Sherman123
DP Veteran
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I certainly hope that it dwindles down to nothingness. As a species, we have outgrown it. We don't need to imagine anthropomorphic forces at work controlling the universe. We don't need to view the universe through the lens of human experience. We don't need to be afraid of mysterious occurrences. We know why earthquakes and storms happen. We don't need to project our own fears and insecurities onto them. We don't need to use the fear of a magical and immortal king to maintain order. We have the consent of the governed to take care of that now.
Whatever benefits religious ideas may have served in the past, we no longer need them. We have intellect and learning enough to free us from superstition and fear.
If it was in your power, would you take religion out of the lives of everyone in the world?
That is a very complicated question. I suppose it depends on exactly what sort of power I had. Would I outlaw religion and punish people who practice? Of course not. If I could psychically impart understanding to everyone in the world the collective sum of human knowledge that leads us past superstition... probably, yes. If I simply had the power to make the perfect argument that would convince everyone? Sure. I'd do that in a flash. If I personally had the power to go from person to power, discover what individual argument, fact, or information, would make them stop seeing the world through the human-centric lens, and the superstition, the fear, and the misunderstanding... I would go door to door, and speak with every one of those people.
So, to truly answer your question: I would not TAKE religion from anyone. But I would absolutely give what is needed to bring any reasonable human mind to a place where it could see religion for what it is, a relic of the past, steeped in ritual and magic, and ancient ideas of human emotions and psychology, and truly ancient ideas of justice and morality that would make us weep to think on, and interjecting ourselves where we are not the actors and instigators. The universe exists. We had nothing to do with it. No all powerful being had to miraculously exist just so that it could make us.
What is in my power is the use of my voice and my words. That power I will use to dispense with religion in the world. The world does not need it now... if it ever did.
I certainly hope that it dwindles down to nothingness. As a species, we have outgrown it. We don't need to imagine anthropomorphic forces at work controlling the universe. We don't need to view the universe through the lens of human experience. We don't need to be afraid of mysterious occurrences. We know why earthquakes and storms happen. We don't need to project our own fears and insecurities onto them. We don't need to use the fear of a magical and immortal king to maintain order. We have the consent of the governed to take care of that now.
Whatever benefits religious ideas may have served in the past, we no longer need them. We have intellect and learning enough to free us from superstition and fear.
It is an interesting question that I've been thinking about for a while. For much of the past 20 years we've seen a steady increase in irreligious, atheistic, or secularist sentiment among citizens of the Western world (Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc though excluding Russia and the post-Soviet space) and it does not seem as though this trend is slowing down. The raw statistics are easy enough to call upon and I don't think it's necessary here--suffice to say that it has risen significantly among youth and young adults and across most every country in the West it is on the rise and religiosity (the importance of traditional religion, attendance of services, etc) is on the decline. What I find more interesting personally is how the narrative has shifted so much in such a short period of time. It was only a few short years ago that this was a much more controversial subject with atheism/irreligion, the Newdow case, that war memorial out in California appearing nightly in the news. Now it seems like no one bats an eye at such lawsuits or polling reports on religion.
It makes me wonder of how different things could be in even 20 years, or 50, or a 100. Do you think your children will be as religious as you are? Your grandchildren? How prominent will traditional churches be and how much will they change? Will it follow current geographical demographics or will it spread evenly? Or will it reverse (I personally think this unlikely)?
It strikes me that so much of the vehemence around the current iteration of 'culture wars' is the sense on one side that they are slowly losing their grip on the future (and their deeply held views on life and society) and those who think they are increasingly winning.
Since most of us on this forum are definitely in the 'West' where this trend is taking place I figured I'd pose some of those questions here and see what you had to say.
Some religions need to be curbed, or they will take over the world.
How about this- If you could take religion out of the lives of all those villagers in Peru, Bangladesh, Tibet, Laos, wherever, would you? Do you think you have a substitute to offer?
Some religions need to be curbed, or they will take over the world.
If it was in your power, would you take religion out of the lives of everyone in the world?
It is an interesting question that I've been thinking about for a while. For much of the past 20 years we've seen a steady increase in irreligious, atheistic, or secularist sentiment among citizens of the Western world (Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc though excluding Russia and the post-Soviet space) and it does not seem as though this trend is slowing down. The raw statistics are easy enough to call upon and I don't think it's necessary here--suffice to say that it has risen significantly among youth and young adults and across most every country in the West it is on the rise and religiosity (the importance of traditional religion, attendance of services, etc) is on the decline. What I find more interesting personally is how the narrative has shifted so much in such a short period of time. It was only a few short years ago that this was a much more controversial subject with atheism/irreligion, the Newdow case, that war memorial out in California appearing nightly in the news. Now it seems like no one bats an eye at such lawsuits or polling reports on religion.
