PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING

Read a few articles lately that have religious idiots claiming there is no proof of evolution and so it can't be true. They even opened a theme park in the bible beltway that has 'scientific' reconstructions with little children running around playing with baby dinosaurs a la the Flintstones' pet Dino. While blind faith may be admirable, blind stupidity is pathetic.

While there can only be one Universal Truth, there are thousands and thousands of organized religions and spiritual cults upon this earth, each claiming and sincerely believing itself to be the truest and best of all possible religions.

Each has some special piece of evidence to use as proof of its authority and claims.

These claims are based on any or several of the following kinds of evidence:

(Proof: Absurd example)

Proof from Authority: "It must be so, our leaders say it's so."

Proof from a group of Authorities: "They all say so, it must be so."

Proof from Antiquity: "It was written in 10,000 B.C. so It must be true."

Proof from Circumstance: "I asked for a sign and the dog barked, it must be so."

Proof from Friends: "All my friends do it, it must be OK."

Proof from Phenomena: "He gave me a drink of something and it cured my pain, he must be the Messiah."

Proof from Self-Proclamation: "I wouldn't say it if it were not so."

Proof from Feeling: "It hurts so much it must be helping."

Proof from Investment: "Everybody is paying so much for it, it must be valid."

Proof from Confusion: "I can't understand it, so I'll have to believe in it."

Proof from Popularity: "Everyone says the world is flat, except you, Columbus."

Proof from Misinterpreted Evidence: "For many years now it has turned cold after the leaves have fallen from the trees. Therefore, we must fasten the leaves more securely to keep the weather warm."

Proof from Charisma: "Look at that face, the smile, those eyes, that hair and mustache, how can you not be devoted to him? Heil Hitler!"

Proof From Inner Guidance: "A voice in my head said it was OK to steal, so I stole it."

Proof from Credentials: "The sign said: "Honest John's Used Cars," so naturally l assumed..."

Proof from General Faith: "We all thought the world would end on March 1, so we sold our homes to Joe, threw a farewell party and got roaring drunk."

Proof from Association: "I ate six apples on the full moon, six months later I married a werewolf. Don't eat apples on a full moon."

Proof from Packaging: "It must be valuable because it has expensive paper, leather binding, gold ink, violet ribbon, antique printing -- but what's that ticking sound inside?"

Proof from Dedication: "Four million followers have been martyred for him. He must be a true and wonderful leader for our people."

Proof from Power: "He has destroyed his every enemy, he has made the mountains quake, he has caused the sea to swallow up the land, he has created chaos out of order, who can doubt his wisdom? Who dares doubt his wisdom?

Those "Proofs" have been the basis for all Religions on Earth. It becomes increasingly clear that people of the Earth have long lived with illusions, lies, false gods, and absurdities called Truth. Essentially people are misled and unrealistic in an unrealistic world.

The proof is in the pudding.