Man is a tribal, hivish/groupish creature. So says this social scientist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T64_El2s7FU

Religions, without their followers would just be opinions. Just as nations want their tax share, religions want their tithes share.

I can think analogically enough to see that both the state and religions are tribes.

If others cannot see that they are the same basic construct, and cannot see the similarities between a theocracies and a philosophies, and thing of them as ideologies, then their thinking is way more specific than mine.

I like to K I S.

Regards
DL

That is a good article, she appears to be aiming to explain that men are men and women are women.

Yes, interesting, agreed, thanks for the link.

The single most effective way to restore the credibility and influence of Catholicism would be for the male and female clergy to trade jobs.

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/catholicauthenticity/2019/10/an-open-letter-to-the-young-rad-trad-women/

"Here’s why you should pay attention. Because I was you. And whether you believe it or not, but for the grace of God one day you will be me. If this is not the trajectory that you would like your life to follow, it’s probably a good idea to find out what actually causes the idealistic, pro-life, ultra-Catholic twenty-somethings to turn into angry, feminist Episcopalians by the time they hit forty.

It’s not uncommon. I’m not the outlier. In fact, quite the opposite: it’s so common that unless something extraordinary happens it is almost inevitable. And it’s not caused by any of the things that conservative and traditionalist Catholic bloggers will constantly warn you against..."

I agree. I think a holy God recognizes sin for what it is, and even saints need God's help in leading to perfection. That's why Mother Theresa wanted an exorcism late in life; nothing surprising to me here. I like the part about human nature noticing what's missing vs. what we have.

That's interesting gossip. I used to spend time on Joe's blog, and always wondered if being a seminarian was the right path for him. He's very articulate and sincere, but like me, perhaps has too much passion for warfare to be a priest? Or at least that was a theory I tried to share with him at the time.

He's a very good writer so I don't doubt he'll find other ways to serve the Church.

In other words, if you’re using your mind to say that your mind is hardwired to believe convenient fictions, is there any reason to believe that religion is the fiction, and not your waving it away?

To be fair, this seems a pretty reasonable point. While taking no position on the existence of God question, I do think that both sides can be deeply invested in the convenient fiction that they have The Answer, or at least some method of moving towards The Answer.

It seems this need to declare ourselves in a position to meaningfully analyze even the very largest of questions is not a theist thing or an atheist thing, but a human phenomena. I'm doing it too, as I'm convinced neither side has any idea what they're talking about when it comes to the most fundamental issues.

That is, I know with great confidence that nobody knows!

Even though, um, well, there's no way I could possibly know such a thing. And being clearly aware of this doesn't stop me from being sure.

We're like children arguing over crayons with great earnest seriousness. A sense of humor seems the best remedy.