Religion

MineralMan

(147,636 posts)

16. Who here has said "if only we could eradicate religion?"

Tue Jan 15, 2019, 10:10 AM

Jan 2019

Personally, I don't care about religion, as long as it doesn't interfere with people's lives who don't follow it. What anyone believes with regard to such things is completely irrelevant. It is only actions that matter. Actions that attempt to impose religions beliefs on others are wrong. Such actions deny the individual right to believe whatever that individual believes regarding such things. Sadly, such actions are all too common in our society, so there's a need to point that out often.

I don't think there is anyone in this Group who wants to "eradicate religion." I think you have created a strawman to use in your argument.

You have posted a very brief quote from some theologian. Apparently, you think it has some significance. I think Durkheim gets the basic point wrong, but am not going to write an argument against that point of view today. I will simply say that religion reflects society, rather than the other way around. That is my understanding, after studying it for many years.

But, your strawman does not convince. I have not met such a person.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

53 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Why religion? [View all] guillaumeb Jan 2019 OP

Associating for common goals, identity and purpose are fine; however, doing so on the basis of fairy LongtimeAZDem Jan 2019 #1

Yet people have done exactly that for thousands of years. marylandblue Jan 2019 #3

Similar to the fairy tales that are a part of US history? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #6

The vast majority of humans have been wrong and continue edhopper Jan 2019 #19

Are you ever in that vast majority? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #28

At one time edhopper Jan 2019 #37

Bill Cosby and Lance Armstrong. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #38

I also thought edhopper Jan 2019 #39

Sadly, you are correct there. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #40

Lesson learned edhopper Jan 2019 #41

Durkheim is wrong. Cartoonist Jan 2019 #2

Yes he does assume a lot, but has he been proven wrong? marylandblue Jan 2019 #4

His reputation among sociologists will not suffer too much from your opinion. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #7

He makes the same mistake you do. Cartoonist Jan 2019 #13

Have you ever considered, for even a moment, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #30

And what reputation would that be? Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #24

He would be happy... Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #21

Ha! MineralMan Jan 2019 #22

Religion is a human response ismnotwasm Jan 2019 #5

First, what is the name of the book? Thank you in advance. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #8

Tribalism doesn't necessarily mean there is an "us" and an "other" and a need for dominance marylandblue Jan 2019 #9

I was speaking predominantly of humans. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #10

You mentioned primates, there are different types of primate groups and interactions marylandblue Jan 2019 #11

THere are complicating factors, guillaumeb Jan 2019 #26

It's actually a trilogy, the first book is called "Dawn" ismnotwasm Jan 2019 #14

Altrusim is also self-interest in the same manner that group altruism guillaumeb Jan 2019 #27

That's a two part question, but Butler only answers one part. Act_of_Reparation Jan 2019 #23

You know I think about that quite a lot ismnotwasm Jan 2019 #25

It comes down to two ways of looking at what makes society work. Do we need myths to hold us Nitram Jan 2019 #12

One simple question: who said "if only we could eradicate religion"? trotsky Jan 2019 #15

Who here has said "if only we could eradicate religion?" MineralMan Jan 2019 #16

Guillaumeb using a straw man? NO WAY!! n/t trotsky Jan 2019 #17

Well, I racked my brain, briefly, and tried to think of someone MineralMan Jan 2019 #18

Reboot and try again. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #29

I almost never take instructions from you, Guy. MineralMan Jan 2019 #31

Your loss. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #32

Oddly enough, I experience no sense of loss from MineralMan Jan 2019 #33

That is where the reflection and awareness enter. eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #34

.. MineralMan Jan 2019 #35

POST EVIDENCE OF YOUR CLAIM. trotsky Jan 2019 #36

So their is a debate on whether edhopper Jan 2019 #20

Of course there is a debate. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #43

But what does it say edhopper Jan 2019 #52

Nothing, in my view. eom guillaumeb Jan 2019 #53

STILL waiting for evidence that someone here has said "if only we could eradicate religion". trotsky Jan 2019 #42

Maybe the point is "getting rid of tribes would be good" muriel_volestrangler Jan 2019 #44

And how exactly would we eliminate the human need for family? guillaumeb Jan 2019 #45

We'd realise that the tribe is not the equivalent of a family muriel_volestrangler Jan 2019 #46

That is the goal. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #47

Requires ... letting go of institutions that demand loyalty for the sake of belonging muriel_volestrangler Jan 2019 #48

National identity offers and demands similar things. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #49

national identity is not based on supernatural promises (or threats) muriel_volestrangler Jan 2019 #50

We both respond to and create our social and physical environment. guillaumeb Jan 2019 #51