The source of all pain...(more or less)

[Killa_Kron]

Why is there religion? I'd think that eventually people would say, "Well shit, this thing has really screwed us over. We sacrificed all our children, burned our crops and now its freezing...We should have listened to (insert sacrificed man's name here) about how we need to take care of ourselves."

[elliebean]

Religion has a failsafe. It's called, "Quick, make something up!"

[Dretlin]

I am hoping the world is moving towards a secular society.

If anyone has research that conforms/contradicts this - please share.

[skwurll]

I am hoping the world is moving towards a secular society.

If anyone has research that conforms/contradicts this - please share.

I agree completely, I believe it is the next logical step what with all of the advances in science and new discoveries. Religion just won't be able to keep up and be cast aside.

[Ellainix]

Considering only first world countries, I think the end of religion is soon, the US being the last stronghold.

[Killa_Kron]

Religion has a failsafe. It's called, "Quick, make something up!"

Why can't there not be a god? I mean truly it would be better...
(Priest to man) Quick make something up!
(Man) Uhh...because if we don't that would be bad! So there is a god...la la la la la I'm not listening to a logical reason why not!

[Dretlin]

I am hoping the world is moving towards a secular society.

If anyone has research that conforms/contradicts this - please share.

I agree completely, I believe it is the next logical step what with all of the advances in science and new discoveries. Religion just won't be able to keep up and be cast aside.

I do feel the answer is slow change. From what I have seen of history rapid sociel change is abrasive and does not create the environment for a safe society.

I am not falling into the trap of scaremongering about Islamic immigration to Europe - as it is nonsense.

Considering only first world countries, I think the end of religion is soon, the US being the last stronghold.

I agree.

[elliebean]

Religion has a failsafe. It's called, "Quick, make something up!"

Why can't there not be a god? I mean truly it would be better...
(Priest to man) Quick make something up!
(Man) Uhh...because if we don't that would be bad! So there is a god...la la la la la I'm not listening to a logical reason why not!

I find that many, if not most people would rather watch someone else be beaten and tortured to death than endure the pain of evaluating and changing their own beloved opinion.

Sorry if that sounds pessimistic, but I wouldn't say it if I didn't see evidence of it every day. Yet I find hope in each new generation. People can get worse, but humanity is getting better.

[Logikos]

I am hoping the world is moving towards a secular society.

If anyone has research that conforms/contradicts this - please share.

I agree completely, I believe it is the next logical step what with all of the advances in science and new discoveries. Religion just won't be able to keep up and be cast aside.

I do feel the answer is slow change. From what I have seen of history rapid sociel change is abrasive and does not create the environment for a safe society.

I am not falling into the trap of scaremongering about Islamic immigration to Europe - as it is nonsense.

Considering only first world countries, I think the end of religion is soon, the US being the last stronghold.

I agree.

Unfortunately for the secularist, I don't think it's going to be quite as simple as you would like.  Western culture follows the trends and movements within academia, in particular philosophy departments in universities.  Quentin Smith (well known atheistic philosopher) in 2001 wrote an article about how the number of theistic philosophers has been rapidly increasing since the 1960s, as has the number of theistic philosophy of religion journals.  I think atheism needs to win the battle of philosophy before it wins the war (and if you have read much into the recent philosophy of religion literature, you will no that that is not a battle easily won).

[SSY]

I disagree, from my own observations, each generation is becoming more secular than the last, congregations in churches drop every year over here, in England at least, Christianity is receding at quite a rate.

Do you have any evidence about the society following philosophy departments?

[Dretlin]

Unfortunately for the secularist, I don't think it's going to be quite as simple as you would like.  Western culture follows the trends and movements within academia, in particular philosophy departments in universities.  Quentin Smith (well known atheistic philosopher) in 2001 wrote an article about how the number of theistic philosophers has been rapidly increasing since the 1960s, as has the number of theistic philosophy of religion journals.  I think atheism needs to win the battle of philosophy before it wins the war (and if you have read much into the recent philosophy of religion literature, you will no that that is not a battle easily won).

I would have to disagree. Their is no battle of philosophy. Region is declining in Europe, and America could quite possibly follow in the future.

I have heard the same of "creation scientists" - that oxymoron make me cringe.

I propose the increase you are suggesting - even if its true - is a negative. You are getting (hopefully) highly education theists, That is a recipe for atheism and secularism.

[Logikos]

I disagree, from my own observations, each generation is becoming more secular than the last, congregations in churches drop every year over here, in England at least, Christianity is receding at quite a rate.

Do you have any evidence about the society following philosophy departments?

Yes it's certainly becoming more secular at the moment, I agree, and that will continue for a considerable time yet.  I think the existentialist, logical positivist and postmodernist movements had a significant "trickle-down" effect on academia and so on society as a whole, and are still present in the way people think.  Of course there are all kinds of other factors too, but I think trends in academia and philosophy in general do have a big impact on the culture.

[Logikos]

I would have to disagree. Their is no battle of philosophy. Region is declining in Europe, and America could quite possibly follow in the future.

I have heard the same of "creation scientists" - that oxymoron make me cringe.

I propose the increase you are suggesting - even if its true - is a negative. You are getting (hopefully) highly education theists, That is a recipe for atheism and secularism.

The difference between creation "science" (and intelligent design   ) and theistic philosophy is that the former doesn't get published in reputable scientific journals, whereas the latter does in the most influential philosophical journals.

[Dretlin]

The difference between creation "science" (and intelligent design   ) and theistic philosophy is that the former doesn't get published in reputable scientific journals, whereas the latter does in the most influential philosophical journals.

And quite rightly so.

Please provide an example of such publishings. I would like to explore them.

I have great doubts that theistic philosophy is of any use to anyone.

[Logikos]

And quite rightly so.

Please provide an example of such publishings. I would like to explore them.

I have great doubts that theistic philosophy is of any use to anyone.

What reading have you done in philosophy?

Two good places to start might be Alvin Plantinga and Richard Swinburne.  Plantinga is predominantly an epistemologist (he has a three-volume series on warrant); Swinburne a philosopher of religion taking a natural theology approach.  They are fairly accessible, so long as you've done a bit of reading in philosophy before.