Is the claim about there being a new wave of reason actually true?
Not from where I am sitting. A few weekends ago I was unable to purchase fermented grape juice due to the celebration of the sacrifice of a 2000+ year old Jewish gentleman, who is actually a lamb, who is actually god(s), and whom may or may not have even existed. And this, despite the fact that this man-god not only drank wine, but one of his superpowers was creating it from water. Even if I had not studied comparative religions, there are many elements of this scenario that, in my opinion, defy reason on many levels, even if I were, for whatever reason, to accept the divinity of this man-god.
I think wave is a strong word. I do see a gradual shifting away from religion and toward reason and use of parsimony and the scientific method, but I likewise see a certain degree of clinging to those ancient ideas and even revivals of certain faiths. The current state of fear and uncertainty surrounding the recent financial troubles is bound to stir up such revivals. As Dennis Miller once said, “No one finds god(s) on prom night.”
If yes, is this a good thing?
It is my personal opinion that, to whatever degree such a wave is taking place, if it is, it is a positive trend. I would not want intolerance toward religion to develop, and I certainly would not want an active campaign aimed at eradicating it, peacefully or otherwise. More a passive, gradual paradigm shift, such that religious tendencies simply fade away...naturally, passively. I think (hope) that this is inevitable but then as a youngster I thought that this would have already happened by now, and I have read similar testimonies from various decades from those who thought it would have been phased out by the time they reached adulthood.
As long as it does not harm me, or infringe on my freedoms (or those of others) by attempting to prohibit certain activities, or try to cram itself down my throat, I could really care less what people believe. That said, I have experienced and witnessed all of the above throughout my life. I do not think that any religious mores should ever find their way into legislation, for any reason, no matter how much of a given society may subscribe to them. I likewise think that it should embarrassing for politicians to bring their religion into the political arena.
At one point we hear the words "The same spiritual fulfillment that people find in religion can be found in science" Do you agree or disagree?
This is absolutely true. I am an atheist and consider myself spiritually ‘fulfilled.’ I likewise know many who do not subscribe to religious beliefs who are quite spiritually content. I do think it is important to distinguish between certain aspects of the more dogmatic religions and more spiritual, philosophical systems.
I personally think that religion is nonsense, but many people seem to derive pleasure and ‘fulfillment’ from fiddling with it. Again, as long as it does not interfere in my life, or the loves of others, and as long as another’s religious ‘morals’ are not applied to my activities, follow your bliss.
Is there a danger of putting too much trust in science?
Only if such trust involves approving theories on faith rather than data and facts, and if theories are clung to out of blind faith when new evidence presents itself. While it is true that we do not possess the means or perhaps even the faculties to understand everything in existence, resorting to leaps of faith where understanding is lacking is not a valid alternative. Scientific theories are not leaps of faith. They are reasonable guesses based on the data thus far collected, and subject to invalidation or alteration as new facts emerge, or old facts are disproved. Also, experiments involving harming others (including our fellow animals) are not related to trusting the scientific method. These are horrific practices and should be stopped.
We might even consider the supposed existence of god(s) as part of the gradual scientific progression of humanity. Yet we have progressed far enough and collected enough data at this point- not necessarily to rule out the possibility of unknowns such as the possible existence of something god(s)-like- but realize that the various religious systems and notions of god(s) currently in practice are entirely human fabrications, on the same level as the worship of Zeus and Hera, or the essence of inanimate objects and animals, or ancestral spirits.
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I have brought this up elsewhere on this forum, but I recall having many religious talks with a friend of mine in the military. He was a rather devout protestant, son of a pastor, and had done some missionary work. We used to debate, quite civilly, religion from our prospective view points. We always arrived at the same conclusion; you believe, you don't believe. A few years later, I met up with him again ,and he had become an atheist. I was somewhat horrified, thinking that I had been the cause. I think that it was a natural progression for him, but I nevertheless did not want to be responsible for his abandoning his faith.
