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a) The arguments i 've heard about religious faith attempt to explain metaphysics by resorting to metaphysics, which, to me, is weak circular logic; but, fair,

a) The arguments i 've heard about religious faith attempt to explain metaphysics by resorting to metaphysics, which, to me, is weak circular logic; but, fair, i don't have the means to disprove them either. My critical attitude was towards religion, the social construct which has historically been used to manipulate human groups through religious faith. Then again maybe religion has been evolutionary advantageous, although it hasn't been around long enough to be selected out of the population. b) You are right. AFAIK, religious experiences involves the parietal and temporal lobes, so its not just the emotional system. Agree that it's an important (irreplaceable?) part of our self-awareness. However the fact that non-religious people can act ethically in a harmonious society indicates that it might be reduntant. Still, religious beliefs arise in a brain, so there will probably be a way to turn them off (probably not without sideeffects).

Apocryphon 15y ago
Non-religious people can also believe in superstitious, irrational beliefs. Isn't irrationality inevitable?
- ignifero 15y ago
  They can, but they don't have to, so it's not inevitable.
  - Apocryphon 15y ago
    Don't they have to? Isn't everyone irrational to some extent? I mean it may be as little or minor as believing one economic/political theory over another in the absence of clear evidence. Or betting on string theory over another explanation.
    - ignifero 15y ago
      Making a random decision in the absence of empirical evidence is rational thinking. It's irrational to make it in the presence of overwhelming evidence or counter evidence.
    - khafra 15y ago
      Cognomancers, at this point, will attempt to restate what they mean by "irrational" without using it or any close synonyms. They might also try to figure out if religiosity is correlated with greater levels of whatever they mean by "irrationality," or not.

Apocryphon 15y ago

Non-religious people can also believe in superstitious, irrational beliefs. Isn't irrationality inevitable?

ignifero 15y ago
They can, but they don't have to, so it's not inevitable.
- Apocryphon 15y ago
  Don't they have to? Isn't everyone irrational to some extent? I mean it may be as little or minor as believing one economic/political theory over another in the absence of clear evidence. Or betting on string theory over another explanation.
  - ignifero 15y ago
    Making a random decision in the absence of empirical evidence is rational thinking. It's irrational to make it in the presence of overwhelming evidence or counter evidence.
  - khafra 15y ago
    Cognomancers, at this point, will attempt to restate what they mean by "irrational" without using it or any close synonyms. They might also try to figure out if religiosity is correlated with greater levels of whatever they mean by "irrationality," or not.