Interesting article, thank you. The Oxford study refers to 'Moralizing gods', but Durkheim noted that religion only progresses to personified gods in complex societies. Might a simpler totemic religion not have proceeded the move to complex society?
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The Oxford study was cited as a rebuttal to the idea that moralizing religions were needed to solve the free-rider problem. Totemic religions may have preceded complex societies, but the question then arises: how would an amoral system have created complex societies?
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I think Christianity as a philosophy was revolutionary at the time and ushered in the idea of human dignity and value of individuals as moral agents. But it evolved more as a political system and became oppressive
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I'm inclined to agree, and think this applies to all major religions. For instance, Islam was actually incredibly progressive for its time - the "four wives to 1 man" rule, widely regarded as barbaric, was actually an improvement on the pre-Islamic "infinite wives to 1 man" rule.
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You really should read an article (not just half of it) before critiquing. It prevents your criticisms from completely missing the mark.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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Great write-up and well referenced. The issue I have with the rejection of religion regards the “great works problem”. IMO, we need great works - like the pyramids, cathedrals, etc. Without an institution that connects us to the everlasting, what promote the great works?
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There is a small mosque on the site of the Taj Mahal. But the monument proper was not created as a tribute to any God; it was created as a tribute to the Emperor's favorite wife. So, to answer your question: love.
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Gosh, this was so interesting. I don't bookmark many articles for a re-read, but I bookmarked this one. Gurwinder Bhogal, I've never heard of you before, but I'm following you now. Thank you!
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Thanks for reading Alice, and welcome!
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I don't like the fact that you cherry-picked Nassim’s view on religion; I question whether you understand the fundamentals of his argument. If you want to read more about religion, I kindly suggest Mircea Eliade.
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I don't feel I cherry-picked his views. I quoted him verbatim and actually tried to steel-man his claims by interpreting them as charitably as I could.
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