Only the most blind and arrogant of Atheists would suggest that we (the Atheists) have nothing to learn from religion.
This is such a great lecture...sermon?... ;-)
Please do watch to the end, where he speaks of "harmonious disagreement".
Also, please bump! ;-)
Quoting inspain:Please do watch to the end, where he speaks of "harmonious disagreement".
Also, please bump! ;-)
I gave it an honest effort, but he was putting me to sleep. Not that he's boring or anything, I'm just sleep deprived and his voice was oddly soothing. I'll have to try again later. I did agree with what bit I made it through though. I think part of why atheists tend to be more tolerant is because we've taken values from many different places and can accept that even though we disagree there is still some good to it.
Quoting xtwistedxlovex:
Quoting inspain:Please do watch to the end, where he speaks of "harmonious disagreement".
Also, please bump! ;-)
I gave it an honest effort, but he was putting me to sleep. Not that he's boring or anything, I'm just sleep deprived and his voice was oddly soothing. I'll have to try again later. I did agree with what bit I made it through though. I think part of why atheists tend to be more tolerant is because we've taken values from many different places and can accept that even though we disagree there is still some good to it.
LOL...that made me laugh so loud I frightened the cat...
So, I finally made it through the video after several tries...and now I've got to say that practically the only point I agreed with him on is that we can learn from religion.
He attributes culture to religion, yet says it developed because people were straying away; if that's how it works, then religion is responsible for atheism as well - after all, how can you NOT believe in God if the concept didn't exist to begin with? He's giving credit where it is not due. IMO most of the things he spoke of - travel, culture, valuing education - are human traits. Church is basically a compilation of human characteristics/traits; we don't value them because the church tells us to, it's the other way around. We are curious by nature, thus the value of education, which is a common reason for travel. Morals are innate; if I don't like something, why should I inflict it on others? I did not attend church until I was 13 and yet I've always followed "the golden rule" - which covers many of the "deadly sins".
As for there being no meaning to art, I call BS. I don't know how many times I was frustrated in high school because teachers constantly demanded I tear apart and analyze every little thing to find the deeper meaning when it was often more useful to look at the surface, and sometimes there just doesn't have to be a point. And with the amount of photographs out there of impoverished/war-torn countries, starving children, etc it seems pretty obvious that art isn't always "just for the sake of art" but often to make a point or bring attention to an issue.
Basically, what I'm saying here is that religion developed the way it did because it reflects humanity...we do not need to look to religion to find what is innate, though it can help us remember what has fallen by the wayside - the need to communicate with those around us, take the time to reflect, and work to become better people rather than expecting instant and constant perfection.
Check out these Tasty Treats from The Stir's partners:
Ashley's Husband Made it Home From a Deployment in Iraq - And Then Tragedy Struck
- inspain
on Jan. 23, 2012 at 1:26 PM