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06 July 2009 12:45 PM

Ideas 2009

Video of the Day: Does Religion Do More Harm or Good?

by Conor Friedersdorf

In a wonderful exchange, Bob Wright and John Horgan grapple with that question:


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DehnerGuy

It is great to see this question again, especially as the Episcopal Church meets in General Convention in Anaheim, CA. If you look to them this year, some different answers may also arise.

Humanity as it is contains an historic inquisitive nature that is unsettled, in the main, in mystery. The lessons of 9/11 are more recent proof where certainty led previous administrations into bloody conflict rather than admit the unknown and the uncertain. To broad-brush this is also dangerous and as dangerous as broad-brushing "religion" into one comfortable corner of beliefs.

One important key to religion is mystery and certain awe in the face of it. And in order to accept mystery one must admit to the "unknowable" in tandem with humility in your humanity. Say what you may about religion, there is no force in history that has accomplished more collective good, in charity and love, than this corner of humanity. And, coincidentally, there is no better way to resource funds toward this end than by people who are able to gather together regularly and give openly to relief that may never directly reach or reflect on themselves.

And finally, how is it possible that GLBT people remain to stand in their religious traditions and congregations against all odds? It is because, once coming to know and accept the mystery that is their sexuality, there is also the resignation and faith in "unknowing" how or why, but that it is another part of a loving mystery we call God.

Only a fragmented fundamentalist mentality insists. The greater majority of us simply invite.

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rustywheeler

Actually, a first look at some global amalgams of data HAS been done, and it turns out that among the developed nations, the less religious countries have a higher score on what might be called the 'index of life':
http://moses.creighton.edu/JRS/2005/2005-11.html

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