Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

[Charlie Bell]

On 23/04/2008, at 1:38 AM, Nick Arnett wrote:
>
> Otherwise, they would have to account for religious that  
> successfully teach
> and encourage humility, grace, forgiveness, critical thinking and so
> forth...

Who are, on the whole, in the minority. Your experience of the  
religious in your liberal Lutheran church is somewhat different to  
that of mine when I lived in the Middle East or when I grew up in the  
UK... Religion in most places is treated with an authority that far  
exceeds its actual contribution to modern society.

It seems to me you're missing the point, which is that all number of  
damaging behaviour is excused in the name of religion when it is  
otherwise not tolerated. Of *course* these things aren't exclusive to  
religion (as you rightly point out, politics is damaging too), but  
religion provides a shield.

Ritual is important, as you say. Ceremonies bring us together, and  
contribute to social cohesion. But they don't need to be religious in  
nature.

Charlie.