But many people are influenced by significant or charismatic others. Some mentally competent adults are influenced by advertisers, religionists and even politicians. Children especially are terribly at risk of being influenced by those who would indoctrinate them thus disabling them as free thinkers. I think that to seek the truth each of us is better equipped to do so when trained as children to boldly question without fear of reprisal.Present awareness wrote:I don't feel that anyone's belief, can be said to be better or worse then another's. Our beliefs are formulated through our life's experience and everyone's experience in life is different. Beliefs may be discussed, opinions offered, but seldom will a personal belief be changed because of someone else's opinion. The best we can do in life, is seek the truth in whatever form we find it.
Is religion good even if it's false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
- Present awareness
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
It is bad to have faith that God or nature will provide security against natural hazards such as climate change, or health hazards.
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
But, in relation to humanity as a whole, we have to consider the time. Thousands and hundreds of years ago, religion was proper for Man of that time, suited his level of being and knowledge, and generally helped him. But now modern Man is far too "over educated" for such a faith-based system as religion, so while religion may have been generally helpful for Man in the past, I think it may be generally harmful for him at the present time, and it seems quite possible that certain elements of it could even help pave the way to His extinction.....
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
Absolutely there is a difference between what you should do but you seem to understand this very well. Not everything is relative to opinion, certain cultural traditions and taboos are but you know not to confuse the two because you have this internal knowledge within you of course.Belinda wrote:Yes, Ruskin, but I suppose that even you will admit that there are Christians who have been and are a disgrace to Christianity. Nobody is without sin, but some Christians including popes have sinned enormously and done so in the name of Christianity.
Back to the topic question even though there is a (quite small) possibility that God doesn't exist in any form at all and all faith in a higher power is a complete crock of BS faith does have a massive role to play in human life, communities and cultures so it's still worth maintaining a reasonable faith in God (without resort to young Earth creationism) partially for that reason. The other reason being it's true and/or gives you a perspective of a objectively purposeful life/existence overall, that's the rock to base your life upon right there.
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
I couldn't have described my opinion any better than this post, bravo. Though I would add the caveat that even in Modern times there are those whose outlook is very similar to past eras and thus benefit from religion's guidance.Atreyu wrote:Obviously religion both helps and hinders humanity, and can help or hurt any one particular person, true or false....
But, in relation to humanity as a whole, we have to consider the time. Thousands and hundreds of years ago, religion was proper for Man of that time, suited his level of being and knowledge, and generally helped him. But now modern Man is far too "over educated" for such a faith-based system as religion, so while religion may have been generally helpful for Man in the past, I think it may be generally harmful for him at the present time, and it seems quite possible that certain elements of it could even help pave the way to His extinction.....
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
Excellent point, since religion can't be proven true, it can't conversely be proven false. Religions operate in the realm of faith not one of "proof" and "truth".PhiloSophia wrote:How Can you know that a certain religion is false?
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
Apparently, the brain doesn't differentiate between fact and fantasy anyway- so when we are eating, for example, the same part of the brain 'fires up' as when we are thinking about eating, or watching other's eat. So..the consequence is that the essence of religion, be it the idea of pure love, perfection, compassion or forgiveness, will have positive effects on our well being whether they are 'real' e.g our mother's love, or imagined (and so perfect -eg. the pure love of 'God'). If you build it, He will come!!LuckyR wrote:Excellent point, since religion can't be proven true, it can't conversely be proven false. Religions operate in the realm of faith not one of "proof" and "truth".
These effects are clear enough that someone of faith passes the same idea on to their children and so on, and of course, this comes with all sorts of cultural specific traditions and teachings which create a sense of tradition and belonging. All good so far.
The negative sides are obviously, that we are instinctively tribal and that everyone protects their idea of God, as if their life depended on it. We are terrified of the idea of this being taken away, as a child would be to lose its mother. And this is understandable, if it has been believed to be real, rather than understood as a 'special effect' of the mind. Also, it must come with a degree of very real social embarrassment to be last one to realise that it was all make believe. Easier to protest too much!
The sad part is the positive effect only comes, like the placebo effect, if we truly believe what we think is true. Pity we can't keep the idea of forgiveness, but lose the damnation and hellfire bit.
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
Thus the societal superiority of philosophy to organized religion. All the benefits of the "love of god" you mntioned without the convert the heathens (which comes out of the hellfire and damnation part).Lucylu wrote:Apparently, the brain doesn't differentiate between fact and fantasy anyway- so when we are eating, for example, the same part of the brain 'fires up' as when we are thinking about eating, or watching other's eat. So..the consequence is that the essence of religion, be it the idea of pure love, perfection, compassion or forgiveness, will have positive effects on our well being whether they are 'real' e.g our mother's love, or imagined (and so perfect -eg. the pure love of 'God'). If you build it, He will come!!LuckyR wrote:Excellent point, since religion can't be proven true, it can't conversely be proven false. Religions operate in the realm of faith not one of "proof" and "truth".
These effects are clear enough that someone of faith passes the same idea on to their children and so on, and of course, this comes with all sorts of cultural specific traditions and teachings which create a sense of tradition and belonging. All good so far.
The negative sides are obviously, that we are instinctively tribal and that everyone protects their idea of God, as if their life depended on it. We are terrified of the idea of this being taken away, as a child would be to lose its mother. And this is understandable, if it has been believed to be real, rather than understood as a 'special effect' of the mind. Also, it must come with a degree of very real social embarrassment to be last one to realise that it was all make believe. Easier to protest too much!
The sad part is the positive effect only comes, like the placebo effect, if we truly believe what we think is true. Pity we can't keep the idea of forgiveness, but lose the damnation and hellfire bit.
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
Religious organisations are good in the sense that man often cannot act unless the actions are orchestrated by leaders of the community of belief and practise. Therefore religions in their heyday could get people to do good as well as bad.
Religious organisations are bad when they idolise money, ritual, hypocrisy, persons, things, institutions, and beliefs. Idolatry makes people stupidly set in their ways.
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Re: Is religion good even if it's false?
Philosophy is essentially more 'vanilla' and mature than religion though, and humans do like excitement. As I was saying recently, in another thread, the trouble with being pure and good is that its boring. So, perhaps society will always desire the drama of faith, as it just seems much more visceral and intoxicating than reading philosophy texts. Plus, if you think about it, religion has built in social meet ups and parties to take a break from the more sombre parts so you get excitement without the need for any physical exertion.LuckyR wrote:Thus the societal superiority of philosophy to organized religion. All the benefits of the "love of god" you mntioned without the convert the heathens (which comes out of the hellfire and damnation part).
I sometimes wonder too, if religion was created just because people didn't have tele or electricity or the printing press! Can you imagine how boring it must have been if your only entertainment was each other and story telling. Its no wonder the stories got bigger and bigger, until they were literally 'out of this world'. A lot of dark, miserable nights to fill.
2024 Philosophy Books of the Month
2023 Philosophy Books of the Month
Mark Victor Hansen, Relentless: Wisdom Behind the Incomparable Chicken Soup for the Soul
by Mitzi Perdue
February 2023
Rediscovering the Wisdom of Human Nature: How Civilization Destroys Happiness
by Chet Shupe
March 2023