Daniel Dennett: Breaking the Spell - Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

Professor Daniel C. Dennett, Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University, presented his lecture in the Nature of Knowledge series, Breaking The Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, on March 14, 2006.

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[seekinnertruth]

Religion will become obsolete, as people come to realize that we can lead lives not filled with fear of God, in order to be good people, neither do we need to give our money to those claiming to work for "God", in order to lead lives of servitude and faith.

Peace and Love to All (~?~)

[gungner78]

Very good and interesting lecture. It doesn´t seem to be complete though, I would love to see the whole thing.

[KapStuf]

I fear religion will only be obsolete when the emotional and intellectual weakness it thrive on is obsolete.

So unless someone can redesign the human brain, all the familiar forms of unreason are here to stay.

[DaylightDigital]

That's one O.G. cuckoo! This is my house lol. All jokes aside Dennett is one of the best on this subject, great upload

[nsofast]

No one laughed when he told his fluke joke! That one usually kills. Is it just a reserved audience or does this humor just not translate well in Europe?

[nerdyharry]

@sexyloser i never said he ought to be the one doing the motivating either. and philosophers more like parse the truth for simplicity, ostensibly for us folk, whilst resolving seeming simplicity into a crisper picture of truth. actually uncovering the truth involves more rigor than mind-experiments.

[sexyloser]

@nerdyharry That's not his job. He's not a motivational speaker. He's a philosopher and his only concern is to try to uncover the truth (without causing any harm.)

[nerdyharry]

@sexyloser i didn't say i want him to lie, i'm not advocating the de-dennettization of the noosphere. i mean, i like some of his ideas. my point is i get a sense of warpedness about his thinking that i don't get from dawkins or hitchins or even pinker. it's like he lacks a sense of wonder. an appreciation of the romantic. a sympathy for people who can't motivate themselves to cultivate character without occasionally retreating into a mystic state of mind. there's your natural phenomenon.

[sexyloser]

@nerdyharry What do you want? Magic? Want him to say we are all special beautiful little snowflakes?

Wake up. This is reality. We either strap down and learn our true predicament or we, as a species, will continue to be blindsided by the terrible things in life.

[seekinnertruth]

@BelieveNoGod I know, and I used to try to logicalize the saying "let those who would be deceived, be deceived" but I just couldn't rap my head around how its okay to let them be taken, while I watch... though I cant control others, I can speak freely and patiently and mostly lovingly about what I know.. and if they receive it... they do... if not... they wont... but I know I tried ya know...

[seekinnertruth]

@DIGITALSCREAMS I know, but me being a non follower of men, yet truster of my father, I know it all has to happen... maybe me or someone others cant understand at the present moment, but someday we will.

Its like a spinning top, it spins fast, stands almost still, then starts to swivel, and eventually falls... and now we know, the top works... LOL

[DIGITALSCREAMS]

@seekinnertruth

"Religion will become obsolete, as people come to realize that we can lead lives not filled with fear of God, in order to be good people, neither do we need to give our money to those claiming to work for "God", in order to lead lives of servitude and faith"

I really wish it were true...but it's not. The worlds population is exploding - who's having all the kid's? Rational, secular families? Or superstitious, faith based familes in the 3rd world? The maths is disturbing..