Is Religion Good or Bad for Society?

Presented by:Tim Zebo, PhD EEhttp://www.slideshare.net/jerseyguy http://www.facebook.com/tim.zebotzebo@usa.net

Oct. 9, 2012

Image: http://www.earthzine.org/2008/04/29/noctilucent-cloud /

Which Religion? Which Society?

10/9/12 tjz-2http://www.adherents.com

22 Major “Religions”!

200 Countries!

22 Major “Religions”!

200 Countries!

Informal Survey of 9 FriendsWhat’s Good? What’s Bad?

• Gives desperate people hope• Makes dying easier• Offers a sense of community• Instills an ethical code• Promotes love thy neighbor• Offers “comforting” tools

(pray for help when afraid)• Works to eliminate poverty

Feeds the hungry• Houses the homeless• Encourages respect for

environment• Gives people something to do

on Sunday

• Gives desperate people hope• Makes dying easier• Offers a sense of community• Instills an ethical code• Promotes love thy neighbor• Offers “comforting” tools

(pray for help when afraid)• Works to eliminate poverty

Feeds the hungry• Houses the homeless• Encourages respect for

environment• Gives people something to do

on Sunday

Good for Society?Good for Society?

• Preaching hope prevents change• Creates fear of dying• Creates us vs. them mentality• Makes for benighted brains• Promotes bad public policy• Promotes patriarchal hierarchy• Oppresses women• Deceives people about our

relationship to the natural world • Fosters endless culture wars:

abortion, gay marriage, stem cells• Teaches dangerous, misleading

and wasteful sex education• Inspires violence around the world• Gets people up early on Sunday

• Preaching hope prevents change• Creates fear of dying• Creates us vs. them mentality• Makes for benighted brains• Promotes bad public policy• Promotes patriarchal hierarchy• Oppresses women• Deceives people about our

relationship to the natural world • Fosters endless culture wars:

abortion, gay marriage, stem cells• Teaches dangerous, misleading

and wasteful sex education• Inspires violence around the world• Gets people up early on Sunday

Bad for Society?Bad for Society?

10/9/12 tjz-3

Paleontologist Gregory Paul “Why Does Religion Persist?”

2009: Theodicy’s Problem: A Statistical Look at the Holocaust of the Children and the Implications of Natural Evil For the Free Will and Best of All Possible Worlds Hypotheses

2009: Theodicy’s Problem: A Statistical Look at the Holocaust of the Children and the Implications of Natural Evil For the Free Will and Best of All Possible Worlds Hypotheses

Philosophy & Theology (published bi-annually by Marquette University)

Philosophy & Theology (published bi-annually by Marquette University)

http://www.gspaulscienceofreligion.com/index.htm l10/9/12 tjz-4

2005: Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies

2005: Cross-National Correlations of Quantifiable Societal Health with Popular Religiosity and Secularism in the Prosperous Democracies

2009: The Chronic Dependence of Popular Religiosity upon Dysfunctional Psychosociological Conditions

2009: The Chronic Dependence of Popular Religiosity upon Dysfunctional Psychosociological Conditions

2008: The Big Religion Questions Finally Solved

2008: The Big Religion Questions Finally Solved

Gregory Paul’s Insight -1“22 Major Religions?”=>Measure “Religiosity”

• Belief in God• Regular prayer• Belief in the literal truth of Bible• Regularly attend religious services

• Belief in life after death• Belief in heaven• Belief in hell

• Agnostic or Atheist• Accept evolution

• Belief in God• Regular prayer• Belief in the literal truth of Bible• Regularly attend religious services

• Belief in life after death• Belief in heaven• Belief in hell

• Agnostic or Atheist• Accept evolution

Nine Measures of “Religiosity”Nine Measures of “Religiosity”

http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf

• International Social Survey Program (ISSP)

• 45 Countries• 800 million

people• 35 Questions• 1000-2800

responses/ country

• International Social Survey Program (ISSP)

• 45 Countries• 800 million

people• 35 Questions• 1000-2800

responses/ country

ISSP: 1998ISSP: 1998

• Pew• Eurobarometer

• Pew• Eurobarometer

EvolutionEvolution

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Gregory Paul’s Insight - 2 “Religion’s Benefits?”=>Measure “Success”

