It does a lot more than that. In Australia, it’s been used to prevent violence, maintain the environment, and aid in resource use for thousands of years.
Theistic beliefs are a terrible way to determine what is true, especially when theism is not only simultaneously used to justify harm (bigotry, supremacy, exploitation), but also unnecessary for achieving caring about justice (rights, environmental conservation, veganism, anti-capitalism, etc.).
Do some theists end up doing and believing progressive and beneficial things? Yes, but a house built on a weak foundation can fall apart much more easily than one built on a solid one. You should do good in the world because that is the kind of person you want to be, not because of a (very likely untrue) belief you adopted that cannot be falsified.
but a house built on a weak foundation can fall apart much more easily than one built on a solid one
I’d say it’s pretty bleedin’ obvious that the house with the strongest foundation is the world’s oldest living cultural group: Aboriginal Australians. Obviously, belief in the Rainbow Serpent has greatly benefitted their ancient nations. They preserved knowledge of the sea level rise at the end of the ice age through 10,000 years, that’s the best history-keeping in the world. I’d say Aboriginal religions are carefully calibrated machines of political technology, creating good societies through social engineering.
The results speak for themselves: Believing in the Rainbow Serpent is the right thing to do, because it makes the world a better place. So I believe.
I just feel like taking this stance a little too hard makes philosophy = bad. There is a difference when beliefs conflict with being just, I agree. But good religion is built on deep conviction, in my mind, and approaches a sort of chicken-or-the-egg relationship with truly righteous acts.
I didn’t know that about Aboriginal religion, but I have heard of some heady, trance monk type practices (like near interdimensional transcendence stuff) which I appreciate. Can’t remember if it involved straight up psychedelics or just meditation, which is always mindblowing to me.
Something about all these first peoples, man, they really knew how to weave a mythos between the world and ourselves on every level.
The geopolitical west is so politically unstable, they can’t develop their myths properly. Every few hundred years, it’s another cultural revolution with them! With all that turmoil, it’s no wonder their cultural development is so stunted.
I think with the help of science, we can develop cultures fast enough to keep up with modern life. But not the west’s modern science. We need some more advanced psychology, like what the First Australians have.
It does a lot more than that. In Australia, it’s been used to prevent violence, maintain the environment, and aid in resource use for thousands of years.
Theistic beliefs are a terrible way to determine what is true, especially when theism is not only simultaneously used to justify harm (bigotry, supremacy, exploitation), but also unnecessary for achieving caring about justice (rights, environmental conservation, veganism, anti-capitalism, etc.).
Do some theists end up doing and believing progressive and beneficial things? Yes, but a house built on a weak foundation can fall apart much more easily than one built on a solid one. You should do good in the world because that is the kind of person you want to be, not because of a (very likely untrue) belief you adopted that cannot be falsified.
I’d say it’s pretty bleedin’ obvious that the house with the strongest foundation is the world’s oldest living cultural group: Aboriginal Australians. Obviously, belief in the Rainbow Serpent has greatly benefitted their ancient nations. They preserved knowledge of the sea level rise at the end of the ice age through 10,000 years, that’s the best history-keeping in the world. I’d say Aboriginal religions are carefully calibrated machines of political technology, creating good societies through social engineering.
The results speak for themselves: Believing in the Rainbow Serpent is the right thing to do, because it makes the world a better place. So I believe.
I just feel like taking this stance a little too hard makes philosophy = bad. There is a difference when beliefs conflict with being just, I agree. But good religion is built on deep conviction, in my mind, and approaches a sort of chicken-or-the-egg relationship with truly righteous acts.
I didn’t know that about Aboriginal religion, but I have heard of some heady, trance monk type practices (like near interdimensional transcendence stuff) which I appreciate. Can’t remember if it involved straight up psychedelics or just meditation, which is always mindblowing to me.
Something about all these first peoples, man, they really knew how to weave a mythos between the world and ourselves on every level.
It’s because of thousands of years of practice!
The geopolitical west is so politically unstable, they can’t develop their myths properly. Every few hundred years, it’s another cultural revolution with them! With all that turmoil, it’s no wonder their cultural development is so stunted.
I think with the help of science, we can develop cultures fast enough to keep up with modern life. But not the west’s modern science. We need some more advanced psychology, like what the First Australians have.