Christianity has been replaced as a source of truth and moral values
Secualriation - enlightenment
Secularisation- worldly matters and the material world, therefore indicating that spiritual matters (religion) r no longer relevant
Rise of secularism - enlightenment whcih replaced religion with science. It swapped revelation for reason and divine command for social contract as the source of morality.
E.g. big bang-god of gaps
While religous beliefs persist, the moral framework of the west (laws, education, science, human rights) is fundamentally a secular one due, built on englightenent foundations.
Christianity shifted from the center of public life to the private sphere of perosnal beleif, no longer the definitive source of truth, value or society a whole.
Christianity has been replaced due to controversies around Christianity
E.g. Cristian demonmintions such as Catholics and evangelicals that associate themselves with conservative belief systems, often see their beliefs conflict w modern liberal views of the majority, especially around abortions and same sex marriages.
Moreover, the fact that believers of the same god believe in differnt approaches to moral dilemmas e.g. catholic being pro life and quakers being pro choice, can suggest that religion has became a contested issue and the root of modern conflict.
This can suggest that people r moving away from morals deriving from god and towards individual reason- reflecting a humanist view, where people can gain their on moral conscience thru instinct or experience. Therefore religion has been replaced by reason
Straw man fallacy to counter militant atheism
When u misrepresent/falsify ur opponents beliefs so they r easier to attack e.g. Dawkins present religion as very right wing/fundamentalist
Militant atheists definition
Deny god, and actively oppose religion as they view it to be a suppressive and hostile force
Militant atheists view religion to be the instigator and battleground of conflict both domestically and internationally
Hitchens- religion creates an ‘us vs them’ mentality which can lead to religious hatred of other religions and even differnt sectors/differntations of the same religion e.g. Sunni v Shia.
Religion being a driving force of wars and tensions in the contemporary society (Nigeria=muslim north wit higher fertile rates ve Christian south- fueled disputes over land and political power, recurring violence)
Israel v Palestine= where conflict is not between social classes or other economically defined groups, but between peoples belongings to differs cultural entities.
Therfore, religion is a divisive force which makes the goal of achieving international commonality and unity to become more elusive
Militant atheists believe that religion was man made
Dawkins’ god delusion
Posits that religion was made by mankind and It evolved as a psychological and cultural survival tactic to manage the uncertainty of the unknown and impending fear of death.
Religion is a ‘cultural virus’ or a meme that provided a solution, people do not live by reason alone and therfore cannot caluakcuate and act rationally in pursuit of their self. Religion provides compelling answers whcih equips people w a sense of identity and purpose in life. The promise of an afterlife allows individual to focus on living w a purpose.
In this view, religion is a useful delusion. It was naturally created not because it’s true, but cuz it helped our ancestors cope and coorpate.
Religion should not involve itself in politics (1)
Cuz policies driven by specific religious doctrines can violate democratic rights
E.g US where policies r heavily influence by religion, states hv legal authority to decide abortion policies.
Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, made abortion illegal to align w his strict conservative values of NML.
TIS= using religiously informed moral reasoning can not only create a tyranny of the minority as it actively disenfranchises the democratic majority who do not share those beliefs but also it can ultimately affects the most vulnerable in society, poor women.
(Cam interview- Texas is majority cons= CA= still religion should not involve itself in politics especially around abortion policies cuz abortion access protects individuals from undue gov interference which align w democratic principles of limiting state power over indivual lives, plus the gov has no business interfering w women’s bodies and decision making)
Moreover, religion can instigate conflicts politically which can trigger unrest and prevent politicians from governing the country effectively e.g. France, religion caused widespread political unrest when 3 girls refused to take off headscarves. TIS= triggered nationwide divide debate that reached the highest level of gov.
However, in a democraric system, the views of the vast majority should be represented. If 85% of the worlds population/ majority of Kentuckians adheres to a religious faith, excluding religous perspectives from politics is inherently undemocratic cuz it disenfranchises majority of the global population for whom religion is a primary source of identity and values.
Overall, the fact that we live in a pluralist democracy indicates that state authority must be derived from. Secular stance that applies equally to all citizens, not from doctrines of particular faiths.
Religion should not involve itself in politics (2)
Cuz the teachings of Jesus on poverty and wealth r so radically at odds w the core values of a capitalist political system that any attempts to merge religion w this kind of politics would be difficult.
E.g. Jesus said ‘feed the 5000’, ‘sell ur possessions and give to the poor and the declaration that it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven thru the parable of rich man and Lazarus, contrasts w the capitalist political system of western democracies, which is inherently focused on fostering economic growth, competition and private wealth accumulation.
TIS= cuz in order for religion to remain true to its teachings towards the poor, it must abstain from seeking power within a political structure that is opposed to that very mission.
However, liberal theology argued that religion should be involved in politics cuz it creates a just society that advocates for the marginalized e.g. Nicaragua, priests overthrew a dictator. TIS0 it also aligns w atheists who also care about politic and democracy.
However, still reigns invalid cuz LT not only pushes people away from Christianity and towards politics but also it leads to violence which is inconsistent w Jesus teaching as supported by pope John Paul II as it can lead to revolutionary violence.
Overall, religion clashes w politcal ideology and risks fracturing the teachings of Jesus.
‘Christian attitudes to wealth are naive’ (15)
para1
Influence of the prosperity gospels- form of evangelical Christianity that views wealth, power and status as rewards from god for strong faith and good works.
E.g. priests in Nigeria who preach prosperity gospels r worth around $10 mill each and own lots of material goods like houses all across the world.
However, this logic that wealth is a gift from god as suggested by David miller where wealth is an ‘outcome of faith’ can suggest that those that r poor r not valued or loved by god cuz they lack this ‘gift’.
