Decline of religion

[Belacqua]

Yes Homo Sapiens are social animals, dangerous ones. So are termites, lions, wolves and feral dogs. What makes our way better than theirs, other than the fact they don't shield themselves from the "cosmic" process or have society to protect them from mother nature. The second part is more profound than you realize, if you took the time to think about it. The "once they began living in groups" is illustrative.

Cheers,

Hippea

I think Freud got this right in Civilization and Its Discontents. (And I know that Freud is out of fashion now, but on this he's correct.)

First, human nature is an animal desire, which is amoral and unsatisfiable. Second, at the same time, human nature is the need to control certain parts of nature so as to live comfortably. We want the supermarkets full and the rivers safely in their banks, so we cooperate on these goals. 

The trouble is that the first part is in permanent conflict with the second part. This is irreconcilable, and can only be managed, not solved. We live with a tension between the two. 

I agree with you that empathy plays virtually no role here. It is the easiest thing in the world to switch off. In fact the pleasure people take in getting over on others is probably a more powerful force. 

What Freud doesn't address is what happens when we disguise our amoral animal desire as its opposite, the control of what threatens us. We can pretend that we are banding together in a selfless mission to protect life and liberty, when what we're really doing is theft and a power grab. 

So America's aggressions are dressed up as Spreading Democracy to the Oppressed. Protect the Homeland by stealing other people's resources and ruining their lives. And at the moment, the understandable need to protect against very real antisemitism is being weaponized to commit the greatest mass crime of our lifetimes.