Friday, January 30, 2015

E.O. Wilson: "What's dragging us down is religious faith."

Courtesy of International Business Times:

Renowned biologist E. O. Wilson has said we should eliminate religions for the sake of human progress, as they are "dragging us down". 

In an interview with New Scientist, Wilson was speaking about his latest book The Meaning of Human Existence, in which he questions religion, how humanity looks for common cause, our behaviour and our impact on the environment. 

He said his next book, in which he plans to deal with where we are going as a species, looks at how we have been destroying Earth in a way that people have not fully realised "like the death of a thousand cuts". Wilson said we ignore cues from science about the damage we are doing because of our "tribal structure". 

"All the ideologies and religions have their own answers for the big questions, but these are usually bound as a dogma to some kind of tribe. Religions in particular feature supernatural elements that other tribes – other faiths – cannot accept ... And every tribe, no matter how generous, benign, loving and charitable, nonetheless looks down on all other tribes. What's dragging us down is religious faith." 

He said that he is not an atheist or agnostic, instead explains "I'm a scientist".

I would suggest that tribalism played a very important, and possibly necessary role in mankind's rise from prey to predator, and ultimately to becoming the dominant species on the planet.

However I would also argue that what served as a benefit during more primitive times has now become an impediment to our progress toward becoming more enlightened beings.

Today it is not so much our gender, or ethnicity, that builds walls between us but rather our religious faith. Or lack thereof.

Just the other day my daughter and I were musing on the fact that thousands of years ago Italy, Spain, and France, which are geographically only a handful of miles apart, could develop different languages and cultures, while today we are closer to becoming a global community then ever before.

In fact these very words will be read by visitors from as far away as Hong Kong, Belgium, and Germany, and they will both be able to understand what I say, as well as respond to what is written without ever having to leave their house, much less their continent.

In other words thanks to technology we now know more, and understand more, about each other than at any other time in the history of mankind.

The final hurdle to overcome, the wall that still stands in our way, is religion.

Eradicating it, and the antiquated ideas it promotes, should be priority one for all of us.

Well at least I cannot be accused of not doing my part.

30 comments:

  1. Fawnskin Mudpuppy6:52 AM

    Gryph, do you realize just how good a writer you have become?
    This post is timely, to the point, and compelling.
    Bravo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:56 AM

      I'm seeing helpful commas too. Me likee.

      Delete
  2. Until the last primitive tribe has access to the internet, until the last evangelical dies, until there is free universal education, and until there is no more money to be made from the ignorance of others, there will always be some religious or supernatural ideology that survives our best efforts to eradicate it and its harmful effects on this little blue spaceship-Earth. Like trying to stop 'global warming', the best we can do is to mitigate its effects because no one is willing to admit "the emperor has no new clothes".

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous7:02 AM

    Mitt Romney Is Not Running For President In 2016

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/30/mitt-romney-2016-announcement_n_6579384.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leland7:57 AM

      Now, if only the fool would demonstrate the same sort of intelligence when it came to traveling with his dog....

      Delete
  4. Great article, but I disagree with one point. Religion is not our biggest hurdle, it's is #2. Stupidity still holds the overall spot

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leland7:58 AM

      By eliminating religion, we would at least be getting rid of one of the biggest supporters of stupidity!

      Delete
  5. Randall7:08 AM

    People that believe in spirits, ghosts, devils, angels, etc.
    are by definition delusional.
    Some of those that believe in gods and demons are willing to kill for their beliefs.
    Belief in bullshit is dangerous and should be recognized as such.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous7:11 AM

    I agree with this article and your comments.... However, I believe mankind will always divide and squabble and do battle. Heck, most of us have a neighbor that we would love to throw a catapult of garbage at, or a family member that we can't sit through a Thanksgiving meal with. How about that ex? People of a different skin color? Culture?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leland8:03 AM

      Greater dissemination and use of a free internet will solve most of those problems. At least, eventually.

      Family members? Not so much, but perhaps we will grow intelligent enough to simply ignore whoever it is that tweaks our butt hairs in our families. And if we can ever get to THAT point, other cultures will be a snap - provided we don't destroy ourselves because of religion first.

      Delete
  7. Anonymous7:31 AM

    Most of humanities conflicts have had as much to do with greed as religious beliefs. Greed has hiddened under the cloak of religion to stir the anger and increase the willingness of the masses to go to war for the profit of others. We will always have those who covet the resources or wealth of others.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leland8:04 AM

      Always? Pretty broad statement there, don't you think?

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:42 AM

      Leland, you are always are trying to find nits to pick in the posts. It's as annoying trying to rid the kids of a bad infestation of head lice. smh

      Delete
    3. "Always"? Pretty broad statement there, 9:42. :-)

      While self-cherishing will always be with us, who can calculate the deaths and damage caused by organized religions?

      Delete
    4. Leland12:03 PM

      What can I say, 9:42? I have personally always disliked flat statements. Always is SUCH a long time!
      And before you comment on that statement, note I said personally, which is NOT in the same category since it is a qualifier.

      And no, I do not ALWAYS look for things to pick at.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous7:35 AM

    O/T - Romney has officially announced that he is NOT running for 2016. Here you go $arah, Dog has opened another door for you!

