This is that blog post Candace mentioned. Truly worth reading and thinking about.

Mark, I’m definitely subscribing to your blog.

I understand your points. I wonder though if it is really religion that is the cause of the “evils” you write of or rather an unsettling component of the human psyche (or perhaps more accurately human nature)? In the cases you mention religion is certainly the justification for poorly considered policies and the linked harm they cause but other poorly considered policies and great harm have taken place under the leadership and citizen population of non-theists.

Although perhaps unpopular to argue I would say that throughout much of human history religion (with all of its incontestable flaws) has had a moderating effect on humanity and in fact laid the framework for a society that no longer needs the belief systems of religion to function effectively. It was so effective in fact that we’ve been able to grow past it. In many other parts of the world/segments of society those nastier aspects of human nature seem to be digging in deeper and I do have to wonder if they (and the rest of us citizens of the world) wouldn’t be better off if they adopted any sort of mainstream religion and the moderating effects on behavior that seem to accompany it? I think the biggest threat to humanity is and always has been those unexamined aspects of human nature that aren’t pretty instead are often cruel and hateful and if aren’t contained in some manner seem to pop out over and over again.

Mark:
“I disagree. The problem with such a strategy is that it encourages a superficial form of conflict resolution.”

~and~

“If that truly is what Islam teaches it should be clear from the behaviour of many Muslims that “puts his hand on you” can be interpreted to mean any kinds of perceived affront, not just violence.”

I don’t know Mark. Arbitrary definition or not at least a belief system offers a starting point for conversation and negotiation. Violence *is* a reality for many people, in many cases their environments are seeped in it and to merely dismiss the reality of their lives seems short-sighted. If religion provides a way of explaining the world that makes some sense of their experiences I say great because it then also provides me with a way of understanding their lives/thinking and clues to communicating more effectively towards more positive ends.

If the study you cite above is at all accurate about the ways in which people are *able* to think a religious explanation might be as sophisticated as any for understanding life and the world for many people. I don’t know though…just talking off the top of my head.