sullster

Humans are irrational creatures and if theism was gone all kinds of superstitions would run rampant.

One of the effects of the Protestant Reformation was the war on superstitious beliefs. Granted they wanted their own bunch of superstitions to be believed, but the condemnation of all other beliefs actually aided the rise of reason. All it took was rejection of christian nonsense and all the other stuff was already gone for most intellectuals.

My intention here is not to praise our dear fundies, but to show that militant theism can clear out some other trash.

Thus I conclude that a non-theistic world may just create other problems of an equal nature to theism.

Oresta

MarcoPolo:
If they knew that by killing themselves, it would just be over, I think it would happen more often.

"To sleep, perchance to dream; ay, there's the rub..." Act III, Scene I

Religious conflict is a front for struggles over territory and power. Religion is used to manipulate the masses into an us/them way of interpreting socio-economic issues. I agree with Someone7; we'd still be engaged in ideological struggles over who gets the biggest share of goods and privileges, and the most votes in decision- and policy-making.

Edited for typos.

[ May 26, 2002: Message edited by: Oresta ]</p>

Perchance

True. I think the consequences of ideas would remain the same. However, the ideas themselves would be different, and I think that in turn might affect how the conflicts would act out. A lot of people I know seem to have little to no trouble standing aside when a struggle is not religious, but get dragged in when religion enters it.

I also think that theism being gone might lead to a few less revolting ideas in the world. I found out the other day that my sister believes (along with other surreal ideas) that September 11th was orchestrated by God to humble America, because we're getting too proud of our country. All those innocent people dead, so that God could say, "Bad America!"...

I wanted to throw up.

At least with religion gone, no one can say that some invisible force beyond the sky, by whatever name, is punishing us for our sins. People would probably look and find other people to blame just as easily, but they couldn't claim the approval or disapproval of non-human forces anymore.

-Perchance.

Oresta

Perchance:
Still, I don't see a "kinder, gentler" world until there is an equitable, non-exploitative system of distribution of goods and social powers.
Edited for UBB goof.

[ May 27, 2002: Message edited by: Oresta ]</p>

Perchance

I'm not sure that even that would work. There are at least some people who will make things up to be angry about when they have nothing else- and that might actually be more likely in a world where people's physical needs are taken care of. I don't think we could ever satisfy everyone's mental needs.

Sorry; I'm in a cynical mood this morning.

-Perchance.