• Homicides• Incarceration• Suicides: ages 15-24• Suicides: all ages• Under age 5 mortality• Lifespan• Gonorrhea: ages15-19• Gonorrhea: all ages• Syphilis: ages 15-19• Syphilis: all ages• Abortions: ages 15-19• Births: ages 15-17• Fertility

• Homicides• Incarceration• Suicides: ages 15-24• Suicides: all ages• Under age 5 mortality• Lifespan• Gonorrhea: ages15-19• Gonorrhea: all ages• Syphilis: ages 15-19• Syphilis: all ages• Abortions: ages 15-19• Births: ages 15-17• Fertility

• Marriages• Marriage duration• Divorces• Alcohol consumption• Life satisfaction• Corruption• Per capita income• Income inequality• Poverty index• Employment levels• Average hours worked• Resource exploitation

• Marriages• Marriage duration• Divorces• Alcohol consumption• Life satisfaction• Corruption• Per capita income• Income inequality• Poverty index• Employment levels• Average hours worked• Resource exploitation

25 “Successful Society” Indicators25 “Successful Society” Indicators

http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf10/9/12 tjz-6

Gregory Paul’s Insight-3 “Which Society?”17, Prosperous, 1st World Democracies

• Austria• Denmark• France• Germany• Holland• Italy• Spain• Switzerland

• Austria• Denmark• France• Germany• Holland• Italy• Spain• Switzerland

Western EuropeWestern Europe

• United States• Canada

• United States• Canada

North AmericaNorth America

• Japan• Japan

Far EastFar East

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• Norway• Sweden

• Norway• Sweden

ScandinaviaScandinavia

• Great Britain• Ireland• Australia • New Zealand

• Great Britain• Ireland• Australia • New Zealand

U.K.U.K.

Surprise

tjz-8

http://aspiritualbrain.com/2009/03/page/5/

10/9/12

Religiosity vs Successful Societies Scale

http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pd f tjz-9

• Every 10 unit increase in Religiosity is associated with a 7 unit Decrease in “Success” as a society.

• Every 10 unit increase in Religiosity is associated with a 7 unit Decrease in “Success” as a society.

“Test of the West”“Test of the West”Successful Societies Scale vs Religiosity

(17 Countries)

Japan Canada

FranceSwitzerland

Germany

HollandSweden

Norway

Denmark

Great Britain

New Zealand Spain

Austria

Italy

Ireland

USA

Australia

2.5

3.5

4.5

5.5

6.5

7.5

8.5

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0

<=== More Secular More Religious ===>Religiosity Scale

Su

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ssfu

l S

ocie

tie

s S

ca

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Dysfu

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ea

lth

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…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.

10/9/12

tjz-10

U.S.A. Poverty & Importance of Religion

10/9/12

http://datacenter.kidscount.org/ http://religions.pewforum.org/maps

…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.

• 4/10/10, Essay: Why Belief in God is Not Innate• “In every prosperous democracy with:

• Universal health care• Job and retirement security• Low levels of social ills• People abandon churches because they no

longer need protection and assistance of supernatural powers.

• 4/10/10, Essay: Why Belief in God is Not Innate• “In every prosperous democracy with:

• Universal health care• Job and retirement security• Low levels of social ills• People abandon churches because they no

longer need protection and assistance of supernatural powers.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304222504575173890997846742.html tjz-11

Gregory Paul’s Conclusion

“Faith is (largely) a side-effect of socio-economic conditions!”

“Faith is (largely) a side-effect of socio-economic conditions!”

10/9/12

Great!........but is Religion Good or Bad for Society?Great!........but is Religion Good or Bad for Society?

Image: http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/aha/aha1.jpg tjz-12

Religion’s past “Goods?” or “Bads?”Who Cares! History can’t be changed!

How will religion impact our future?

Religion’s past “Goods?” or “Bads?”Who Cares! History can’t be changed!

How will religion impact our future?

