4 ms·

This theory is only half true. Any power structure allows abuse to happen. Business, politics, universities, kingdoms, celebrities... there's nothing about reli

This theory is only half true. Any power structure allows abuse to happen. Business, politics, universities, kingdoms, celebrities... there's nothing about religion distinct in this regard, other than religion is more widespread. Any social structure known to man will be susceptible to abuse. What does make religion unique, as the article also states, is that it prescribes conquering the ego as one of its primary goals. The more of this we can get in the world, the better.

yibg 4y ago
One difference with religion is it requires some level of suspension of critical thinking and you have to take many things on "faith". This seems like a great way to dodge accountability and hand wave away things without being questioned too much.
- pastorhudson 4y ago
  I think every discipline requires some suspension of critical thinking. When I’m writing software I might start with a “faith” I can solve a problem I may not fully understand. I will come to understand the things I don’t currently understand when the time comes to implement them. I trust google or stack overflow will have my back! Theology and Philosophy are full of critical thinking. And I’m not sure you can find any success in religious practice without it.
  - yibg 4y ago
    But with say software, you can verify yourself if you wanted to whether something is true or not. And if you can find sufficient evidence that something isn't true it'll get corrected. With religion you're expected to believe many things without evidence. And often times in the face of evidence against the thing.
    - simplify 4y ago
      The anti-religious love to harp on the whole evidence thing, but in real life you almost never make decisions based on evidence. Instead, you base them on experiences – whether based your own or other people's. Here's a basic example: What's the evidence that Donald Trump was (or spicier, isn't) president? How do you verify this fact? Is it not simply faith in our system and word of mouth?
- simplify 4y ago
  No, religion does not require suspension of critical thinking. This is only pushed by those who want to keep or abuse their power.

yibg 4y ago

One difference with religion is it requires some level of suspension of critical thinking and you have to take many things on "faith". This seems like a great way to dodge accountability and hand wave away things without being questioned too much.

pastorhudson 4y ago
I think every discipline requires some suspension of critical thinking. When I’m writing software I might start with a “faith” I can solve a problem I may not fully understand. I will come to understand the things I don’t currently understand when the time comes to implement them. I trust google or stack overflow will have my back! Theology and Philosophy are full of critical thinking. And I’m not sure you can find any success in religious practice without it.
- yibg 4y ago
  But with say software, you can verify yourself if you wanted to whether something is true or not. And if you can find sufficient evidence that something isn't true it'll get corrected. With religion you're expected to believe many things without evidence. And often times in the face of evidence against the thing.
  - simplify 4y ago
    The anti-religious love to harp on the whole evidence thing, but in real life you almost never make decisions based on evidence. Instead, you base them on experiences – whether based your own or other people's. Here's a basic example: What's the evidence that Donald Trump was (or spicier, isn't) president? How do you verify this fact? Is it not simply faith in our system and word of mouth?
simplify 4y ago
No, religion does not require suspension of critical thinking. This is only pushed by those who want to keep or abuse their power.