how should we study religion?
13 March 2006 | Uncategorized | 6 Comments
A philosopher and a theologian debate the correct approach to the study of religion.
“And in the meantime, I note that on the matters of morality on which there is something approaching a global consensus, the evidence to date does not show that adherence to a religion—any religion—has a positive effect on the probability that a person behaves morally.”
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I read the article. I usually avoid this kinda stuff (atheist vs theist, God vs no God), but it was a good article. Always good to use these kinds of things as a reminder.
I have comments of my own though. For example, for those who simply ridicule us monotheists for believing in a religion (whether or not there is a God) I don’t think they have the right. The simplest argument I can think of (and read of elsewhere) is that on the day I die, and an atheist dies (let’s assume at the same time) we’re both equally dead bodies, with similar futures (if I were to be an atheist). This would be our belief (right?). But if I’m a monotheist (and if I’m right, and the atheist being wrong) then I would be the winner, he’d be the loser (assuming I went to Heaven). I don’t think a monotheist has anything to lose by believing in a religion. And I mean he really has nothing to lose. You’re going to die right? That means you’ll lose anything anyways… I don’t think the monotheist (in the end) will ever lose. At the least, he comes out even with the atheist. I mean, it’s not like we’re gonna give a damn what our achievements are when our ever-lasting achievement is a 6-ft. long hole in the ground with a decaying corpse.
So, yeah. Another comment I had…lemme remember…
Oh yeah, my little theory (I believe this is also Islamic philosophy, but i’m no islamic scholar) is that God doesn’t interfere here and there (with miracles and such). Again, little theory that I’d rather not embarrass myself by explaining, rather just check out the books on Islam yourself
I had another comment when I read that article. Totally forgot as I got engrossed in writing this.
The size of that post reminds me of the phil315 board, hehe.
I disagree with that quote. Adherence to a religion and truly striving to follow its teachings increases the probability of behaving morally. The opposite is not true though. I have seen many atheists who are highly ethical people. There two dimensions here, one is the relationship between a human and his Creator, and the other is relationship between a human and another fellow human. Most religions have shared teachings governs relationship between a human and another human but they differ with the relationship with the Creator.
Khomsta:
“I don’t think the monotheist (in the end) will ever lose. At the least, he comes out even with the atheist.”
Might miss out on a lot of fun they could have had?
Regarding your second comment about God not interfering – that’s interesting. I always wondered about that and haven’t really settled on an full answer. Is God a being that set things in motion long ago and for the most part chose to sit back and watch, like we might do when we spin a top on a table in front of us and watch it take its course? Or is He a God who actively involved in our lives? Traditionally, I believed He was involved. But to what extent?
Abdullah:
Well said. The key there is “truly striving to follow its teachings”. This idea is one that we strive for, but it can be elusive. (Or not?)
It seems to me that understanding to what degree each faith stresses aspects of morality can be at times difficult.
How God is involved: I think to every extent. Our free will is given to us from Him. It’s still His. Our actions may be ours, under ‘our’ power, but it’s His power being ‘used’. Some of His creations do stuff constantly: Gravity, for instance. We do not have to power to sustain our own existence, He has to do that for us. How all this happens is ‘unseen’, basically we can’t perceive or understand/realize ‘it’. I think it’s amazing, and is one of the many aspects that causes fear of Him as well as making Him worth of worship. And that’s besides all the blessings and mercy we receive.
As for missing out on the fun, we did talk about this, but let’s get it in writing
How much fun can you remember and experience as if you were there? Cedar Point? Playing an awesome game of tennis/soccer? The times we have fun are endless and are of varying degrees of ‘fun’. Same goes for pain and sadness. Our memory simply doesn’t allow us to renact all of that (I would think that’s a good thing, especially considering pain). The point is, everything is short-lived. The only thing we can feel is the present. And when we’re in the grave the ‘present’ will either have no feelings at all to feel pain, pleasure, or sheer regret or we’ll have those feelings (the Afterlife). Basically, the only thing that matters is being born and dying (endgame). We’ve already been born, and we can’t even remember anything except from maybe 3 years after birth. When we die, it’s feel or no feel. As I said before, it’s not a proof of the existence of God (or inexistence) just that atheists need to leave us alone and be free to do what we want. Believe me, everyone spends time in sorrow and pain sometime, so life isn’t all happyhappy joyjoy. Religion is the saftest bet (if it’s the right one obviously).