Bree

My sociology teacher believes that society as a whole is best summed up by the book Lord of the Flies. Our discussion today was based upon the formation of religion in the story.

The majority of the class decided that the formation of religion is inevitable during the formation of any society - the two go hand in hand. They also believe that without religion to act as the "opiate of the people" (Marx, I think) anarchy would arise. They don't necessarily believe that EVERYONE need subscribe to the confines of a religion - they believe that it is necessary to keep some of the citizens nice and quiet.

Personally, I don't think that atheism = anarchy, however, I can't find an example of a society which functions without the imposing figure of a god or goddess looming over the people.

What are your thoughts?

FoE

Well every anarchist i've ever met was also an atheist so you may have something there.

IvanK

Judging by things such as regular church attendance the Euro zone, particularly Scandinavia, is nearly religion-free. I'd have to say it functions awfully well all things considered.

Dark Jedi

Ahh, but the religion aspect is still there to give focus for the lunatic fringe. Without this aspect, they might rise to power and try to.. Oh, never mind. They use religion for that.

James AD

Language, music, popular legend, social elites, war, prostitution, drug abuse, and organized crime are also inevitable parts of every society. Obviously not all of them are equally desirable.

There has never been an "imposing figure of a god or goddess looming over the people." These figures are invisible, with only a select few who are privileged to have any direct and intimate knowledge of. That is a con job virtually by definition. If priests and ministers can molest children and have adulterous affairs in private and sanctify slavery and racial segregation from the pulpit and preside over the torture and cruel executions of heretics and alleged witches, religion's practical usefulness as a moral constraint is extremely flawed.

Don't forget that the United States of America has a secular government based on a written Constitution. It is neither theistic or atheistic. It derives it's authority from the people governed. We do not have a clergy in power pretending to represent the will of a deity.

As far as what the general population believes, only about 40% are regular church goers. Apparently many of the rest don't think that "god" has all that much to do with their daily lives. People who are very religious are a vocal minority. The majority don't have much patience for them. Most of our businesses, schools, recreational activities, and even charities are secular. With so many people who have little regard for any religious authority there would already be anarchy, if religion were required to keep people in line. Look at the virtual absence of atheists in prison. They seem to be our best citizens, not our worst.

Atheism and secularism = democracy. That's the way it is, not the way it would be. That's the way it should stay.

[ January 22, 2002: Message edited by: James AD ]</p>