Does established religion have anything to say to the modern world?
Yes, in the manner that all human inventions, be they Roman law, Aboriginal rock art, Greek myths or Hindu temples tell us about our cultural history. No, if we ask, "can established religion provide the best available understanding with which to answer life's BIG questions: Who are we?, Where did we come from?, Where are we going?, and How shall we live?"
Established religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism encapsulate beliefs from times when human knowledge was much more limited. When disease was attributed to evil spirits, natural disasters to the wrath of god(s). When neither the vastness of the universe, nor the totality of our planet Earth was known. When transport was slow, distant communication likewise. When people lived in tribal communities and believed themselves to be special beings. In those times the BIG questions were resolved by inventing religious dogmas such as "god created man in his image", "the one true faith" and "god's chosen people", "life after death" and that "man has dominion over animals." People not of one's group could be ill treated or killed with impunity and nature ravaged as though it was infinite.
We now live in different times. The great expansion of human knowledge, produced by the self-correcting methods of science, have resulted in the control of disease, abundant food, instant global communication, rapid transport and many other advances. We know much about our finite planet and the vastness of the universe. We know humans are a naturally evolved life form dependent on the Earth's biosphere for survival. We also know that all humans, though diverse in appearance and culture are members of the same species.
In today's globalised world many people are working for outcomes inspired by secular humanist ideas that all humans are equal, regardless of gender, ethnicity, social and economic status and life beliefs, that resources should be shared more equitably and natural ecosystems conserved. Growing numbers believe that these humanist aspirations are essential for the well-being and continuance of our species. Yet, despite increased knowledge and the evidence of human caused damage, responsible action on social and environmental problems is being hampered by established religion. For example opposition to; equality, especially for women; to family planning; to universal human rights; and to the need for resource sharing and conservation.
What then is a modern answer to, "Who are we?" Science tells us we are made up of the same matter as the rest of the universe, whether a star, rock, plant or animal. Our structure, functioning and behaviour is like that of other life forms. The more closely related, the greater the resemblance, e.g. we share 98% of our genetic material with chimpanzees, our nearest relative. Such similarities have enabled great advances in medical science through the use of experimental animals to test procedures and drugs. What makes us different and unique is not some imagined extra ingredient, like an immortal soul, but rather a combination of naturally evolved capacities; e.g. tool use, sociability, language, reflective thinking and the development of culture. Thus we are intelligent, emotional, creative and highly sociable animals. We engage in the arts, science, story telling, politics, philosophy, technology, games and sport, and celebrate the creativity of the Bach's, Newton's, Picasso's and Shakespeare's of our cultural world.
So, "Where did we come from?" Science reveals that like other life forms we evolved naturally. When we took to walking upright, our hands were freed to shape tools, make objects, build houses, write, paint, etc. In combination with language use and large brains, this led to the sort of being we are today. Namely, a product of evolution, capable of reflecting on who we are, why we are here and what it all means. In the earlier stages of our cultural evolution humans invented religious answers and attributed our origins and life purpose to supernatural entities. Now that we have invented science our most authentic answers come from investigating ourselves and our surroundings.
What about, "Where are we going?" Not to an imagined heaven, hell or to be reincarnated. Instead when we die, social relationships are grievously disrupted and our body is decomposed into simpler elements for reuse. Life after death, though much yearned for, is just wishful thinking. Apart from being a contradiction, it an idea for which there is no convincing evidence. We do "live on" in the memory of those still living, while where we are going collectively is, in part, ours to determine.
In summary, the scientific world view is far more satisfying, inspiring and useable than the archaic beliefs of religion. In fact, even established religions have largely accepted the authoritative answers of science to the first three BIG questions. This leaves only the fourth question - "How shall we live?"- to be contested.
The ethics and values we try to live by, are an extension of the way we understand the world and our place in it. The humanist recognition that; humans to have evolved naturally; are all of the same species; will live only once; gives rise to the ethics and values of equality, fairness and justice. Instead of trying to lead a good life to appease an imagined god, or get to heaven, a growing number of people try to lead a good life by recognising our responsibility for the well-being of all humanity and of other life forms. These people draw on human wisdom which shows that acting with compassion, empathy and tolerance, settling disputes by talk rather than violence, and being prudent and restrained will lead to the most peaceful, just and socially productive outcomes.
It is those who cling to the certainties of established religion that cause the most havoc in today's troubled world. The Catholic and Islamic resistance to family planning programs; the Palestinian/Israel conflict; terrorism inspired by fundamentalist beliefs; religion based conflict and the US belief that god is on their side. In contrast modern humanism rests on the open mindedness of science and the desire to use human capabilities to develop a more just and equitable world.
