Dennett's talk "What should replace religion?"
He listed three of his potential futures for religion, and mostly discussed the third possibility:
1. Religion will sweep the planet.
2. Religion is in its death throes.
3. Religion transform into creedless moral teams (ceremony and tradition, but no doctrine).
Which do you think is most likely, and why? What could we do to help steer to that path?
Dennett made compelling arguments for number 3, and some possible projects atheist groups could do to help that path. For instance, many preachers (just like many politicians) are pretending to be religious, but they don't believe the doctrine, the magic, the hocus pocus bullshit. (Dennett's paper on non-believing preachers.)
There is the possibility for atheist or secular groups to compete with churches, which accelerates #3, e.g. to maintain numbers the churches have to offer what the competitors offer. But will religion die out completely that way, or will it still be resident, just in weaker forms? Can competition happen in the schools for children, so that more people put their children in secular schools instead of being brainwashed from day 1?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Charlie Sellers on -
Atheists should try to form an official recognition by the government (and the world) and be tax exempted as a more charitable status, set up our own recognized foundations for appreciations of the various humanities, and do humanitarian aid. I think once the world saw on a bigger picture of a bunch of men and women being good without god, without all of our sects and denominations, our arguments and disagreements, our battles and our wars, and being perfectly happy as such, that people (especially both agnostics and on-the-fence religious peoples) will see its not so bad and come over to our end. It would be interesting and is almost an awe-inspiring dream for a 17 year old such as myself to have. Maybe one day... :) Its always possible.
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