Substitutes?

[Khandro]

Diversity, LGB rights, Black lives Matter, Global Warming, Insulate Britain, Veganism - the list continues.
Are many such issues really substitutes for the place once filled in people's lives (& hearts!) with religion?

"When men stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing; they believe in anything."

G. K. Chesterton -

[Atheist]

Khandro; just because G K Chesterton said that doesn't mean that it means something grown-up and clever. It's a trite sound-bite, in my opinion.

[Buenchico]

"Things have come to a pretty pass when religion is allowed to invade the sphere of private life"
- Lord Melbourne

"There's no reason to bring religion into it. I think we ought to have as great a regard for religion as we can, so as to keep it out of as many things as possible"
- Sean O'Casey

[Gromit]

No Star Trek is a substitution for religion.

[fiveleaves]

Khandro, Why would anyone think when you have a faith, you no longer have any interest in any political or ethical issue? Out of your list, I am very concerned about climate change as well as a having a religion(Christian).
I used to be passionate about human rights, but since becoming religious my view on immigrants is pack them all off to Rwanda. Amongst other things that is not just immoral and inhuman it would also be a totally bizarre position to take.

[Buenchico]

^^^ I was going to suggest cricket, Gromit, but then I realised that cricket isn't a substitute for religion. It IS religion ;-)

[naomi24]

Khandro, do you really think that ridiculous offering from Chesterton is sensible?

[Gromit]

// If a religion wants you to give up your freedom, just give up that religion! Nothing is holier than your freedom! //

- Mehmet Murat ildan

[Zacs-Master]

It’s well understood that religion was used to subjugate the masses. Now that we’re (largely) free of it, we have the time and energy to sort out the ills of the world.

[Khandro]

// It’s well understood that religion was used to subjugate the masses. Now that we’re (largely) free of it, we have the time and energy to sort out the ills of the world.//

We're not doing very well are we? & if the masses of Russia were 'subjugated' by religion, substituting it for Communism didn't work out very well either did it?

[Mozz71]

Seems to me Khandro, that you're using religion as an excuse to complain about all those causes you despise. Are you suggesting that someone cannot be a Vegan and a Christian? Or Christians cannot have a social conscience?

[Khandro]

^^ No, but I'm witnessing proselytizing for all sorts of causes (including atheism) with a vehemence that that I've never before seen in my life.

[tiggerblue10]

I thought that religion had been the cause of wars and intolerance for hundreds of years.

[Mozz71]

That seems more to do with your exposure to them, rather than the causes being fought more passionately. If the internet had existed in the past, then I'm sure other causes would've suffered exactly the same level of exposure.

[vulcan42]

If we're into quoting other people just because they're famous, I like this.
Faith begins precisely where thinking leaves off.
Soren Kierkegaard
I

[Spungle]

Yes, Khandro. All of these 'issues' are like a religion to their respective zealous adherents.

[Khandro]

vulcan: It's important to understand that & whom you quote in order to not appear foolish. Kierkegaard styled himself above all as a religious poet. The religion to which he sought to relate his readers is Christianity. The type of Christianity that underlies his writings is a very serious strain of Lutheran pietism.

Read you quotation again & ponder on its meaning

[nailit]

//"When men stop believing in God they don't believe in nothing; they believe in anything." //

Ah! so thats why I now believe in Leprechauns, Fairies, Flying saucers and the Yeti and the Loch ness monster???

[nailit]

//No, but I'm witnessing proselytizing for all sorts of causes (including atheism)//

LOL....

[naomi24]

Vulcan, khandro is prone to name-dropping. I think he thinks it impresses. I’m convinced he doesn’t read what half his heroes say though. Chesterton’s deliberations here make no sense at all.

[Khandro]

naomi: //I’m convinced he doesn’t read what half his heroes say//

I'm actually quite knowledgeable about G.K.C. (boast)
His output was quite prolific, so I may not have read the full "half", but I can hazard a guess that I know more about him than you do, particularly as my closest friend has written & published books on him, & we have discussed him together for several hours over many pints & glasses. :0)