Not only contradicts gods omnibenevolence and gods command that ‘all r 1 in Christ’ but also it contradicts the core teachings and actions of Jesus.
‘Blessed r u who r poor, for yours is the kingdom of God’ (Luke 6:20)- sig cuz Jesus suggested that the ‘poor’ were blessed cuz their situation was about to be reversed.
Made even more compelling thru parable of rich man and Lazarus where poor man=heaven, rich-hell.
Therefore, prosperity gospels view is naive cuz it suggest that gods love only extends to the wealthy, a notion that Jesus repeatedly rejects by elevating the poor status to warn against the spiritual dangers of riches.
‘Christian attitudes to wealth are naive’ (15)
Para2
Contradicts god’s teachings that one cannot serve and idolize both god and money.
‘Wealth as an idol’ is prevalent in the contemporary society where capitalsim dominates cuz money can lead to security, power and status.
Howver, this contradicts Jesus teachings where ‘no one can serve 2 masters/ you cannot serve god and mammon’ (Matthew 6:24).
By using Jesus logic, a person who dedicates their life to the relentless pursuit if profit is serving ‘mammon’/money.
This is convincing cuz a Christian that fails to recognise the tension between faith and wealth is profoundly naive, cuz the command in Matthew 6:24- to choose between god and money- directly contradicts the core pillars of a capitalist society, where financial success is the main reward.
Capitalism therefore systematically encourages what Jesus defines as idolatry.
Overall a naive Christian attitude assumes that 1 can fully be devoted to serving the lord whilst participating in a capitalist system that seeks after wealth.
‘Christianity is no longer a source of truth and moral values’ (15)
No longer- science has replaced and provided a New source of truth that is coherent w a growing secular society.
E.g. science has provided objective facts such as the Big Bang theory which completely dismantles the genesis which stated that gd create world in 6 days.
Has proved stores in bible to be false which renders them factually meaningless and unintelligible
Even more compelling- militant atheists- christinaity is just a Babylonian myth that was man made to help people cope w the uncertainty of death.
Flipped the Bible on its head by falsifying the ‘true’ claims of Christianity by providing objective factual truths that actually hv meaning in the contemporary society that priories reason and science over myths.
However, science doesn’t answer all questions of life as science can not provide meaning and purpose of life as these can’t be tested thru logi or experience - polkinghirne- humans can not act rationally and seek after their self interests only until they hv defined themselves. Religion provides a purpose to human existence.
‘Christianity is no longer a source of truth and moral values’ (15)
Part 2
Contradicts w contemporary morals.
NML condemns abortion which is morally counterintuitive to modern society where people care more about individual autonomy as seen thru pro choice demonstrations across the globe, especially in the US after the overturning of roe v wade.
Further strengthen as differnt denominations of the same faith seem to disagree over moral dilemmas quakes v Catholics
Strong= Christianity leads to more unrest and divisions which is incoherent w Jesus teaching of agape love.
However, liberation theology dismantles this cuz it encourages for religion and politics to work together to help establish new morals which helps create a just society as seen when priests in nicagura overthrew a dictatorship to prevent tyranny.
Somewhat adequate as LT merges Jesus teachings with politics to advocate for the marginalized.
However still remains unsatisfactory as society is becoming more secular as seen they census reports. Therefore less believers r join the LT cause and turning towards the law for moral guidance.
McGrath
Science doesn’t produce objective facts thru the observer effect theory, however if we can’t trust science and its findings, then we don’t know anything at all. This then rejects our reasoning abilities and could render education to be meaningless.
‘Christianity will only survive in the modern world if it adopts secular values’
(1)
Decline in church membership and severe shortages of people offering themselves for ordination
Recognised that trad forms of worship no longer connects people.
Therefore, shift to secular views where religion should remain private (strengthen by evangelicals and liberal theologians don’t believe in forcing ther beliefs onto others cuz one has to come to Christ personally and believe in the Nicene creed w conviction which can only be achieved thru true self belief
Coheres w secular beliefs of personal autonomy and tolerant for other faiths- an indivual has the right to hold any religious/ non without feeling pressured to adhere to a certain set of beliefs
However, evangelism ‘make disciples’ save people from hell
Remains unconvincing- no religion believes in coercing people/ committing violence against those who don’t share same beliefs- offensive and paternalistic.
Overall, secular view- salvation is contingent on personal beleif, evangelism in today’s pluralistic and multicultural world can risk making Christianity seem paternalistic.
‘Christianity will only survive in the modern world if it adopts secular values’
(2) avoid tension between society and its denomination
Policies driven by specific religious doctrine create move divisions and entrench disunity within nations.
E.g. Roe v Wade
Absolute religious expression violates mill’s harm principle by using state power to enforce legislation in a way that disenfranchises a pop who don’t share those beliefs in a pluralistic society, which restricts personal choice
However those who actively impose their religious beliefs onto others genuinely believe their beliefs to be true (exclusivist)
Doing society a greater good- glorifying god
Overall, restrict personal choice
‘A persons right to freedom of religious expression be absolute’ (15)
(1)
Create more divisions in a world becoming more secular e.g. the right to evangelize can be perceived to be paternalistic.
Clashes w secular values of individual autonomy
Therefore, the right cannot be absolute as it must be bounded by respect for the others autonomy and dignity
Howver, go make disciples…. Same as other flashcards on secularism- Risks censoring core religious practices, prevents RB fm carrying out absolute religious duties
‘A persons right to freedom of religious expression be absolute’ (15)
(2) more harm becoming too involved in politics
Same as other flashcards
‘Militant atheist views on religion r fundamentally flawed’
Points- empirical evidence ( same ev as other flashcard)
Psychological evidence - god delusion, culture vires/ meme that provided a solution, Hume
