognizes that it is never possible to prove that something does not exist, but finds that fact to be an absurd justification to accept the unproven. The bizarre, the incredible and the miraculous deserve not blind faith, but rigorous challenge. Thus, we find that belief in a deity represents the repudiation of rational thought processes, and offends all precepts of science and natural law. Our religion incorporates the same values of goodness, hope, advancement of civilization and elevation of the human spirit common to most others. We, however, feel that all these virtues must ultimately be based on truth, and that they are only hindered by reliance upon a falsehood, which we believe trust in any God to be.
[By the way, are we, then, atheists or agnostics? The distinction may be illusory. An atheist denies the existence of god; the agnostic claims that the existence cannot be known. Thus, the agnostic (in actuality) denies the existence of the proof just as the atheist denies the existence of the entity. In any event, both are saying that no proof exists to justify a belief in god, and both would believe in god were such proof to arise.]
Well, if we don’t believe in any god, what do we believe in? As our name suggests, we believe in the principles epitomized in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, combined with basic scientific method. The First Amendment reminds us that people see things differently, and guarantees that every individual will be afforded an opportunity to express ermself and follow rees own conscience. Scientific method, on the other hand, tempers our use of the First Amendment’s principles. Although, ultimately, we hold the freedoms of thought and expression in the highest regard, we nonetheless have markedly diminished respect for those thoughts that are not based on data, logic and ratiocination.
I thus ask those of you who wish to join this church to rejoice in the beauty of the universe, and to sing the praises of the instrument that allows us all to appreciate that beauty: the human mind. Life is a phenomenal journey, and pleasure a true blessing. May we all have increased phenomenal and pleasurable experiences.
[1] This is not to in any way suggest that FACTS is only for Americans or that it stems from an “American” view of the world. It does reflect that I – as founder of FACTS – am an American, and therefore will likely bring about associated cultural biases in my writing. More importantly, however, is that the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States beautifully puts in words a sentiment that we believe is essential to growth and freedom of the mind, no matter where one is situated.