Lesson 5 Flashcards
Religion - irrationality
-Nobody doubts that there are non-rational elements in religion. Faith, by it’s very definition is ‘belief without proof’
-The richness of religious experience, the emotional and physical engagement in worship, meditative states, group celebrations – all involve people in a way that goes beyond the simple exercise of their reason
-From the Enlightenment to the 19th century, people tried to set out religious beliefs in terms of human reason so that its claims to truth could be acceptable to everyone
-In general these attempts failed.
Richard Dawkins
“I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world.”
“Religion is about turning untested belief into unshakable truth through the power of institutions and the passage of time.”
The God hypothesis (belief in a supernatural being, miracles, life after death) is irrational and contrary to good science.
What do Christian’s argue
-Christianity argues, most peoples experience of life is not limited to the rational.
-That includes the experience of art music and poetry as well as religion
-However militant atheists go beyond recognising the non rational elements in religion – they suggest the religion itself is irrational
-Adopting religious beliefs goes against reason
Explain Ludwig Feuerbach’s assertion that ‘man created God in his own image’
-Argued that religion is man-made delusion and redundant.
-Inversion of the ‘imago Dei’ doctrine
-Instead, man created God in his image – God is a manmade concept.
-Humanity has projected onto God.
-What man needs he makes his God.
-What man wishes to be he makes his God.
-Feuerbach argued that religion is a projection of our hopes and desires. It is what we create to deal with our fears about life and about death.
Are religions to be taken literally?
-If they are… then many beliefs Are irrational because they go against the assessment of evidence using reason
-EG. David Hume’s argument about the lack of evidence to prove that a miracle has taken place
-However, if not taken literally, those who believe them are not necessarily being irrational
-For example, if a person takes the view that the resurrection of Jesus is a dramatic way of presenting the idea that the spirit of Jesus is alive and active within the church, then that is not irrational.
-It does not depend on any physical evidence about what happened to Jesus body, but on the sense that people are inspired to live in a way that embodies his life and all that it stood for.
Logical vs emotional decision making
-Humanists tend to emphasise the role of reason and evidence but that may be naïve in terms of human nature.
-People do not generally, if ever, fully operate on the basis of reason in evidence alone
-Intuitions in the range of human emotions go beyond or bypass reason and evidence some branches of Christianity place emphasis on the fallen nature of humankind and therefore the limitations of human reason.
-Replacing all supernatural ideas with reason and evidence will not bring about universal peace or happiness.
Is religion irrational
-Some branches of Christianity place emphasis on the fallen nature of humankind.
-If humankind is fallen, so too is it’s use of reason, which must be limited.
-Replacing all supernatural ideas with reason and evidence will not bring about universal peace and happiness.
Is religion irrational - sociological
-Another view is that each religion is a cultural expression.
-Religious beliefs and texts are cultural artefacts, they are communicated using human language, with all the limitations this brings.
-Religious texts are not to be taken literally.
-Religious beliefs may be helpful or harmful, inspiring or disgusting, but cannot simply be dismissed as irrational; this misunderstands them.
How is uk becoming more secular
Replacement of religion as the source of truth and moral values
Growth in science and empiricism as the authoritative source of truth (link: religious language – AJ Ayer/Hume the Enlightenment Empiricist)
-Decline in traditional Church attendance
-Decline in the influence of the Church and religious leaders
-Decline in the number of people identifying as Christian – 2021 Census figures
Explain two reasons why the UK is becoming increasingly secular
Rise of science and the empirical method – epistemic imperialism.
Replacement of religion as the source of ‘truth’.
Less parents raising their child within a religion and/or are giving their children more choice about their beliefs.
Exposure to alternative views and belief systems – for example, through books and the internet.
Relegation of religion to the private sphere.
Individual autonomy and liberty = human right (UN Article 18)
How was the authority of the Church challenged by the Protestant Reformation?
-In 1517, M. Luther ‘protested’ against the Catholic Church, in particular against practices which he thought were wrong
-Luther questioned the Catholic Church’s role as intermediary between people and God. In particular, he questioned the indulgence system, which allowed people to purchase a certificate of pardon for the punishment of their sins.
-Luther argued against the practice of buying or earning forgiveness, believing instead that salvation is a gift God gives to those who have faith (you don’t need a priest / the Church – it’s direct).
-Luther believed that salvation was a gift from God (justification by faith) and that all people could have a direct relationship with him (Priesthood of All Believers). He believed that people should be able to read and make sense of scripture for themselves – they did not need to depend on the Catholic Church. His questioning of the Church encouraged others to question as well.
-This would obviously take away the power, authority and influence of the Catholic Church.
-Key synoptic link: sources of wisdom and authority.
Give two examples of how religion still plays a role in UK public life
-The National Anthem is ‘God save the King’
-King Charles III is simultaneously Head of State and Head of the Church.
-Royal events (e.g. coronations, weddings, funerals) take place in Christian places of worship – Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s Cathedral.
-Major Christian festivals – Christmas and Easter – are national holidays.
-1 in 3 state-funded schools are faith schools, the majority being Primary schools.
What does it mean to say religion has been relegated to the personal sphere (individualisation)?
-Religion and religious faith has become a ‘private’ or ‘personal’ matter.
-Faith is seen as a personal choice or preference (not a public duty / requirement).
-People do not feel they have to declare allegiance to Christianity and Britain’s traditional and national religion – they make a personal choice, and practice faith relatively privately, rather than public declaration.
-People are given freedom of religion (UN Article 18) and religious belief is seen as an individual choice.
-There are now many different religions – and denominations – to choose from.
-France is a notable example of a country where religion is excluded from public life – it is an entirely personal matter.