10/9/12

Lester Brown’s Plan B 4.0

tjz-13http://www.earthpolicy.org/ 10/9/12

A Civilization in Trouble

• World is facing huge social and environmental problems– Rapid population growth, rampant poverty,

hunger and disease in many countries– Climate change– Water tables falling and rivers running dry– Forests shrinking– Soils eroding, grasslands turning to desert– Species disappearing, fisheries collapsing

Photo Credit: iStockPhoto / Steven Allan tjz-14http://www.earthpolicy.org/ 10/9/12

Lester Brown’s Plan B:What’s Our Future?

tjz-15

& Hunger & Poverty

& Hunger & Poverty

With Collapsing Resources

With Collapsing Resources

Mostly in Poor & - Very Religious –

Countries

Mostly in Poor & - Very Religious –

Countries2050: 2.4 Billion More People

2050: 2.4 Billion More People

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304222504575173890997846742.html 10/9/12

Plan B to Save Civilization: Four Goals

1. Stabilize Population

2. Eradicate Poverty

3. Restore the Earth’s Natural Support Systems

4. Stabilize Climate

http://www.earthpolicy.org/ ; Image Credit: iStockPhoto / Joe Gough tjz-16

Will Religion Help or Hinder?Will Religion Help or Hinder?

10/9/12

Will Religion Help or Hinder?

• Gives desperate people hope• Offers a sense of community• Instills an ethical code• Offers “comforting” tools

• Gives desperate people hope• Offers a sense of community• Instills an ethical code• Offers “comforting” tools

Good for SocietyGood for Society

• Promotes bad public policy• Promotes patriarchal hierarchy• Oppresses women• Teaches dangerous, misleading

and wasteful sex education

• Promotes bad public policy• Promotes patriarchal hierarchy• Oppresses women• Teaches dangerous, misleading

and wasteful sex education

Bad for SocietyBad for Society

No more darkness; no more night.Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

No more darkness; no more night.Now I'm so happy no sorrow in sight.Praise the Lord, I saw the light!

tjz-17http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuntDNsQGcc&feature=channel 10/9/12

Will Religion Help or Hinder?

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Sun, Sep. 16, 2012

Speaking at the Values

Voter Summit last

week in Washington D.C., Rep. Steve King

(R-IA) claimed that,

“A victory over

President Obama is a victory for

God.”

http://www.amazon.com/Attack-Theocrats-Religious-Right-Harms/dp/0984493247

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/08/contraception-makes-unattractive-turns-men-gay-bestiality-and-murder-_n_1947457.html

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151179646692435.467390.46347342434

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/video-rep-steve-king-claims-victory-over-presobama-victory-god

Will Religion Help or Hinder? Lester Brown’s Plan B 4.0 : Four Goals

1. Stabilize Population

2. Eradicate Poverty

3. Restore the Earth’s Natural Support Systems

4. Stabilize Climate

http://www.earthpolicy.org/ ; Image Credit: iStockPhoto / Joe Gough tjz-19

Science & Engineering

10/9/12

Will Religion Help or Hinder?Teaching & Promoting Science - 1

tjz-2010/9/12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtYQ0a7btQ

“Perhaps deception, even more than violence, is the chief enemy of human cooperation.”

- Sam Harris, “The Moral Landscape”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D8AeiAamjY

Will Religion Help or Hinder?Teaching & Promoting Science - 2

tjz-2110/9/12

“Science & religion are in conflict because evidence & reasoning trump ‘faith’ when it comes to understanding reality.”

– Sam Harris, “The Moral Landscape”

U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce CommitteeChairmanFred Upton (R-MI) – “Every member and every subcommittee will be on the frontlines as we take on federal agencies to target areas to immediately cut spending."Subcommittee on Environment and EconomyChair - John Shimkus (R-IL)Vice Chair - Tim Murphy (R-PA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7h08RDYA5E

Will Religion Help or Hinder? Lester Brown’s Plan B 4.0 : Four Goals

1. Stabilize Population

2. Eradicate Poverty

3. Restore the Earth’s Natural Support Systems

4. Stabilize Climate

http://www.earthpolicy.org/ ; Image Credit: iStockPhoto / Joe Gough tjz-2210/9/12

Action Anyone?

tjz-23Image: http://www.speedwaybikes.com/tracks/actionpark2008.htm

10/9/12

How Can We Individually Help? Take Action to Support…

• Reproductive Health Care and Family Planning:– International Planned Parenthood Federation (http://www.ippf.org/en/ )– Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (http://www.rcrc.org/ )– Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org/ )

• Separation of Science and Religion in U.S. Education:– National Center for Science Education (http://ncse.com/ )– Teach Them Science (http://www.teachthemscience.org/ )

• Separation of Church and State:– Americans United for Separation of

Church and State (http://www.au.org/ )– Secular Coalition for America (SCA) (http://secular.org/ ) – Freedom from Religion Foundation (http://www.ffrf.org/ )– Center for Inquiry (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/ )

