Faith in the unknowable should not be confused with confidence in the future. Believing in Christmas (or Christ or whoever) is very different from knowing in advance that there will be goods to buy in the stores when we go shopping. Or in other words, religion is unreality, economics is the height of dealing with reality.
As for “social harmony”, you mean like in Belfast or Beruit or Baghdad? True social harmony comes when governments protect rights, including the rights of property and contract that allow the development of a prosperous economy.
Social harmony works best when each individual is trying to live in harmony with those around them. Similar morals (usually comes with religion), depending on others to make a living (often a part of economics), and laws (from the government) will all help, but it all comes down to individual actions.
pschearer, perhaps you’ve been looking at the wrong religions. Some are blind faith and some are quite violent. However, others definately produce social harmony as a byproduct and religion can be well reasoned instead of unknowable or unrealistic. As an example, consider Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Faith. “Religion” covers a wide spectrum - just because there are some bad examples doesn’t mean religion is worthless.
Bravo, widjibeaker! That’s also the only way we’re gonna win the conflicts against the extreme Muslims - through psychological means on an individual level, not just a brute show of vastly superior technological force.
attyush over 15 years ago
Almost like Paulson’s theory.
pschearer Premium Member over 15 years ago
Faith in the unknowable should not be confused with confidence in the future. Believing in Christmas (or Christ or whoever) is very different from knowing in advance that there will be goods to buy in the stores when we go shopping. Or in other words, religion is unreality, economics is the height of dealing with reality.
As for “social harmony”, you mean like in Belfast or Beruit or Baghdad? True social harmony comes when governments protect rights, including the rights of property and contract that allow the development of a prosperous economy.
There’s the bell. Class dismissed.
DesultoryPhillipic over 15 years ago
Good luck with that last one in Obama’s America.
rc1957 over 15 years ago
In case you didn’t notice Obama’s America is my America and yours too.
sneemaster over 15 years ago
They’re both placebo’s anyway.
widjibeaker over 15 years ago
Social harmony works best when each individual is trying to live in harmony with those around them. Similar morals (usually comes with religion), depending on others to make a living (often a part of economics), and laws (from the government) will all help, but it all comes down to individual actions.
pschearer, perhaps you’ve been looking at the wrong religions. Some are blind faith and some are quite violent. However, others definately produce social harmony as a byproduct and religion can be well reasoned instead of unknowable or unrealistic. As an example, consider Lee Strobel’s book The Case for Faith. “Religion” covers a wide spectrum - just because there are some bad examples doesn’t mean religion is worthless.
wibbic over 15 years ago
Bravo, widjibeaker! That’s also the only way we’re gonna win the conflicts against the extreme Muslims - through psychological means on an individual level, not just a brute show of vastly superior technological force.