As an atheist, I’m coming to see that it’s unscientific and irrational to sweepingly disregard religion and mysticism. There is much to draw inspiration from in various religious or mystical writings regarding love. At the same time, there is room for growth in the atheist movement in terms of emphasizing love as much as some atheists have thus far emphasized free thought.
Free-thought is important as it pertains to science and rationalism because our knowledge of the physical and social worlds affects our ability to effectuate love. That is, if we have loving intentions but lack knowledge of how the physical and social worlds work, we’re not likely to do much good. If we have such knowledge but lack loving intentions, we are likely to be destructive.
So, what’s needed is both (1) love and (2) truth, whereby thru the former, we derive our intentions, and thru the latter we get our know-how for putting love into practice thru justice and other means for maximizing well-being and minimizing suffering.
In light of that, I suggest we learn from all religions past and present, by studying them thru the lens of the social sciences and the humanities. Thereby, we neither see the ideas from such religions as the infallible expressions of gods nor do we close-mindedly disregard them.
Instead, we would consider under the light of reason the ideas found within many religions–not just the one dominant in our own culture. Thru that process, maybe we can form a universal sense of morality, so as to better cooperate as one human family. What do you think? Thanks
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