RELIGION: Its Character, Causes and Cure
by John Radford
SUMMARY
Religion is a world-wide major aspect of human thought and behaviour and has existed in some form quite probably since the emergence of Homo sapiens as a species. It is studied in a very wide range of disciplines, including Anthropology, Economics, Genetics, History, Palaeontology, Politics, Philosophy, Psychology, Sociology, Theology and no doubt yet more. In many of these there has been a remarkable increase in new ideas and new research in recent decades. I certainly don’t claim to have mastered anything like all of this. I believe I’ve grasped the main issues and outcomes and cite numerous publications wherever relevant.
In this book I first explain why I think that attempting to give one simple definition of religion is unhelpful. I offer instead an account, from a non-religious point of view, of the components that, in my view, make up ‘religion’ as a whole: Practices, Beliefs, Doctrines, Experiences and Organizations. Next I consider in more detail a number of particular issues including the nature of faith, claims of life after death, miracles, virtue and sin, religious extremism, the relationship of religion and science, and others.
I then turn to questions of the origins and persistence of religions; both religion in general, and the innumerable faiths that have come into existence, only for some to die out almost immediately, while others grow and flourish for many centuries. All religions arise from natural human tendencies, shaped by circumstances. And what of the future? Will religions persist much as they are now, or change radically, or even die out altogether? These issues have been a particular focus of recent research. The most probable future appears to be continuance plus changes; we must strive to make them for the better.
A last major issue concerns the value or otherwise of this very wide range of activities: religion considered both as a whole and as the ‘components’ listed above. This entails adopting some criterion of value, and my personal choice is stated most simply as ‘the welfare of sentient beings’. I explain further what I mean by this, and why I consider it justified.
Judged by this criterion some religions do some good, some do some harm, and some are at least heavily implicated in very serious harm. I give examples. Overall, it seems to me beyond doubt that religions are ultimately untenable. They all rest on assertions that are either clearly false, and/or for which there is no reliable evidence or sound argument and never has been. They all fall back on unsupported belief, faith, In fact. Faith can be a very powerful motivator, but it is a very poor basis for decision or action, as I try to show.
There can be no real question but that all religions and religious beliefs are entirely human creations. Research increasingly shows how and why they come about, and persist, or not. Research also shows that there are better guides to human progress and happiness. By and large, the most successful societies by numerous measures are also the least religious: and vice versa.
In the present century we humans are facing more serious problems, largely of our own making, than ever before. All the evidence and reasoning of which I am aware shows indubitably that in facing these problems, religions can at most provide some comfort. They will contribute nothing whatever towards their solution. Solutions, and human progress, will only come, if at all, through our own efforts; through developing the capacities of individuals to think and act independently, rationally and humanely; relying on facts rather than fantasies.
©John Radford 2023 Full text approx. 87,000 words. Bibliography approx. 1000 items.