I love religion!

[LukeMC]

Hey! I hope this is a nice introduction for you.

In what sense are you religious?

I’m not religious at all, I just find religious history and theology interesting. I used to be a religious studies teacher, and just like chatting to people about the subject.

You said in your original post on this thread that religion cannot be separated from our species from any perspective, hence my question: "in what sense are you religious?", as your question seems to be implying that humanity cannot rid itself of religious convictions, when clearly you and I have both freed ourselves from the shackles. If we can do it, so can others, and a world free of religion could be possible. It's only connection with humanity would be in history.

As for the bulk of your discussions with others, I'm on the fence. I acknowledge that religions at their core try to provide hope, warmth, security, comradary, altruism and community. The main medium by which this is achieved tends to be through tales and anecdotes written in old scriptures to pass on a message. I personally like to read stories and tales from many of the eastern religions, yet I don't actually believe those stories. I think that this is how stories in scriptures were meant to be taken when they were written, however there has been a shift in thinking that has got people under the impression that those stories actually reflect reality as opposed to fiction, fable and cultural entertainment. This leads to a kind of anti-evolutionist fundamentalism which is dangerous. Also, many of the moral stories in these scriptures are vile and wicked (obviously, as they were written by more primitive peoples). It's these twisted and vindictive tendencies which pose the biggest threat to people worldwide. The stories are clearly outdated and likely fictional, but when taken as literal acounts with an absolute moral message, society has a problem.

I think at it's heart, religion could be a very fulfilling set of cultural and anecdotal traditions and hand-me-downs. When taken as metaphor and fable, it can give rise to very soul-soothing spiritual canvas upon which you can paint your life. Being wary not to accept every story as infallible gives you the opportunity to decide when some passages are misguided or false. Many religious people operate in such a way, and I agree that being wholly dismissive of religion is perhaps slightly narrow.

Fundamentalism costs lives, it stands in the way of progress and education, it poisons morality. The Dalai Lama's religious stance has never bothered me though- he accepts that homosexuals should be accepted in society and that abortion can be accepted in certain circumstances DESPITE what his religion says, because he also believes in a secular society where people are free to practise their own brands of religion without oppression from others. Religion is not the problem. Fundamentalism, even in it's weakest forms, is the problem we need to be tackling- theists and atheists alike.

Perhaps when you take the fundamentalism out of religion, all you're left with is philosophy and fable though, huh?