Sounds like a good read:
http://www.economist.com/culture/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15124974. I agree with the contention that people/tribes/societies have tended to have a greater chance of survival with some type of religious thought and practice. It's been proven in hellish circumstances, such as American POWs in Japanese or later North Korean forced labor mines, that those with a sense that God was with them were the ones who made it out alive. I spoke with a doctor once who did her residency in Oregon, a state with a high population of folks describing themselves as atheist or agnostic. Purely anecdotal, but her observation was that many of these same people had profound difficulty accepting and coming to grips with death--that they could not figure a way out of thing or why it was their turn. Conversely, those with a belief in God had a more accepting resignation with the end of life. Maybe so and we'll all get an opportunity to experience it ourselves.
http://www.economist.com/culture/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15124974. I agree with the contention that people/tribes/societies have tended to have a greater chance of survival with some type of religious thought and practice. It's been proven in hellish circumstances, such as American POWs in Japanese or later North Korean forced labor mines, that those with a sense that God was with them were the ones who made it out alive. I spoke with a doctor once who did her residency in Oregon, a state with a high population of folks describing themselves as atheist or agnostic. Purely anecdotal, but her observation was that many of these same people had profound difficulty accepting and coming to grips with death--that they could not figure a way out of thing or why it was their turn. Conversely, those with a belief in God had a more accepting resignation with the end of life. Maybe so and we'll all get an opportunity to experience it ourselves.
The Euros, excepting the growing Muslim population, has been largely agnostic or atheist for some time now (something about a few wars here and there in the last century will do that to you) and a lot of writers think they've lost their will to vigorously promote their way of life as a result--probably some truth to that. America is maybe a few decades or so behind depending on how much of the usually reliable American optimism remains in place. The thing with Muslim fanaticism has had an effect: after seeing what it means to be a zealot about one's faith a growing number of people now want nothing to do with religion. They may not know the certainty of God but they damn sure know they don't want to be a Muslim or maybe anything religious if this kind of delusional madness comes with it. In other words, a rubbing off effect is occurring.
Maybe dues paying Hellfire Club member Ben Franklin was indeed, correct when he said something about moderation--I know that Denholm Elliot's character in Trading Places was on target when he uttered that "religion in moderation is a good thing." Brilliant movie. Whatever the case, Franklin was never better than when he preached from on high that "beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." Now, that is some kick ass divinity. Peace be with you.
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