How do we grow?

[Cinjin]

Doesn't a fatalistic mindset work against the probability that humanity can achieve progress? It takes as many minds to work for as it does against progress correct?

therein lies the problem Eudaimonia ... absense of religion and superstition is not considered "progress" to many.

To a LOT of fundamentalist conservatives of Christianity and Islam, the phrase "we have made a lot of progress" is an outright fabrication of the secular world. We have proven that all the technology in the world will not change the mindset of BILLIONS of people who have been taught their whole lives to fear the supernatural power of god and that anything that takes away from that (ie. technology) is evil and must be denied. On a global scale - we are screwed. I don't believe there is a way to irradicate religion and superstition without letting them run their course. This is of course the sad part because I believe religion will inevitably lead to total destruction. I think only when we come back from the precipice of utter annihalation will human kind realize the extreme danger of our own silly beliefs.

The problem is that the minds that "work for", as you say, are far far outnumbered by the minds that "work against".
My above post is not wishful thinking. I will continue to live a rational and logical life in the hopes that I can perhaps lead by example, but that doesn't mean that I can't see the truth or that I'm going to bury my head in the sand and pretend that humanity has it all figured out. Overall, I think the world is still barbaric with only beacons of enlightenment to show what could be possible. We're not there yet ... and it's going to be awhile.