(July 12, 2015 at 10:41 pm)robvalue Wrote: I'd be interested to know how people's answers would change in the following scenario:
Imagine religion still exists, but it somehow does no harm anymore, in any real way. Obviously it still involves some irrational thinking to believe in it, but it's not been forced on anyone anymore (especially children) and any other negative factor you can think of has been neutralised. It's a secular masterpiece.
Would you still consider yourself "against" religion (further to it being irrational) and if so, to what degree?
Personally I'd be very happy, in fact ecstatic, with this scenario and I wouldn't be against it at all. I'd still encourage more rational thought of course, and keep a beady eye on things.
I just realised this may well be a loaded/obvious question! Oh well, discussion welcome
I think your story is self-contradictory. If it is irrational, it encourages irrationality. That is going to mean it is harmful. I really want you to read William Kingdon Clifford's essay "The Will to Believe":
http://ajburger.homestead.com/files/book.htm
I will be very happy to discuss it with you. If you want a new thread on it, please either create it, or ask me via PM to do so.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
