Sheldon Solomon - Teach These Souls to Fly (Part 9 (of 9))

Sheldon Solomon talks about Ernest Becker's The Denial of Death (1973) to explain how fear of death, and denial thereof, is a central determinant of human behavior. He and his colleagues created Terror Management Theory and demonstrated empirically that death denial underlies human prejudice and violent conflict. More important for this talk, however, is research suggesting that the enabling and ennobling illusions of religion/spirituality have psychologically beneficial effects. These findings are at odds with current thinking by evolutionary psychologists that supernatural religious beliefs are non-adaptive or intrinsically malignant. See www.ernestbecker.org for more information.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• death
• dying
• fear
• Becker
• terror
• management
• religion

[leconfidant]

Absolutely amazing all the way. I really liked this whole thing.

[Wyldwulf]

@opptynox This will be my last response to the same droning I encounter with all fundamentalists. As an agnostic, I consider these discussions a means not to change minds, but to encourage others to open theirs (and mine). The problem with Dawkins' argument that there is a far <50% possibility/potential of a god/sentient creator makes the assumption we know half of the truths of the universe or means to see them. For some, religion is their death denial, and others the denial of religion.

[opptynox]

@Wyldwulf I am open to having my culture converted to one more sensible and rational. Indeed, if someone can provide ample reason to believe anything, I will then believe it... until something more well reasoned comes along. As Becker includes the reduction of death anxiety in his definition of culture, I'm unsure how you call my position "cultural" at all??

[opptynox]

@Wyldwulf You choose to say undermine. That is your perspective; not ulike the emotional perspective held by multicultural apologists who view any assault on a culture from a cowering position. It is not one sided to argue that the earth is not made from a coconut - is it? Is it one sided to suggest that the guy next door not tell my eight year old that he may go to hell for all of eternity? Answer please. Your speculations on the atheist movement's goals ring hollow.

[Wyldwulf]

@opptynox Attempt to undermine and reroute a culture via removal of religion is another display of the hero exhibition that Becker talks about. We generally scoff when someone converts a culture, so long as it is not our own. Rather one sided, think you not? When you compare religion to cancer you create a black and white scenario that religion is not. Ultimately, the new atheist movement merely lacks a martyr to bolster its mission and solidify its religiosity. That may be its undefined goal.

[opptynox]

@Wyldwulf Further, in a world where resources are contested, even the most peaceful and kind must make judgments. To stand against the wall and refuse to decide, is to decide.

[opptynox]

@Wyldwulf I would interpret not having religious beliefs as letting go of culture -and not forming one. I don't give our species the credit to be able to evolve out of religious belief, but I hope that it will. You protest the new atheist movement to eliminate god belief as an act of aggression, and I consider it to be refusal to subjugation (and thereby an act of peace). At what point do you stand up? Do you always prostrate as an act of peace? Why not eschew bad ideas?

[Wyldwulf]

@opptynox

You would conclude, because you inherently consider yourself, along with those with whom you form your own cultural grouping, to be "bright", that religion would dissolve as a natural progression of human evolution. Do you have a precedent for that assumption? I neither eschew nor embrace religion. Dawkins and his ilk err in the undermining. While the atheist may argue no ill, no war waged in the name of atheism, consider that words are the first weapon of war.

[opptynox]

@Wyldwulf You seem to indicate that non-belief is as tragic an error as belief. That non-cancer is a pathology just like cancer. The atheistic worldview is simply absent delusion. Moreover, I have a responsibility to protect my children from the abusive concept of hellfire and to protect my buildings from fanatics flying airplanes, My woldview is to live and let live - while striving to reduce DANGEROUS bad ideas. Expand on disposal of religion as an "evolutionary assumption".

[opptynox]

@Wyldwulf We agree here.... with the notation that atheists and agnostics are closer to crossing that fear barrier than the others who cling to delusion (atheists may cling to other delusions, just not so much those that third graders can see through).