Hypothetically assuming something happened, a revelation that made it glaringly obvious to all humankind that no religion is correct; 1. How would it change your life as an individual? 2. What do you think would happen to our species in the next few months?
This is assuming people actually believe things which are glaringly obvious, something which has been proven not very likely from history, both religious and otherwise. It would have a huge impact at first, mostly merely upsetting the status quo. We're talking ministers out of work, chaos in many organisations associated with religions, including many political ones. No particular improvements. For me personally, there would be very little effect other than maybe any leftovers from chaotic governments. There would be some infighting in previously religious organisations. Probably coups in things like IS, bringing in the violence-crazies in the place of the religious crazies. In the months-long run, the religious organisations would reinvent themselves, trim away some of the scriptural fat. People would refuse to believe that they were wrong about any non-religious statements, even if they were once brought about by religious claims, and most things that we dislike about religion would still be there. They would be more vulnerable to logic, which means as a reaction, a movement of antiintellectualism not relying on religion would start (and I'm not saying this as a criticism to religion, this is human nature). This would be even easier to hijack than religions. In the longer run, political parties will reinstate themselves as socially conservative parties, maybe with an additional dash of patriotism, the vatican will reinvent themselves as a philosophical authority and offer spiritual guidance as before. In short, it would cause lots of problems from the general chaos that would ensue, but all the bad things would still reinstate themselves. It is not the presence of religion that's bad, it is merely a tool. Finding worse tools will only bring justifications of even worse ideas.
Secular philosophies would compete for people's souls similarly to the way religious philosophies do. In the definitive absence of any god, the only philosophies that would make any sense are existentialism and hedonism, so to answer #2 I suppose you'd end up with a world divided by those who attempt to do the "right" thing for humanity, and everyone else who's simply trying to take advantage of them. I imagine the hedonists would win.
As everyone knows, religion and belief in God are (is?) different. No religion being correct would not be nearly as traumatic as if it were found God did not exist. No (personal) God would be far and away more serious to believers than no or a faulty religion. I have wrote threads claiming that no religion is 100% correct, so the no religion being correct would not disturb me because no God wouldn't change many of my core views. For example I still would have to believe in an advanced race creating our universe. There is no hearsay to believe that anyway! If something has the attributes of God it is God. That said our religious population would suffer immensely if either of the above were found to be true. I bet A large number of the devout would commit suicide, or join the inmates at Bellevue. So all the above considered; 1. "How would it change your life as an individual?" Almost none. 2..." What do you think would happen to our species in the next few months?" I think there would be a mass movement towards new religions, and new Gods. I would even wager a trend to worship science, the state the self etc. would soon emerge. Since primitive times man has exhibited a need to worship etc a higher power than himself. Thousands of diverse religions have emerged for various reasons over the centuries, of course Christianity has persevered because its the most true of religions (lol), well IMO it is! I have considered my reply as a discovery of 100% irrefutable proof that God does not exist etc. Of course that 100% surety can not happen in the real world, but I considered this as what Einstein called an 'thought experiment'. reva
>>>EXCERPT>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Agree! (progressive) Secularism is a far more destructive tool than is religion! reva
Well, if the secularism is that progressive, yes, but I don't think that's the option we're presented with.
1. Nothing will change for me personally. 2. It would be a tragedy for mankind, but in a week our brains could work better.
nothing would happen, but slowly a new religion would be created that could account for the new unknowns and tie itself in with the new discoveries .
New gods? A trend to worship science, politics, the self? That's already happened! If you include sports and good old fashioned materialism and you've covered 90% of Americans.
I suspect the most immediate problem is that there would be an incredible power vacuum everywhere the catholic church has great reach. No other religious institution has as much bureaucratic structure, wealth and presence. It is truly a global organizer and the foundation for a hell of a lot governments, charities, corporations, and schools. Whether one sees the church as loving arms embracing a flock, or the tentacles of a squid drawing prey into its mouth, the appendages are innumerable and incredibly strong. According the the hypothetical it is about to have a series of seizures and strokes.
