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Like so many others I've noticed that alot of people nowadays place an amazing amount of faith in scientific studies, technological advances and in any form of education, to the point that folks seem just as zealous in these things as traditional religionists' have for scriptures, holy books and faith-based catechisms.
Parallel to this is the tide of government-based reliance and a loyal trust in politics & politicians no matter the platform advocated to whatever denomination (party affiliation). It seems that there is a popularity for preferring government authority in one's day-to-day life just as there is/was with the churches & temples of yesteryear. People seem fascinated with participation in political discussions and events while eagerly awaiting a victory for whichever side wins the pulpit match and find that they find reassurance from these contests.
So is this observation real? Have people eschewed time-honored religious spirituality by relying on government and science, politicians and professional scientific experts to fill the need for spiritual faith & authority? Will civic & educational institutions now dispense standards for truth, justice and morality just as the church does/did?
What role (if any) do you think multi-national octupi-corporations have in this sort of arrangement? As a sort of Vatican, a caliphate for the Ummah https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummah ?
Where does creationism, evolution and intelligent design converge, if at all?
Just interested in opinions & observations, not political bile or religion versus secularism hate-mongering. Let's hear your ideas!
Last edited by TheEternalSanctuaryMan; 11-15-2012 at 03:38 PM..
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I believe in some ways science negates some of the traditional 'needs' for religion. i.e.: Before science explained phenomena like eclipses many sought comfort in supernatural explanations for the sudden disappearance of the sun from the sky, it's not so frightening when you understand the cause.
Confidence in the value of science is not the same as faith in a religion or a holy book.
There are some people of vulgar intellect who do zealously follow "the latest research" in social science. In a very shallow sense I suppose it can be compared to a religion.
There is nobody I know who treats the government with religious reverence.
What we are seeing is a result of a society that was too prosperous for its own good for too long. Americans first decided they no longer needed God and/or church and then decided the it's the governments job to do what the church once did. While people once would have been considered fools for not believing in God, now most are considered fools for having faith. Most people under 30 are atheist/agnostic and have a very high regard for the federal government. Ironically enough though, young people have a disdain for patriotism or traditional Americana. Without religion or founding ideals in the way, the government can claim more and more of our freedoms and nobody will dare to stop it because the State is our god and it knows best. A perfect storm for America has been brewing the past 30 or so years which will soon take us into a socialist era.
What we are seeing is a result of a society that was too prosperous for its own good for too long. Americans first decided they no longer needed God and/or church and then decided the it's the governments job to do what the church once did. While people once would have been considered fools for not believing in God, now most are considered fools for having faith. Most people under 30 are atheist/agnostic and have a very high regard for the federal government. Ironically enough though, young people have a disdain for patriotism or traditional Americana. Without religion or founding ideals in the way, the government can claim more and more of our freedoms and nobody will dare to stop it because the State is our god and it knows best. A perfect storm for America has been brewing the past 30 or so years which will soon take us into a socialist era.
However, these same people who don't believe in God or anything supernatural, view Obama and the Clintons as some kind of magic messiahs who can take care of them and make everything perfect for them.
Government has become the opiate of the masses. They don't believe in self-control or personal responsibility at all because the government can fix everything.
They don't really believe in science because those who truly believe in science would believe in letting the weak die off and that would include those incapable of working for a living. A true believer in science wouldn't want to promote the breeding of the least intelligent or able by having the govenrment pay for them.
They don't really believe in science because those who truly believe in science would believe in letting the weak die off and that would include those incapable of working for a living. A true believer in science wouldn't want to promote the breeding of the least intelligent or able by having the govenrment pay for them.
That's not science, it's a museum-piece sociopolitical philosophy called social Darwinism.
However, these same people who don't believe in God or anything supernatural, view Obama and the Clintons as some kind of magic messiahs who can take care of them and make everything perfect for them.
Government has become the opiate of the masses. They don't believe in self-control or personal responsibility at all because the government can fix everything.
They don't really believe in science because those who truly believe in science would believe in letting the weak die off and that would include those incapable of working for a living. A true believer in science wouldn't want to promote the breeding of the least intelligent or able by having the govenrment pay for them.
No "they" don't.
What a complete and utter bunch of made up bunk.
I don't believe anything of the sort, and I do believe I qualify as one of "them".
Honestly, this belief that people who don't believe in God or religion are dependent on and/or worship the government instead is based in nothing but suspicion and wishful thinking.
I believe in some ways science negates some of the traditional 'needs' for religion. i.e.: Before science explained phenomena like eclipses many sought comfort in supernatural explanations for the sudden disappearance of the sun from the sky, it's not so frightening when you understand the cause.
It's entirely possible that we will have an explanation for how the universe began within the lifetimes of most forum members. Religion has had to concede so much over a such a relatively short amount of time, I can foresee a time when those who do remain as self-described "religious people" will be more of the deist variety.
However, these same people who don't believe in God or anything supernatural, view Obama and the Clintons as some kind of magic messiahs who can take care of them and make everything perfect for them.
Somebody better start letting them know. Lol, Barry, Bill and Hillary's travelling show of magic messiahs. I don't know ONE single non-believer who would go to that particular tent meeting. It's much more likely for a believing Republican to believe in someone who has those powers. Think about it.....
Don't confuse marketing retail "signs" with traditional religious holidays.
Every single person on Earth who is normal and healthy knows for example that Christmas Day is celebrated because of the birth of Christ. Everybody knows that Passover is a Jewish holiday. Everybody knows that Eid is a Muslim holiday.
If you read on the federal website over holidays, it clearly says "Birth of Christ' child".
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