It makes me wonder of how different things could be in even 20 years, or 50, or a 100. Do you think your children will be as religious as you are? Your grandchildren? How prominent will traditional churches be and how much will they change? Will it follow current geographical demographics or will it spread evenly? Or will it reverse (I personally think this unlikely)?
It strikes me that so much of the vehemence around the current iteration of 'culture wars' is the sense on one side that they are slowly losing their grip on the future (and their deeply held views on life and society) and those who think they are increasingly winning.
Since most of us on this forum are definitely in the 'West' where this trend is taking place I figured I'd pose some of those questions here and see what you had to say.
It is an interesting question that I've been thinking about for a while. For much of the past 20 years we've seen a steady increase in irreligious, atheistic, or secularist sentiment among citizens of the Western world (Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc though excluding Russia and the post-Soviet space) and it does not seem as though this trend is slowing down. The raw statistics are easy enough to call upon and I don't think it's necessary here--suffice to say that it has risen significantly among youth and young adults and across most every country in the West it is on the rise and religiosity (the importance of traditional religion, attendance of services, etc) is on the decline. What I find more interesting personally is how the narrative has shifted so much in such a short period of time. It was only a few short years ago that this was a much more controversial subject with atheism/irreligion, the Newdow case, that war memorial out in California appearing nightly in the news. Now it seems like no one bats an eye at such lawsuits or polling reports on religion.
It makes me wonder of how different things could be in even 20 years, or 50, or a 100. Do you think your children will be as religious as you are? Your grandchildren? How prominent will traditional churches be and how much will they change? Will it follow current geographical demographics or will it spread evenly? Or will it reverse (I personally think this unlikely)?
It strikes me that so much of the vehemence around the current iteration of 'culture wars' is the sense on one side that they are slowly losing their grip on the future (and their deeply held views on life and society) and those who think they are increasingly winning.
Since most of us on this forum are definitely in the 'West' where this trend is taking place I figured I'd pose some of those questions here and see what you had to say.
You do realize that 20 years is a completely insignificant period of time? Try taking a bit of a longer perspective.
I certainly hope that it dwindles down to nothingness. As a species, we have outgrown it. We don't need to imagine anthropomorphic forces at work controlling the universe. We don't need to view the universe through the lens of human experience. We don't need to be afraid of mysterious occurrences. We know why earthquakes and storms happen. We don't need to project our own fears and insecurities onto them. We don't need to use the fear of a magical and immortal king to maintain order. We have the consent of the governed to take care of that now.
Whatever benefits religious ideas may have served in the past, we no longer need them. We have intellect and learning enough to free us from superstition and fear.
Religion is a personal thing. The mere word comes from the Latin verb "religare", which means "to re/connect to the divine".
When somebody is telling you what to think and do, that's no longer real religion, but human religion.
How about this- If you could take religion out of the lives of all those villagers in Peru, Bangladesh, Tibet, Laos, wherever, would you? Do you think you have a substitute to offer?
I don't understand this construct; you seem to be suggesting that those who are "religious" are superstitious and fearful (and non-intellectual and ignorant). Why are you doing this? Surely you know folks of faith who are as "smart" and "educated" and confident as you are, folks who aren't ignorant ninnies. Presenting yourself as an either/or thinker doesn't really serve you well here.
There's another way of viewing the universe?
I'd rather take my chances with the majik King, thanks...
It makes me wonder of how different things could be in even 20 years, or 50, or a 100. Do you think your children will be as religious as you are? Your grandchildren? How prominent will traditional churches be and how much will they change? Will it follow current geographical demographics or will it spread evenly? Or will it reverse (I personally think this unlikely)?
Interesting to note that the OP stated he would "pose some of these questions here" and then went on to post no questions whatsoever.
Given the mindless gloating pop culture responses that will be intentionally elicited, shouldn't this thread be in "Philosophical Discussions?"
One wonders what the attraction is in the endless attempts to slip anti-religious threads into the Religious Section.
You do realize that 20 years is a completely insignificant period of time? Try taking a bit of a longer perspective.
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