(February 27, 2015 at 8:52 pm)jesus_wept Wrote:

(February 27, 2015 at 10:45 am)Norman Humann Wrote: One can dream...

I hope monotheism vanishes like polytheism did. The disappearance of organised religion would make the world a better place.

One billion Hindus might disagree that polytheism has vanished.

Religion will never completely go away, but certainly humans should work to make it less relevant and less important than our common existence.

(March 2, 2015 at 1:58 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Religion will never completely go away, but certainly humans should work to make it less relevant and less important than our common existence.

Agree with that. Whenever this wish for religion ot dissapear completely turns up I always ask the same question: And what then?

The void wouldn't suddenly fill itself with humanism and happy go lucky. Other ideologies to rally behind would emerge. I don't know what it is, but we as a species don't seem to be evolved enough to do without mental crutches. A large junk of people will always feel the need to identify as exclusive and chosen groups instead of individuals.

Yeah, I think the new generation is generally much more liberal and enlightened in religious terms than the hardcore generation that is dying out. So the emotional grip of religion is fading. For this reason, I think all free countries will eventually end up with the non-relevance of religion as in UK. I don't normally say things like this, but if the world was like the UK I'd be fine with it, from a religious point of view.

We in the US would be thrilled!

(March 2, 2015 at 3:16 pm)abaris Wrote:

(March 2, 2015 at 1:58 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Religion will never completely go away, but certainly humans should work to make it less relevant and less important than our common existence.

Agree with that. Whenever this wish for religion ot dissapear completely turns up I always ask the same question: And what then?

The void wouldn't suddenly fill itself with humanism and happy go lucky. Other ideologies to rally behind would emerge. I don't know what it is, but we as a species don't seem to be evolved enough to do without mental crutches. A large junk of people will always feel the need to identify as exclusive and chosen groups instead of individuals.

This is why I don't like atheists starting "atheist churches". Seemingly harmless now does not mean after this generation some delusional nut wont twist it into something it should not be. I know plenty of atheist who have their own woo, superstitions and bat shit insane economic views. The last thing I want is for a mere position to be turned into a religion or political party.

Certainly the species has a strong irrational streak, I don't have a problem with that, we aren't automatons.
I suspect that the next move will be towards some variant of New-Age Woo, there's plenty of that sloshing about.

After awhile i can see some nutters finding a video of themselves doing the nutter jesus thing and or stating so far off into crazy land that they stop