I think we're reaching an interesting point in the history of Christianity where a whole lot of believers are struggling to reconcile the fact that science and human progress have rendered large portions of their doctrine certifiably false. The Creation, for instance - you cannot rationally believe in Adam and Eve without basically saying "I don't believe in science." In 2006, thats even for most Christians to say. So how do they reconcile the fact that their creation story is not true? Can they just strike it? Can they recast it as an "allegory" not meant to be taken literally? If so, what does that mean for the portions of the Bible they want everyone to live by VERY literally (i.e. - Deuternomomy and Revelations). How can they hold onto this religion while the tide of expanding knowledge is slowly tearing it away piece by piece from their hands? At what point does a Christian look at whats left and say "This just doesn't seem likely anymore"? Do they EVER get to that point? Thats what scares me - a whole lot of people who, rather than cave into reason, retreat into violent unreason in an effort to lend their beliefs a weight they have long since stopped bearing on their own merits.
Humankind is either going to enter a post-religious period, or we're going to kill each other off and take the planet with us. I just worry for whats going to have to occur before we hit that threshold.
Humankind is either going to enter a post-religious period, or we're going to kill each other off and take the planet with us. I just worry for whats going to have to occur before we hit that threshold.
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