The reason religion is so powerful

[The Grand Nudger]

I doubt that you'll be able to sell the claim above, but it may be the case that ideas about human dignity being attached to something of religious importance acts as a sort of hedge against their violation by chaining it to an even greater taboo. Where an offense to human dignity becomes an offense with respect to the sacred as well. OTOH, history is full of examples of the faithful breaking taboo (and especially that taboo) with at least as much if not more zeal than those who don't adhere to the notion.

Obviously, if a religion considers human dignity itself sacred, then there's no need to refer to anything additional like a god or a spirit or karma or anything of the sort in order to make that connection. Similarly, if a person sees nothing sacred in life but does see human dignity, there's no need to make any connection to any other thing or notion.

I find it interesting that people believe that some particular way of thinking relies of this or that religion, or religion in general. The order of dependency goes the other way around. Religions and religion in general depend on particular ways that human beings think about things. It's not because a person is religious that they think that X cannot coexist with the sacred, but because they believe that there is something sacred and that the sacred cannot coexist with the profane that they're religious. The contents of a given religion exploit that basic fact of apprehension. If we're being charitable, that exploitation misinforms the holder of the perception in a way that may not be in keeping or characteristic of their overall thoughts on a given subject, reflecting a deference to society and tradition. AKA why good religionists do bad things.

There's an easy way to see the difference between the sacred and the sacred-alike. Is there anything you wouldn't do for the sacred? Is there anything you wouldn't do for your country?

[Abaddon_ire]

Meh...it seems to me that religious belief just as often serves as a constraint on the corrupt ambitions of the powerful. Human dignity is a purely relgious concept. Secular governance can still retain the idea for a while but without the rligious underpinning it is just an unchallenged assumption. Cut flowers cannot hold their bloom forever.

So all those religious folk in Rwanda butchering each other because of their religions were respecting human dignity?

[Brian37]

It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.

The reason religion is so powerful is because of the concept of God. God is above everything. The universe, the Earth, humanity, were created by God. Since religion exists due to God, then religion is above everything too. Above politics, countries, economy, etc.  

Life after death, for example, is exclusive to religion. No political ideology promises you heaven after death. Religion tells you you will meet your parents after death, and reunite. No political ideology promises this.

This is why religion is so dangerous. Since God is above everything, so is religion, as the cause of its existence is God, and God is absolute. So your beliefs are absolute.

While religious tribalism takes the top spot, one can argue, political and economic ideology can be a religion as well.

[onlinebiker]

Religion is at it's core nothing more than herd mentality.


You don't believe that God created women from the rib of a man he had created earlier in the week because there is evidence to the idea. You believe it because all the schmucks around you believe it - and they do too - for the same reason.

[brewer]

Meh...it seems to me that religious belief just as often serves as a constraint on the corrupt ambitions of the powerful. Human dignity is a purely relgious concept. Secular governance can still retain the idea for a while but without the rligious underpinning it is just an unchallenged assumption. Cut flowers cannot hold their bloom forever.

Nope.

Drunk on a Sunday?

[The Grand Nudger]

Mudman and ribgirl would be examples of superstitious, not religious, thinking.

[Neo-Scholastic]

Meh...it seems to me that religious belief just as often serves as a constraint on the corrupt ambitions of the powerful. Human dignity is a purely relgious concept. Secular governance can still retain the idea for a while but without the rligious underpinning it is just an unchallenged assumption. Cut flowers cannot hold their bloom forever.

Nope.

Drunk on a Sunday?

What would you consider to be a non-religious source for human dignity?

[arewethereyet]

So only religion can cause a person to be a decent person? What do you base that on? Are you saying people are inherently evil? That's pretty sad.

[The Grand Nudger]

Deliciously meta.....but, any description of human dignity that doesn't reference the sacred or divine would qualify, and that set is the vast majority of all explanations for human dignity, a great many of which the religious also accept.

We tend to think this is down to our shared humanity - that what we're talking about when we use the term is a thing that we're all subject matter experts in and can all understand. Perhaps this is wrong? Which brings us round to a wonderful question. Are you asking because you can't think of any?

[brewer]

Nope.

Drunk on a Sunday?

What would you consider to be a non-religious source for human dignity?

Humans, not god(s). Religions may have incorporated it into their beliefs but have certainly failed consistently to adhere to the philosophical concept.

https://iep.utm.edu/hum-dign/

https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/respect/