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What Religion Gives Us (That Science Can’t)
By Stephen T. Asma
Mr. Asma is a professor of philosophy.
[nyti.ms]

Excellent article about why religion is important to humans. Sorry, there is a paywall.

GreatNani 8 Oct 15
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3 comments

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Nothing

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I agree that some people are "rescued" or "salvaged" in various ways by religion and in that sense "need" it. I do not think humanity overall is ready to function without religion, at least not "cold turkey". Fortunately, it's learning, in gradual stages, to do so in an organic way. It's a slow and frustrating process that I see taking a very long time to be fully realized, but I see it as inevitable in time.

I have experienced bereavement as both a theist and as an atheist and for me at least, atheism has substantially reduced the overall suffering and theism never comforted me in any way. But that's me. If the mother mentioned in this article was able to use religion to come back from the brink of unbearable loss, I am not going to be the one to insist that she do it my way. But neither am I going to believe it's the only way she could possibly have done it.

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That is a good article. Even though I was basically born an atheist, I've always tried to understand and put in perspective the role religion has played in the human condition.

I was raised non religious as well but this did make sense to me.

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