While I've recently managed to occupy myself with all kinds of fun extracurricular activities (most often aboard a bicycle), I'm guilty of inactivity at this particular site. Which is a shame, because I'm still very enthusiastic about the subjects "Reason and Religion", "Religion's Alternative", and "Religion's Tragedies."
Pardon me if I redefine my project a bit. I'd like to focus on atleast these three subjects in this blog. First, "Reason and Religion" means the logical deconstruction of the argument for religion as well as the strict scrutinazation/testing of the raw logic and logical sequencing that the pro-religion argument is composed of. Second, "Religion's Alternative" refers to a moral code/method of living/reason for living which could-as religion has done in some ways-bring out the best in people, foster hope n' joy, and promote human progress. The mere proposition that such an alternative to religion could actually exist someday is pretty exciting. Imagining what forms this alternative might take is bound to be a fun side-project. Finally, I'd like to make clear to all who'd care to listen or read what harm has befallen humanity as a result of religious belief.
With my purpose reclarified yet again, I'll turn my attention to recording some recent thoughts regarding these subjects. In place of the laptop I don't possess, I've been using a pink notebook to scratch out my thoughts while sipping a mocha at some coffee shop or book store downtown. I've written several pages. Here is some of what I've written:
[first, I created a tentative argument logically and came up with questions to test my propositions. as you'll probably find, my logical construction becomes a bit random at some point]
Why be rid of religion...?
Religious belief breeds violence
Are highly religious societies more violent than less religious societies?
Have religious societies been more violent in the past?
How many major conflicts of the last 3000 years can be attributed in some way to belief...
Can it be said that specific conflicts were directly caused by one or more persons' religious belief?
How exactly does religion and religious belief cause a believer to act violently?
What evidence supports this?
Could evidence exist in support of something other than the main proposition?
Religion Suppresses the Imagination
In what ways does religion suppress the imagination?
Denounces things and ideas as good or evil. This creates a defensive mindset-one which retards mental enjoyment of a wonderful diversity of ideas, as well as denies a believer much pleasure, leisure, and freedom that would otherwise be available to him.
What are some examples of this?
Are these examples reasonable?
Is an active, open imagination a requisite for greater joy, contentment, or pleasure?
....Or is it simply that religion acts as a large barrier to the truth which is necessary for one to be free, and to freely seek/create happiness for herself?
Is it not possible to live behind the religious veil, so to speak, and still be happy? Certainly.
...which begs the question, what exactly is happiness, joy, and pleasure?
note: there is objective truth regarding the universe, and there is truth that pertains to us personally--this latter kind of truth is what is necessary to make me happy, this gives me pleasure.
Religion distracts people from the goal of living for themselves-for happiness, pleasure, and joy.
Am I just saying that there is a fundamental difference between religion's ideas and my ideas about the what life is for?
What is the purpose of life?
Religion's state that the purpose of life is to love, know, and return to god, so that he may fulfill his plan, and his plan for us. Life should be lived in way which brings about this purpose. The "way" can be found through studying the scriptures, taking councel from those ordained by god, and through prayer.
I claim that the purpose in life (contending for a moment that a "purpose" exists) is to experience as much joy, contentment, and pleasure as possible. Personally, I've found many ways to increase these things in my life, but as of yet there is no ultimate "way" guaranteeing the best possible results.
[Here's the next lil' analysis I wrote in my notebook]
Differences between religion and my "way":
Purpose
Religion: God
Me: Happiness
The Way
Religion: Scripture/modern authority/prayer
Me: Awareness of your condition to create urgency to live. Effort and learning to create moments of joy n' pleasure. Planning. Being open to different experiences and ideas in search of greater and greater happiness.
Morals
Religion: Ten Commandments, Golden Rule, Teachings of Prophets...to know & love God. Me: Golden Rule, "All in this together", empathy...to affirm life and living.
