A World Without Religion: It’s a Matter of Mindset
(via Atheist Hussy)
I enjoyed this presentation of the humanist viewpoint. Some see God or religion as the source of what’s good in the world. I don’t see it.
My only complaint against the video is that dangerous fanatics would still exist without theistic religion, contrary to what the video says.
May the human family come together without the distraction of superstition.
Tags: Atheism, compassion, Humanism, morality, religion, science, secularism, suffering, superstition, video
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August 9, 2007 @ 2:23 pm
I hope you don’t mind that I just linked to this post from my blog… here.
This is the first time that I’ve ever thought about the absence of religion like this. Its got me thinking on a different plain. I’ll have to take some brain cycles and devote some time to it the next few days for it to sink in.
Great post. Thank you.
/paranoidfr33k
August 9, 2007 @ 10:47 pm
Unfortunately, I must agree that even without religion there would be dangerous fanatics in this world. Pol Pot comes to mind. So far as I know, he was not religious, yet he was a fanatic responsible for the deaths of some three million.
I usually prefer to look at religion as a great facilitator or great enabler. Religion enables some people to do more good than they might otherwise, and it enables some people to do more evil than they might otherwise. Of course, the notion of religion as a facilitator or enabler runs counter to the popular notion that religion only promotes good.
August 10, 2007 @ 9:32 am
I call it the cult of the Great Leader, the desire to subsume your own will in that of a charismatic, powerful leader. There’s something in our human nature which makes us gravitate to such leaders, whether they be Jesus, George Washington, Stalin, or Pol-Pot.
I’ve heard some claims that the religious background of Russian peasants which emphasized the divine right of kings enabled Stalin to exercise such control over the people. Their religion enabled Stalin to use them to commit atrocities.
August 14, 2007 @ 4:34 am
Wow! What a video. Thanks for expressing it so well.