It is true that religion is malleable, and has destroyed and rebuilt itself a number of times. However, the faith impulse naturally finds its expression in religion, whether that's as simple as worshipping animal spirits or as complex as Buddhist philosophy.
Ah, but religious faith is not the only form which faith can take! It is simply the most dramatic and the most dangerous. Other forms of faith do not invoke the divine and thus are, if nothing else, not subject to claims of divine authority. Faith-based thinking occurs throughout life, even in people who are not religious if they do not take care.
There has indeed been a rise in secularism, but that isn't unique. The Enlightenment era of the 1700's also promoted secular thought and culture, but that did not eliminate organized religion.
Although I used the word "century" earlier, to refer to some of the most radical changes for the general population as a result of religion's weakening grasp,
all of this is a derivative of the Enlightenment and the ensuing Industrial Revolution. In a sense, we're still in that period now.
Given its track record, it seems to me like a social force that can be controlled, restrained, or harnessed, but not stamped out.
Probably correct, and, in any case, very probably the basis for the best policies moving forward. Even I would not outlaw religion simply because it is religion. What I would do is prevent religion from meddling with the affairs of state, and relieve children from the indoctrination of their parents through a stronger public education. That will minimize religion without criminalizing its adherents.
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New Atheism has no long-term cultural traction. It's a movement for the times, perhaps even limited to a period as specific as this decade. There is very little compelling about it; it is adolescent and reactionary in nature, but without the creative catalysts of similarly adolescent movements, like rock and roll.
I agree. I don't even consider myself a member of the movement. Atheism doesn't have legs to stand on. The atheistic position simply negates a premise. At best, atheism is defined by its opposition to religion and spirituality. An enduring secularism, I think, must be a
positive movement which asserts its own premises--and I propose humanism as the basis therefor.
I hate that "get counseling" is every American's go-to response to problems, some of which are the simple, natural result of a confusing and tumultuous and transient and shadowy reality. But fuck it all, some people really need counseling. I wish I weren't in this position so often: close to someone with major depression, who -- due to the major depression -- is unmotivated and resistant to the idea of going anywhere or doing anything about the depression.
I know there's a limit I can do, and it's not that I see that perspective as wrong, or as easy to alter. I just wish I could DO SOMETHING TO HELP.
Oh, golly, can I relate to that. Having had the good fortune to deal with all my demons at the more tender ages of childhood, I haven't had mental problems since. Yet some of my dearest friends have! Indeed...I think more of my friends than not have had psychological problems.
My dad is a psychologist--oh dear, I'm sounding like Daniel Krispin--and I learned from him the legitimacy of the field of psychology. I also learned how psychologists are passed over in favor of psychiatrists who often will only medicate a problem. Most people need professionally licensed counseling. There are so many "therapists" and whatnot out there, but only a fully trained psychologist (or the rare psychiatrist who is willing to spend time counseling) has the understanding and tools necessary for this extremely fragile and dangerous endeavor of working with a troubled mind.
I'm very wary of armchair psychology by people who are trying to be helpful but don't really know what they are doing, yet I often find myself in the position of, like you, wanting to do something to help, not knowing exactly what to say or do, and having no psychologist in the cabinet that I can whip out and flip on.
It's a big growth process. Empathizing doesn't come naturally to me, and one gets a lot of experience at it simply by having friends and spending time with them. Even the ones who don't really have any problems, have problems!
I guess that's life.
