Page 1 of 1
Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:51 pm
by moksha
Thank God for secularism. Secularism helped free us from the tyranny of nobles. It has given us a workable system of justice free from the barbarism of religious justice (unfortunately some areas of the world still experience it).
No more being burnt at a stake. No more religionists crying out for a needed blood atonement.
Secularism revived democracy and gave the right to vote to all adults. That was a precious achievement for humanity; something we should cherish.
Your thoughts?
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:56 pm
by Angel
Any belief system can turn brutal, athiests have blood on their hands as do religious groups. Looking through list of most secular countries, some I would love to live in, others not so much. Herd mentality is a strange thing. The best remedy is traveling, experiencing multiple cultures and belief systems, having diverse friends, interracial marriages and multiple beliefs within families - diversity and real exposure and melting pots is the best solution to break apart mob mentality I think.
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:01 pm
by 1smartdodog
Religion is regarded by ty the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2021 11:13 am
by RubinHighlander
I don't know if this current trend of the lessening religious power is forever, but I sure hope so. Tribalism has certainly branched out and fractured into lots of digital realms now, watering down the old institutions. But money and resources are still primarily held by the religious, political and corporate powers and the formula for weaponizing social issues among the tribes still works quite well.
I could see a fallback to this strict religious structure if instability occurs on a large scale; like in The Handmaid's Tale. I'll fax a pdf prayer to the flying spaghetti monster that it never does!
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:26 am
by annotatedbom
moksha wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:51 pm
Thank God for secularism.
I just want to acknowledge and appreciate the sense of irony and humor of my favorite penguin. Thanks Moksha for sharing you with us!
Angel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:56 pm
Any belief system can turn brutal, athiests have blood on their hands as do religious groups ... Herd mentality is a strange thing.
I also want to acknowledge Angel's point. This herd mentality or tribalism drives all sorts of harmful and dangerous behavior, and it can happen among the most non-religious of groups. That being said, I believe religion tends to encourage and facilitate tribalism, nationalism, us-vs-them-ism whereas secularism in and of itself seems to be more neutral in this regard - the secular group tending to go with the flow of strengths and weaknesses of those within the group.
I'm grateful for the secular government of my country, its religious freedom and freedom from religion. I value my right to disbelieve but will fight for another's right to believe in anything mystical, spiritual, religious regardless of how irrational I may think the belief. I may not respect the belief, but I respect the dignity of the person and their right to believe.
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 1:13 pm
by Angel
annotatedbom wrote: ↑Fri Jun 18, 2021 7:26 am
moksha wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 6:51 pm
Thank God for secularism.
I just want to acknowledge and appreciate the sense of irony and humor of my favorite penguin. Thanks Moksha for sharing you with us!
Angel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:56 pm
Any belief system can turn brutal, athiests have blood on their hands as do religious groups ... Herd mentality is a strange thing.
I also want to acknowledge Angel's point. This herd mentality or tribalism drives all sorts of harmful and dangerous behavior, and it can happen among the most non-religious of groups. That being said, I believe religion tends to encourage and facilitate tribalism, nationalism, us-vs-them-ism whereas secularism in and of itself seems to be more neutral in this regard - the secular group tending to go with the flow of strengths and weaknesses of those within the group.
I'm grateful for the secular government of my country, its religious freedom and freedom from religion. I value my right to disbelieve but will fight for another's right to believe in anything mystical, spiritual, religious regardless of how irrational I may think the belief. I may not respect the belief, but I respect the dignity of the person and their right to believe.
Yes, some systems are better than others. The danger comes when any group believes it has the "one and only truth", the one and only correct way of doing things. There is no "correct" way of doing things. It would be like thinking everyone should drive the same model car, or everyone should live in the same style of house.
Talking to someone the other day who shares their beliefs and tries to convert others because they think their way is the only way for anyone to experience real happiness. They honestly do not think other people are happy (or even happier) than they are. I really like Malcolm Gladwell's take on it, that "Through embracing the diversity of human beings, we will find a surer way to true happiness. The movement from the search for universals, to the understanding of variability."
https://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladw ... anguage=en
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2021 5:50 pm
by annotatedbom
Angel wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 1:13 pm
I really like Malcolm Gladwell's take on it, that "Through embracing the diversity of human beings, we will find a surer way to true happiness. The movement from the search for universals, to the understanding of variability."
https://www.ted.com/talks/malcolm_gladw ... anguage=en
Well said by Mr. Gladwell. He should write a book
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:52 am
by lostinmiddlemormonism
Angel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:56 pm
Any belief system can turn brutal, athiests have blood on their hands as do religious groups. Looking through list of most secular countries, some I would love to live in, others not so much. Herd mentality is a strange thing. The best remedy is traveling, experiencing multiple cultures and belief systems, having diverse friends, interracial marriages and multiple beliefs within families - diversity and real exposure and melting pots is the best solution to break apart mob mentality I think.
This...
Re: Thank God for Secularism
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 1:39 pm
by Red Ryder
lostinmiddlemormonism wrote: ↑Tue Jun 22, 2021 8:52 am
Angel wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 7:56 pm
Any belief system can turn brutal, athiests have blood on their hands as do religious groups. Looking through list of most secular countries, some I would love to live in, others not so much. Herd mentality is a strange thing. The best remedy is traveling, experiencing multiple cultures and belief systems, having diverse friends, interracial marriages and multiple beliefs within families - diversity and real exposure and melting pots is the best solution to break apart mob mentality I think.
This...
What if a neighborhood is extremely diverse with all the characteristics you mention above but is surrounded by walls and a few gates? Say on a better side of town with higher incomes, electric cars, and HOA fees?
Humans are hard wired to be tribal. We are a flawed species. Broken in a sense by our innate need to survive, reproduce, and collect material things.
The more I think about our flaws, the more I realize that the “man was created by god in his image” narrative is absurd.
We’ve evolved over millions of years only to become self absorbed humans subject to butt implants, lip injections, and selfies.
We haven’t learned to love everyone and build the best communities that help the weak. We just ignore them and hope they don’t block the entrance to the Gucci store.
Thank God for Commercialism!
/s
/s