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By Jim Downard
Do you believe the world would be better off without religion?
Religions occur naturally in human beings. The specific doctrines of religions are cultural and vary over time, of course, but that humans make religion (along supernaturalist and superstition thinking too) is not something that can be prevented or abolished. We humans make such things along with the process of making (inventing) sense of the world. So there is no way for religion to disappear because it comes from the way our brains function.
Would Bach have ever written his music in the way he did if he weren’t religious? Probably not. Likewise Brahms might not have written his music in the way he did had he been religious. It takes all kinds.
Now I will say that the world would definitely be better off if no religion can ever enforce its orthodoxy by marshalling the powers of the state, or the coercive powers of its social network. People should only believe a religion because they personally choose to do so, not because they get into serious trouble if they don’t. That secular protections aspect is definitely dooble, and highly desirable.
Just how many people would remain religious or what forms such religions would take in the absence of state protection remains to be seen. Bereft of its coercive arm, the benign side of religious belief (humanitarian services, inspiration to creativity, providing meaning and purpose for people who might otherwise be a nuisance, etc) can continue, and I have no problem with that.
Thank you for a balanced view, Jim. The problem is, religion is fairly bound up in the social hierarchies. Of course, even without religion social hierarchies causing social injustice still abound. There is a lot to think about.
Kudos Jim. You delivered a perfect answer.