Is It Possible for Humanity to Create a Peaceful World with Religion in it?

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

Do you think your gut feeling has, perhaps, something to do with our natural tendency to respect and value authority?

No, sir.  I see it as a symptom of my idealism.
 

Analytical thought is to be applied on such matters without exception. Feelings, yes, even gut ones, have their place and use in life, that place is not, however, in the anthropologist's toolcase, in my view. I might be wrong, though. I welcome further discussion on this point if we find ourselves in disagreement.

IMO, feelings, hunches, and intuition allow us to break away from the rigidity of logical thinking and consider other possible approaches to resolving problems, such as lateral thinking.  IMO, these tools could serve an anthropologist quite well, especially when he or she encounters a particular culture whose customs and ways don’t seem to serve any logical or rational function; thus, preventing premature judgements and conclusions, which could lead to misunderstanding and possible hostilities. IMO, the Star Trek TNG episode ‘Darmok’, illustrates this idea pretty well.   

As for peace, it is an illusory concept. We will always be at war. Strife is the natural state of everything in existence.

 
Is this the natural state of everything in existence or just the mentality of beings who are incapable of conceiving of something different?  P.S. This comment was not directed at you personally, but at the generality of the comment in your post.


There is a Stanley Kubrick movie called Paths of Glory (1957).  In the movie, General Mireau, played by George Macready, leads an impossible attack and ultimately charges three men in his regiment with cowardice in the face of the enemy in order to save face and protect his reputation.  As a result, Colonel Dax, played by Kirk Douglas, defends the three men and genuinely wants to save them.  However, despite Dax’s idealism, the commanding general, General Broulard, played by Adolphe Menjou, thinks that Dax is merely angling for Mireau’s command: the concept of an officer who genuinely desires to get at the truth, promote peace, and save his men is completely illusory to Broulard (strife and war are all he understands in this particular situation).  Hence, like Dax, it seems that when people are truly passionate about peace, their motives are often misunderstood and labeled as illusory.  Based on your experience, would you say that you have encountered this, Epic Penguin?