Version 1.4 September 2020 (Previous Version)
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These are the questions we ask in the introduction (Section 0.1.6 – paragraph 25): ( Paragraph 2 Trans Error: Unknown )How can modern people be fundamentalists? How can they take Genesis literally? If we don’t believe in god, do we believe in nothing? Is Atheism a religion, or just a denial of everything that’s good? Should we accept that life is absurd, like the Existentialists? Or can we pick and choose to make our own religion, like New Agers or Wiccans – or religious liberals? Are you concerned about conflict in religion and politics, the clash of civilizations, terrorism, and religious fanatics? Or that the country (or the world) may be taken over by religious zealots (or godless atheists) who will destroy all that is good? Can we retreat from religion into politics – Nazism, Communism or Americanism? Can we reinstate the Muslim Caliphate? Should India retrieve a glorious pre-colonial, pre-Moghul Hindu utopia? Should the Chinese empire return to its rightful leadership of the world? ( Paragraph 3 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
This Chapter covers modern responses to religion. Modern in this context means from about 1850 CE onwards. Many Atheists and theists alike believe the world as a whole, and “the West” in particular, is turning away from God, which Atheists attribute to the rise of “reason” and the theists associate with rising materialism, promiscuity and moral degradation. Indeed, Atheism is rising in Europe, Australasia and even in the USA, where fundamentalist Christianity dominates. But evangelical Christianity is spreading throughout Africa and the Muslim world is becoming stricter. This conservative trend is also seen in increasing nationalism and political appeals to ethnic groups, from Hindu nationalists in India, Buddhist supremacy in Sri Lanka and Burma, animosity between Shia and Sunni Muslims, and white supremacists in Europe, North America and elsewhere.
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Despite assertions to the contrary, radical Islamic fundamentalism, which most Muslims don’t support, is a modern phenomenon, promoted by only one branch of Islam, funded mostly by the oil rich Saudi Arabia. While many Christians have moved on from fundamentalism, many, especially in America and Africa, still interpret the Bible literally. ( Paragraph 5 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
As discussed in Part 3 (History) there are grounds for hope. Despite the current discord between and within nations, and the cynical exploitation of ethnic ties for political gain, we hope that increased knowledge of the world’s major religions will lead to greater understanding, tolerance and acceptance, reducing the need for our traditional religious background to be a major component of our identity. Unfortunately, most of the responses to religion discussed in this Chapter lead the other way.
( Paragraph 6 Trans Error: Unknown )We propose to look at modern responses to religion under the following headings:
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1. Existentialism: ( Paragraph 8 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
Is life fundamentally absurd? Do we have freedom? Can we be authentic? ( Paragraph 9 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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2. Fundamentalism: ( Paragraph 10 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
Reading sacred texts literally is modern! ( Paragraph 11 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
Is it reasonable to break down this area into these topics at this level? ( Paragraph 12 Trans Error: Unknown )Click on feedback, or add a comment below, to tell us if you agree or disagree, or suggest improvements. ( Paragraph 13 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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3. Communism: ( Paragraph 14 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
How is Communism like religion? ( Paragraph 15 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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4. Americanism: ( Paragraph 16 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
How is Americanism like religion?. ( Paragraph 17 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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5. New Ageism: ( Paragraph 18 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
How do others find their spirituality? ( Paragraph 19 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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6. Atheism: ( Paragraph 20 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
Can Atheism provide meaning & purpose? ( Paragraph 21 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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7. Secularism: ( Paragraph 22 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
Can different religions co-exist peacefully? ( Paragraph 23 Trans Error: Unknown ) |
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As stated in the chapter overview, this is the current summary of our conclusions in this area:
( Paragraph 24 Trans Error: Unknown )Criticism led some Christians and Muslims to fundamentalism; others adopted political, religious-like, ideologies like Communism and Americanism; philosophy moved towards atheism; some, like the existentialists, essentially ignored god, or, like ‘New Agers’, reinvented pantheism; but we must all get along peacefully!
( Paragraph 25 Trans Error: Unknown )more Statement 25
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