Breaking The Spell

"Those who are religious and believe religion to be the best hope of humankind cannot reasonably expect those of us who are skeptical to refrain from expressing our doubts if they themselves are unwilling to put their convictions under the microscope". Daniel C. Dennett

"Do you ever ask yourself: What if I'm wrong? Of course there is a large crowd of others around you who share your conviction, and this distributes - and, alas, dilutes - the responsibility, so, if you ever get a chance to breathe a word of regret, you will have a handy excuse: you got swept away by a crowd of enthusiasts. But surely you have noticed a troubling fact. History gives us many examples of large crowds of deluded people egging one another on down the primrose path to perdition. How can you be so sure your not part of such a group? I for one am not in awe of your faith. I am appalled by your arrogance, by your unreasonable certainty that you have all the answers." Daniel C. Dennett

"You don't get to advertise all the good that your religion does without first scrupulously subtracting all the harm it does and considering seriously the question of whether some other religion, or no religion at all, does better." Daniel C. Dennett

"This is a sticking point for those who don't yet appreciate how well established the theory of evolution by natural selection is. According to a recent survey, only about a quarter of the population of the United States understands that evolution is about as well established as the fact that water is H2O." Daniel C. Dennett

"But how, in the face of so much striking confirmation and massive scientific evidence, could so many Americans disbelieve in evolution? It is simple: they have been solemnly told that the theory of evolution is false (or at least unproven) by people they trust more than they trust scientists." Daniel C. Dennett

Comments

[Doris Tracey]

Religion has created many woeful problems because everyone considers their own religion correct,which is false. The only true religion is to tie back to your own inner identity, which most people lost because they listened to other spiritually blind people tell them what to do. True teachers desire you to find your inner thread of contact with your true identity. Man know thyself. Athiest and agnostics are very god conscious, because they always think of him. Many religious people are very bigoted and say that their way is the true way. My way or the highway. They judge that people will go to hell if they do not take their position. Religion is a stumbling block if used to control people.