Dragaera

The Religion Debate

Fri Nov 29 19:55:34 PST 2002

DDB said

"Maybe.  I object strenuously to the whole concept of religion,
spirituality, etc.  It's superstitious nonsense, and hurts people, and
destroys great civilizations."

While I agree on many of his points, I think I have to disagree that
religion and spirituality have been entirely a bad thing.

To me, the whole existance of organized religion has been to establish
morality.. i.e. working definitions of good and evil, and then provide a few
nice carrots and a few nasty sticks to keep people in line. Successful
religions have strengthened the societies that followed them, ensuring the
passing on of the religion. Survival of the fittest of ideas so to speak.

I'd like to believe that humanity can mature to the point of no longer
needing to believe in the supernatural carrots and sticks to be a good
citizen. Rational reasons for morality can build the strongest, most robust,
and least fallible code, and therefore the strongest society.

But...

(Here is the fun part.)

In the end, what motivates you has no true meaning. Each of us can believe
whatever we like, we will succeed or fail based on our actions alone, and
not our reasons. You are welcome to believe the One True Doornob hums offkey
when you think about naughty things, because the world will correct you
harshly when your actions do not fit in with the moral code of your
community.

-Greg Schwartz