RE: Are some people truly better off believing?
May 20, 2015 at 8:19 pm
(This post was last modified: May 20, 2015 at 8:37 pm by nihilistcat.)
Keep in mind, any thought experiment in this regard invariably has to deal with the fact that in the initial phases of transition to a less theistic culture, many who abruptly move to a less theistic belief system, will feel a sense of nihilism. So for at least the first generation, the consequences of abandoning theism will be unpredictable and most likely volatile.
For this reason, a gradual cultural shift (that happens over the course of two or three generations) would probably be much less disruptive. But getting rid of theism shouldn't be confused with the steps necessary to solve the problem of religious violence (since we can only control what happens in our own geographic sphere).
Most people wish to live in peace, and are perfectly willing to live in a world with different faith systems (irrespective of the dogmas in their holy books). The problem is, in unstable societies, religious fundamentalism is given a unique opportunity to operate without much push back. This instability is supported by our own foreign policy. Our support for dictatorial regimes, destabilization of the wider middle east, etc. (over the course of the last 7 or so decades) has helped create a perfect storm. We weren't alone in our malfeasance, fundamentalist fervor preexisted our intervention, but it was the US who supported the worse of the worse, and enabled their grip on power (giving these regimes a sense that they can oppress and murder their own people with impunity). In the face of this hopelessness, a sense that they're up against overwhelming power, fundamentalism has become exceedingly widespread and macabre.
For this reason, a gradual cultural shift (that happens over the course of two or three generations) would probably be much less disruptive. But getting rid of theism shouldn't be confused with the steps necessary to solve the problem of religious violence (since we can only control what happens in our own geographic sphere).
Most people wish to live in peace, and are perfectly willing to live in a world with different faith systems (irrespective of the dogmas in their holy books). The problem is, in unstable societies, religious fundamentalism is given a unique opportunity to operate without much push back. This instability is supported by our own foreign policy. Our support for dictatorial regimes, destabilization of the wider middle east, etc. (over the course of the last 7 or so decades) has helped create a perfect storm. We weren't alone in our malfeasance, fundamentalist fervor preexisted our intervention, but it was the US who supported the worse of the worse, and enabled their grip on power (giving these regimes a sense that they can oppress and murder their own people with impunity). In the face of this hopelessness, a sense that they're up against overwhelming power, fundamentalism has become exceedingly widespread and macabre.