• Equal rights for all - including same-sex couples– Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org/ )

• Humanists– Red Bank Humanists (http://www.redbankhumanists.org/ )– NJ Humanist Network (http://www.njhn.org/ )– American Humanist Association (http://www.americanhumanist.org/ )

tjz-2410/9/12

See SCA slides on

women’s issues &

monthly NJ conf. call

Apply Critical Thinking & “The Science of Morality” to Social Justice & Human Rights Problems

tjz-25http://www.criticalthinking.org/ 10/9/12

"Formidable as the task may seem at present, the long-term need is to persuade Americans that having evidence for your beliefs is a good idea.” -- Peter Singer, Princeton Univ.

How Can We as a Community Help?

Harris’ “Moral Landscape” is a 3D Map of Outcomes of “Human Flourishing”

tjz-26

Good LivesBad LivesTerrific Lives

Horrible Lives

10/9/12

UTILITARIANISM LIBERTARIANISM SOCIAL CONTRACT

COMPLEX EQUALITY FEMINIST ETHICS OF CARE

CHRISTIAN REALISM

CATHOLIC SOCIAL THOUGHT

LIBERATION THEOLOGY

BIBLICAL NOTIONS OF JUSTICE

tjz-2710/9/12

How to Discover What’s Moral (terrific peaks)? “Philosophy is not enough” – Sam Harris

The Moral Landscape on Religion

tjz-28

• “Religion brings benefits to developing societies, but the data shows that the happiest and most secure societies are the most secular”

• “Best predictor of social well-being is tolerance of differences (e.g., gays, lesbians, women, other religions, etc.). Tolerance does NOT flourish under orthodox religions.”

• “Religion is why we’re talking about gay marriage instead of a national energy policy.”

• “Religion brings benefits to developing societies, but the data shows that the happiest and most secure societies are the most secular”

• “Best predictor of social well-being is tolerance of differences (e.g., gays, lesbians, women, other religions, etc.). Tolerance does NOT flourish under orthodox religions.”

• “Religion is why we’re talking about gay marriage instead of a national energy policy.”

Chapter 4 NotesChapter 4 Notes

10/9/12

• Even fundamentalists have to “cook the books”:

• Love neighbor as self • Stone any bride who’s

not a virgin on her wedding night

• Even fundamentalists have to “cook the books”:

• Love neighbor as self • Stone any bride who’s

not a virgin on her wedding night

tjz-29

World Sciences World Religions

http://www.project-reason.org/gallery3/image/105/

Contradictions in the Bible

The Moral Landscape: Science vs Religion

“Religion cannot be the source for moral truth.” – Sam Harris

10/9/12

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?

?

The Moral Landscape: “Introduction”

“Human flourishing depends on the brain states of conscious creatures” – Sam Harris10/9/12

The Moral Landscape: “Moral Truth”

tjz-31http://tbknews.blogspot.com/2007/10/violent-oppression-of-women-in-islam.html

• “Even educated people today mistakenly think there is only moral preference.” – Sam Harris

• Human flourishing, like health, lies on a continuum defined by goals & both can be measured using science & reason as tools

• “Does anyone doubt we can measure the difference in human flourishing for a woman living in a cloth bag vs not living in a cloth bag?”

• “Even educated people today mistakenly think there is only moral preference.” – Sam Harris

• Human flourishing, like health, lies on a continuum defined by goals & both can be measured using science & reason as tools

• “Does anyone doubt we can measure the difference in human flourishing for a woman living in a cloth bag vs not living in a cloth bag?”

“In theory, moral truth can be measured” “In theory, moral truth can be measured”

10/9/12

• The degree of human flourishing is derived from facts about: (a) brain states, (b) the world (c) behavior

• Values do derive from facts: illegal DVD copies result in measurable harm

• “David Hume (“Can’t get an Ought from an Is”) & Stephen Jay Gould (“Non-Overlapping Magisteria”) are simply mistaken.”

• The degree of human flourishing is derived from facts about: (a) brain states, (b) the world (c) behavior

• Values do derive from facts: illegal DVD copies result in measurable harm

• “David Hume (“Can’t get an Ought from an Is”) & Stephen Jay Gould (“Non-Overlapping Magisteria”) are simply mistaken.”