Knowledge
Religion: We can act or believe in response to things not sensed, but emotionally felt.
Me: We can only act in accordance to our senses and logical consideration.
Pardon me if I redefine my project a bit. I'd like to focus on atleast these three subjects in this blog. First, "Reason and Religion" means the logical deconstruction of the argument for religion as well as the strict scrutinazation/testing of the raw logic and logical sequencing that the pro-religion argument is composed of. Second, "Religion's Alternative" refers to a moral code/method of living/reason for living which could-as religion has done in some ways-bring out the best in people, foster hope n' joy, and promote human progress. The mere proposition that such an alternative to religion could actually exist someday is pretty exciting. Imagining what forms this alternative might take is bound to be a fun side-project. Finally, I'd like to make clear to all who'd care to listen or read what harm has befallen humanity as a result of religious belief.
With my purpose reclarified yet again, I'll turn my attention to recording some recent thoughts regarding these subjects. In place of the laptop I don't possess, I've been using a pink notebook to scratch out my thoughts while sipping a mocha at some coffee shop or book store downtown. I've written several pages. Here is some of what I've written:
[first, I created a tentative argument logically and came up with questions to test my propositions. as you'll probably find, my logical construction becomes a bit random at some point]
Why be rid of religion...?
Religious belief breeds violence
Are highly religious societies more violent than less religious societies?
Have religious societies been more violent in the past?
How many major conflicts of the last 3000 years can be attributed in some way to belief...
Can it be said that specific conflicts were directly caused by one or more persons' religious belief?
How exactly does religion and religious belief cause a believer to act violently?
What evidence supports this?
Could evidence exist in support of something other than the main proposition?
Religion Suppresses the Imagination
In what ways does religion suppress the imagination?
Denounces things and ideas as good or evil. This creates a defensive mindset-one which retards mental enjoyment of a wonderful diversity of ideas, as well as denies a believer much pleasure, leisure, and freedom that would otherwise be available to him.
What are some examples of this?
Are these examples reasonable?
Is an active, open imagination a requisite for greater joy, contentment, or pleasure?
....Or is it simply that religion acts as a large barrier to the truth which is necessary for one to be free, and to freely seek/create happiness for herself?
Is it not possible to live behind the religious veil, so to speak, and still be happy? Certainly.
...which begs the question, what exactly is happiness, joy, and pleasure?
note: there is objective truth regarding the universe, and there is truth that pertains to us personally--this latter kind of truth is what is necessary to make me happy, this gives me pleasure.
Religion distracts people from the goal of living for themselves-for happiness, pleasure, and joy.
Am I just saying that there is a fundamental difference between religion's ideas and my ideas about the what life is for?
What is the purpose of life?
Religion's state that the purpose of life is to love, know, and return to god, so that he may fulfill his plan, and his plan for us. Life should be lived in way which brings about this purpose. The "way" can be found through studying the scriptures, taking councel from those ordained by god, and through prayer.
I claim that the purpose in life (contending for a moment that a "purpose" exists) is to experience as much joy, contentment, and pleasure as possible. Personally, I've found many ways to increase these things in my life, but as of yet there is no ultimate "way" guaranteeing the best possible results.
[Here's the next lil' analysis I wrote in my notebook]
Differences between religion and my "way":
Purpose
Religion: God
Me: Happiness
The Way
Religion: Scripture/modern authority/prayer
Me: Awareness of your condition to create urgency to live. Effort and learning to create moments of joy n' pleasure. Planning. Being open to different experiences and ideas in search of greater and greater happiness.
Morals
Religion: Ten Commandments, Golden Rule, Teachings of Prophets...to know & love God. Me: Golden Rule, "All in this together", empathy...to affirm life and living.
Knowledge
Religion: We can act or believe in response to things not sensed, but emotionally felt.
Me: We can only act in accordance to our senses and logical consideration.
posted by Josh at
8:47 PM
1 Comments