    JJ

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous7:38 AM

    "Just the other day my daughter and I were musing on the fact that thousands of years ago Italy, Spain, and France, which are geographically only a handful of miles apart, could develop different languages and cultures, while today we are closer to becoming a global community then ever before."

    Borderline-brilliant observation. Good job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:22 AM

      If you enjoy these sorts of anthropological musings you should read Jared Diamond's book "Guns, Germs and Steel". It paints a good picture of how our societies evolved.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous8:28 AM

    I recently traveled in Japan with a tour group. It was 23 well-educated and engaged English speaking people that among them also spoke about 8 European languages.

    I was very much struck how speaking English with Japanese people (it's quite common there) gave many of the people in my tour group a feeling there was a mutual understanding of culture. But, because I speak Japanese, I could see how much of misconception that is. The Japanese "mind" is very different than the western mind (in my opinion). English is a very poor transmitter of the respect, status, and ritual which is essential to Japanese speech.

    Even though my Japanese is at the elementary level, I experienced a moment of cultural panic myself at not knowing the correct polite term of address for our tour bus driver, as the usually "untensha-san" (driver) for a cab driver seemed inadequate. Scrambling for a quick private tutorial from our guide, I was calmed to learn I could use "shachou-san" (vehicle boss).

    Another problem for a Japanese speaking English, is that is impossible to crank up the politeness level when talking to someone that is both grey-haired and a visitor. I could sense the relief when they found they could revert to Japanese with me.

    Hope this sample conveys some of the problems using a common language like English can mask.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leland12:06 PM

      When I had my own business, we installed Panasonic key telephone systems. It took me almost two years to understand "Japanese English"!

      You are so right. The differences in viewpoint and logic are hugely important to understand!

      Delete
  11. Jkarov9:06 AM

    Ultimately, every religion is based on either lies, mythology, superstition, or pure fabricated belief in non existent entities.

    Some people may yet be doing "good" as a result of religion, but they are doing so based on a false premise, however sincere.

    My sincere hope is that eventually humans evolve to finally leave behind anything not logical, factual, and proven by science, and live by critical thinking , logic, compassion, and an innate sense of morality.

    All religions inevitably produce people who use it for war, greed, tribal conflict, or for self aggrandizement, leading to the plethora of problems we see around the world.

    In my opinion, religion is are nothing more than a virus ; it is a cancer of the mind and will hopefully some day be completely eradicated.

    If an alien race from a star system thousands of years advanced beyond ours were to arrive at planet earth, I believe they would be appalled with the utter chaos, ignorance injustice, poverty, war, and violence humans perpetrate on each other based on religion, race, and tribal differences.

    My suspicion is that it will take at least a thousand years before humans can leave behind the primitive Bronze age belief systems that plague our civilizations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leland12:11 PM

      Jkarov, I almost completely agree with you. I DO agree about the effects of religion. My only feeling is that I sincerely hope we don't become Vulcans and have none of the emotions which can be so positive.
      The world would be so cooled in my opinion.

      Delete
  12. Anonymous9:18 AM

    Well stated Gryphen, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous9:21 AM

    Recommended musical accompaniment to this post in honor of Wilson and his area of expertise:

    "Ants Marching," Dave Matthews Band
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNgJBIx-hK8

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous9:34 AM

    "You saps keep the faith. We'll just keep the money."
    Modern cynic? Nope. Chaucer (1340-1400), Pardoner's Tale.

    In 1634, Galileo began serving a life sentence imposed by the Pope for the crime of making intelligent observations.

    In 2009, an Arizona congresswoman voted to allow Uranium mining at the Grand Canyon b/c, "The earth has been here for 6000 yrs and has been doing just fine w/out all these environmental rules."

    This could go on all day. It's maddening to imagine where we might have gotten w/out the constant backward pull of religion. And there was probably a cave man who had that same thought.

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  15. That graphic you post from time to time is well illustrated to point out religion is keeping us chained to the ground, while the non religion wants to fly upward, upward toward higher goals and freedom from the chains of religion. Being an out atheist is still difficult to do, but word is getting out, getting stronger. Which is one reason why these evangelists are terrified... their hold of power over people and their money is diminishing.

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  16. Anonymous10:26 AM

    Thank you so much for this post and introduction to Wilson and his writing.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous2:12 PM

    Yes because the thousands of Christians who go on trips abroad and here to help people are REALLY hurting us.

    The media is hurting us with its bullying and manipulative nature. Bloggers are hurting us for the same reasons. DC is hurting us because no one there knows what they're doing

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous9:45 AM

    >>In other words thanks to technology we now know more, and understand more, about each other than at any other time in the history of mankind.

    And then there's this:

    From the Dalai Lama

    The Paradox Of Our Age

    We have bigger houses but smaller families;
    more conveniences, but less time.
    We have more degrees but less sense;
    more knowledge but less judgment;
    more experts, but more problems;
    more medicines but less healthiness.
    We’ve been all the way to the moon and back,
    but have trouble in crossing the street to meet our new neighbor.
    We built more computers to hold more copies than ever,
    but have less real communication;
    we have become long on quantity,
    but short on quality.
    These are times of fast foods but slow digestion;
    tall men but short characters;
    steep profits but shallow relationships.
    It’s a time when there is much in the window
    but nothing in the room.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous9:52 AM

    OMG, hysterical!

    http://www.dailyracingrag.com/index.htm

    ReplyDelete

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