(May 14, 2014 at 8:19 am)Hegel Wrote: (2) Should someone who does not believe in the truth claims of organized religions (atheists in particular) change his/her view towards religion if it is accpeted that religion actually has beneficial function for a society that our secular age is in danger of destroying?
I don't deny that religion can be beneficial in some aspects. It does, however, cause a whole host of other problems by allowing people to live in denial rather than embrace reality, which completely outweigh any positive benefits.
So, any benefit of religion cannot truly be measured without considering its negative consequences.
Even if the open windows of science at first make us shiver after the cozy indoor warmth of traditional humanizing myths, in the end the fresh air brings vigor, and the great spaces have a splendor of their own - Bertrand Russell
