Being an agnostic, I presume that I can answer your questions most objectively.
Why does it always seem that the most religious people are also the most hostile,
Generally speaking, religious teachings are imposed on individuals at a very young age. These beliefs become engraved into a person's mentality, and henceforth become agents of one's identity and value system. As such, when you attack a person's religious beliefs, you are not only attacking a metaphysical opinion but their pillars of perceived truth. When such closely held beliefs become the object of one's criticism, requited hostility is the natural defense.
Many things in this world deserve derision and mockery. There are African natives in the Republic of Congo who stick rods through their noses and dance to exotic beats as homages to their mysterious religious cults. Wandering from the foregoing illustration, uber-religious people (as in Jesus freaks) may not be able to reconcile their manner and beliefs with conventional ways and common sense. To an outsider, this may seem ridiculous.
and those with most to prove?
Albeit their eager attempts to vindicate their beliefs, they actually have the
least to prove per se. The Bible, Torah and other religious books are not science journals but philosophical texts that explain supernatural phenomenon.
Why, because God is dead and they are in hysteric denial.
The existence of God is an empirical question that is entirely subjective. Whom is this "God" that you are referring to? Your bold claim lacks articulacy.
I'll appeal to your sense of humor by citing Michel Henry's phenomenological definition of God where he states that: "God is Life, he is the essence of Life, or, if we prefer, the essence of Life is God ..." (
I Am the Truth Toward a Philosophy of Christianity).
He claims that God is the sum of all life and existence. Thereto, by the foregoing interpretation you are claiming that
life is dead, and
we don't exist.
How absurd!
Furthermore, the notorious philosopher Thomas Aquinas defines God as:
".... Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect. Therefore, if there be no first cause among efficient causes, there will be no ultimate, nor any intermediate, cause . . . therefore it is necessary to admit a first efficient cause, to which everyone gives the name god." (Summa Theologica. Benziger Bros Inc, NY; 1947)
It is reasonable to interpret his implication of there being a "first cause" as the big bang (or the prime mover of it).
Therefore, in perceiving God through this prism, you would have to invalidate the big bang theory for your claim to have any authority.
Edward Tryon also makes a good case for the existence of "uncaused" things, where it has been observed that subatomic particles can transpire and cease to exist randomly without a divine cause or external catalyst. If the big bang phenomenon was a random cosmic occurrence,
without divine purpose, then it could be said that "randominity" is God.
And since randominity can be defined as "a state of excessive chaotic, creative and whimsical energy," which is the state of the universe from a subatomic perspective, then the universe intrinsically is God - just what Michel Henry claimed decades ago.
Moreover, can you cite scientific evidence as to the "death" of such a God? I would have to review the scientific basis of your claim before granting it any credence. I am eager to review your sources and abstract.
To my knowledge, science has not yet rendered a detailed verdict as to what the big bang's catalyst was. The origins of matter, time, space and above all - natural law are the ultimate question marks in the realm of cosmic science and philosophy. It is unknown whether an "entity of higher power," a " supernatural cause" or a mere act of randomness had ordained the big bang. Anything outside of the intricacies of the big bang is a question mark.
Anything beyond the question mark is (at present) scientifically unfathomable, and therefore hypothetical and open for ontological debate.
You claim that you have found the ultimate answer to this millennial query! How wonderful, the golden key has finally fallen unto one's hand in this century's-old space. I regret casting doubt on your autocratic voice of truth.