As I explain in some detail in the "Social Dilemmas" section, it is not logically sound to say that the battle may be lost as a result of this particular soldier not participating. It is highly unlikely that the success of the battle will depend on whether this one soldier chooses to fight or not. "But what if everybody did the same?" is an irrelevant and nonsensical question as far that particular individual is concerned.
Generally, the acceptance of the religious belief is based on blind faith. However, we humans are not happy with that so we try to rationalize. Apologists for the Christian religion say that their belief is based on the Christian Bible. Now what do they know about the bible? Not much. No one alive today can vouch to its veracity. History tells us that the Christian "New Testament" Bible was most likely written 90 years or so after the death of someone who may have existed, Jesus. Consider for a moment how accurate a story might be that was handed down for 3 or 4 generations -- verbally -- by a tribe of people who were mostly illiterate. I'm not saying that any of the story is untrue -- I'm just saying the probabilities that it is factual are mighty slim! For those who doubt, let me suggest an experiment. Go over to the Middle East today (they are far more educated today!) and try to establish an interesting story, fact or myth. Come back in 90 years and check out the current version of your story. Would you base your life on its veracity?
But that is just the beginning. After the story of Jesus was written down, it was translated and transcribed many times by people. I don't know too much about people that lived here a couple of thousand years ago, but today there is substantial evidence that people with such tasks often have their own agenda and tend to "flavor" their transcription. If you don't believe that, just watch the television evening news!
The most popular advertisements on late night television seems to be for "Psychics". From this fact alone, I must conclude that many people actually believe in the claims of these people. Further, since the government has not stepped in and harassed these people, forcing them to desist -- as they would if some fledgling company simply claimed their product was better than some other company -- the implication is that the government endorses their claims. And just look at the classified ads in any popular magazine, including Psychology Today, and you will see piles of ads for "Psychics", Astrologers, and others with magic capabilities. Are we not civilized? Or are we headed back to the Dark Ages?
Television routinely reports in the news about people praying for relief from some disaster (the most strange are the stories wherein all in a plane crash are killed but one and they report it as a miracle of God that that person survived!). Do we really believe that stuff? Statistics readily available from reliable sources show that people who pray constantly do not live a bit longer than the rest of us and suffer, on the average, just as many illnesses and accidents. Where is the rational thinking?
And look at our burial customs. How little we have progressed over the most primitive tribes when it comes to burials! We will spend millions to retrieve the remains of a dead person from some far off land, remains which have reverted back to nothing but chemicals. But why? It was my understanding that when a person dies the soul does not hang around. So why bother with the inanimate and soulless body? More below.
But wait a minute, I read somewhere that that portrayal was incorrect, that it was just an effort of men to keep women down. From what I have read -- and from some personal experience :-) -- the modern woman likes sex as much or more than men do. I am confused.
In fact, my own life has not been completely sheltered and as a result I have personally met quite a few women who can be quite aggressive for sex! Some can even get a bit mean about it, if you know what I mean. So what is going on here? Why do comedians routinely joke about the sexual aggressiveness of women and the sluggishness of TV-Sports watching men? Would it be funny if there was not some truth in it?
So, maybe women do like sex. Maybe some women like it a lot! Who knows, maybe they like it more on average than men do. Then why does the news media assume -- without question -- when there is a sexual impropriety that it is always the man's fault? Why is it argued that women who dress sexually are really looking for sex?
In fact, why bother with the church? Many of us skipped the church ceremony and still feel we are married. So it must not be the state or the church ceremony that determines when we are married. Maybe all we have to do is simply look each other in the eyes and say the vows. Sure would save a lot of hassle and money.
Oh no, you say, the marriage would not last without the church and/or state ceremonies to cement it. Gosh, is that the reason we stay married? I was hoping we had better reasons to stay married. Would you go though the ceremonies just so you could bring pressure to bear on the person to make him stay with you? Surely not.
[More later . . .]