I'm reading a book currently that is somewhat agreeing with what you write especially about Christianity, but sees a role for religion (perhaps a new type of religion) in reshaping our worldview that led us to this climate crisis. Perhaps it will lead the religion topic into a new direction. The book is called 'Ecological Imaginations in the World Religions: An Ethnographic Analysis' by Tony Watling.
I’m enjoying your blogs - very amusing! As regards religion, I’m not a religious person at all, my religion is a part of me but I don’t see the need for attending a religious institution.
I'm with you on religion (and all the other codgery stuff you complain about....trout pouts, mobile zombies etc did you mention tattoos?). I just don't get it.
I guess we all go through childhood and adolescence and do some daft things. What I fail to grasp is why 'adults' continue to do these things. I wonder if it just comes down to the fact that a huge swathe of the population never actually reach what you'd call intellectual maturity? I got into a bit of an online 'discussion' with some fans of an an American evangelist and I just didn't have the ammunition to deal with the stupidity of what was coming back at me. 'It must be true because it's in the bible!' These people have given up all reason either because they're stupid or just too plain lazy to think for themselves. Perhaps both.
Fanaticism of any sort is problematic. Ideological fanatics, religious fanatics, football fanatics... Religion is of great solace to many, has been the inspiration for the most beautiful architecture, music, art, and quietly practiced bothers no one.
You can't just write it off as not fit for purpose in the modern age. Indeed, the modern age is so desperately in need of boundaries that some are turning to religion for ready-made ones. Islam is the world's fastest growing religion, more than twice as fast as the overall global population.
Personally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, and I do believe that man-made religious tend to favour the comfort of men rather than women, but everyone is different, and if they want to have faith and practice in their own personal (non-violent) way, who is anyone else to say they are wrong?
Plus there are aspects of the Christian celebrations and services that are incredibly moving, and are also part of our cultural heritage. I wouldn't want to see them fade miserably away because life would be less rich and colourful.
I'm reading a book currently that is somewhat agreeing with what you write especially about Christianity, but sees a role for religion (perhaps a new type of religion) in reshaping our worldview that led us to this climate crisis. Perhaps it will lead the religion topic into a new direction. The book is called 'Ecological Imaginations in the World Religions: An Ethnographic Analysis' by Tony Watling.
I’m enjoying your blogs - very amusing! As regards religion, I’m not a religious person at all, my religion is a part of me but I don’t see the need for attending a religious institution.
I'm with you on religion (and all the other codgery stuff you complain about....trout pouts, mobile zombies etc did you mention tattoos?). I just don't get it.
I guess we all go through childhood and adolescence and do some daft things. What I fail to grasp is why 'adults' continue to do these things. I wonder if it just comes down to the fact that a huge swathe of the population never actually reach what you'd call intellectual maturity? I got into a bit of an online 'discussion' with some fans of an an American evangelist and I just didn't have the ammunition to deal with the stupidity of what was coming back at me. 'It must be true because it's in the bible!' These people have given up all reason either because they're stupid or just too plain lazy to think for themselves. Perhaps both.
Fanaticism of any sort is problematic. Ideological fanatics, religious fanatics, football fanatics... Religion is of great solace to many, has been the inspiration for the most beautiful architecture, music, art, and quietly practiced bothers no one.
You can't just write it off as not fit for purpose in the modern age. Indeed, the modern age is so desperately in need of boundaries that some are turning to religion for ready-made ones. Islam is the world's fastest growing religion, more than twice as fast as the overall global population.
Personally I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole, and I do believe that man-made religious tend to favour the comfort of men rather than women, but everyone is different, and if they want to have faith and practice in their own personal (non-violent) way, who is anyone else to say they are wrong?
Plus there are aspects of the Christian celebrations and services that are incredibly moving, and are also part of our cultural heritage. I wouldn't want to see them fade miserably away because life would be less rich and colourful.