strengths and weaknesses of religious belief

Dawkins

• a fervent “anti-theist”.

• God is not necessary (Darwinian argument)

• Faith claims of religion are a retreat from an evidence-based quest for the truth

• The issue of purpose and significance lies in humanity itself

• The virus of religion – religion leads to evil, extremism and terror

• A meme is a bundle of mental information (beliefs, values. symbols, stories) that is passed on through communication. Dawkins argues that memes lodge in the mind and reshape your own thoughts and ideas - and then you pass them on to other people when you talk about them. In a way. memes behave like viruses and this is why Dawkins refers to the religion meme as a "virus of the mind".

counter to dawkins

• Melvin Tinker opposes Dawkins – says he displays the characteristics of a ‘scientific fundamentalist’.

• He counters Dawkins’ claim that religious beliefs are ‘memes’, saying that ideas can be changed, genes cannot.

• He also accuses Dawkins of “ontological reductionism” – our sole purpose is not just to pass on our DNA (as Dawkins claims), we have other purposes too.

marx

• gave a projection interpretation of religion, explaining it as a way of shoring up capitalism and keeping individuals satisfied.

• God is the ‘opium of the masses’ – an invention of the human mind in order to satisfy emotional needs and used by the ruling classes to dominate and oppress their subjects by offering them an illusion of escape.

• Took a sociological critique of religion

• Believed that by religion placing a ‘Divine’ (and non-existent) power at the top of the hierarchy led to a solid power structure and social dominance

• Believed religion was a mere ‘smoke screen’ or ‘opiate’ for religious believers who were stopped from rebelling or revolting.

• Religion claims the structures were ‘natural order’ given by God therefore, the exploited end up co-operating with the rich and the powerful.

• Religion all rests on the thought of heaven which is comforting

counter to marx/ sl

• liberation theology

• gutierrez emphasised importance of care for poor and systemically changing societies through christianity

• used christianity as a means of rebellion against control rather than an opiate

• Liberation theology proves that Marxism and Christianity can be blended to create a society for the oppressed without rejecting belief in God.

• also see separation of church + state in most western countries

nietzsche

Religion is based on the slave revolt in morals.

• The weak (the religious believers) want to get revenge on the powerful.

• By linking up with the priests (the powerful) poor people could vent their frustration through religion

• This gives them a false sense of satisfaction – as though they are superior to the rich and strong

• God exists to punish the enemies (the strong)

• So it actually stops the ‘slaves’ from reaching their potential.

• Religion restricts humanity from reaching its full potential

evaluation of nietzsche

• Nietzsche’s genealogy of morality reveals how religion can serve the interests of the powerless by inverting traditional values.

• Scholars like Michel Foucault and Karl Marx also view religion as a tool of social control, supporting Nietzsche’s insight.

• It challenges the assumption that morality is divine or fixed, encouraging a more critical approach to religious ethics.

• Nietzsche’s call for the creation of new values encourages individualism and self-overcoming.

• It resonates with modern secular ethics, where meaning is seen as personally constructed rather than divinely ordained.

• His ideal of the Übermensch (Overman) promotes striving toward excellence and authenticity.

freud

primal horde