Googleplex: A Human Flourishing Testbed?(Google takes employee brain states seriously!)

tjz-3210/9/12 http://www.scrigroup.com/limba/engleza/124/Life-in-the-Googleplex81893.php

Google Rule #1: “Food must be within 100 ft of every employee!”

What dimensions useful for human flourishing should we capture?

“Homework”: Watch Two Terrific Videos

“If society lacks the commitment of men's wills to a common objective, then it is no more than a pile of sand that the least jolt or the slightest puff will scatter.”

—Émile Durkheim

“If society lacks the commitment of men's wills to a common objective, then it is no more than a pile of sand that the least jolt or the slightest puff will scatter.”

—Émile Durkheim

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies how we evolved to be moral. He asks a simple, but difficult question: Why do we attempt to

lose ourselves in a group? Using the science of evolution by group selection, he

proposes a provocative answer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUI_ML1qkQE

http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_humanity_s_stairway_to_self_transcendence.html

Greta Christina asks, "Why are atheists angry?" Is it because they're selfish, joyless,

lacking in meaning, and alienated from God? Or are they driven by a passion for

empathy and justice? She speaks not only to atheists, but also to believers who want to

understand the so-called new atheism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim tjz-3310/9/12

Let’s Dialog

Dialog Topics: Implementing Social justice, Human Rights & Human Flourishing

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1. What is the complete set of dimensions for human flourishing? Social & Political Dimensions <= Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Friendly & healthy family, friends, neighbors, churches, clubs, strangers, etc.• Unfriendly & unhealthy family, friends…(Sociopaths = 2% Males, 1% Females)

Health Dimensions• Physical: Eating & exercise behavior keeping you at a healthy weight• Emotional: Thoughts & behaviors keeping you feeling good• Cognitive: Thoughts & behaviors keeping you thinking rationally

Financial Dimensions• Working & spending behaviors keeping you out of debt

Environmental Dimensions Etc.!

2. How to add new “Googleplex dimensions” to ISSP & other surveys?3. Is a new Universal Declaration of Human Rights to include them feasible?4. Any new insights from a map of “U.S. States: Societal Success vs Religiosity”?5. What risks does “faith” (belief without evidence) pose to human flourishing?6. Does a moral society need any other “rules” than the Science ethos: honesty, openness, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full disclosure?7. What, if anything, should the U.S. do about “Women in cloth bags”?

10/9/12

?

http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

Reference Slides

Judgments of Facts & Values Facts: the way things are - “This DVD weighs .5 ounces” Values: what’s worthwhile (or not)?

• Aesthetic - “This is great science fiction”• Comparative - “Star Wars #1 is better than #2.”• Instrumental - “Netflix can easily mail this.”• Interpretive - “War will always be with us.”• Moral -”It’s wrong to copy this DVD based on harm, fairness & authority.”

tjz-3710/9/12

Chapter 5: “The Future of Happiness”

• Hard problem: well-being & satisfaction depend on history: - drug addict or Oprah?

• Easier to speak of “moving up” or “moving down”

• “Happiness” Science finds: We very poorly: - remember past - perceive present - predict future

• Our experiencing self & remembering self often disagree!

• Hard problem: well-being & satisfaction depend on history: - drug addict or Oprah?

• Easier to speak of “moving up” or “moving down”

• “Happiness” Science finds: We very poorly: - remember past - perceive present - predict future

• Our experiencing self & remembering self often disagree!

Chapter TextChapter Text

• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?

Possible Dialog TopicPossible Dialog Topic

tjz-3810/9/12

Comments by Steven PinkerHarvard Philosopher; Author, “How the Mind Works”

• Terrible reasons to believe what’s “right” & “wrong” are:

• Faith (belief without evidence)

• Subjective certainty• Scripture• Authority

• Science has informed advances in our morality:

• Torture• Racism

• Terrible reasons to believe what’s “right” & “wrong” are:

• Faith (belief without evidence)

• Subjective certainty• Scripture• Authority

• Science has informed advances in our morality:

• Torture• Racism

AgreesAgrees

• If “science” is ONLY biology, chemistry & physics, it’s necessary, but NOT sufficient, to determine right from wrong

• Reasoning (NOT science or religion) that brought about changes in our criminal justice system

• Only administer enough punishment to deter without a perverse incentive structure

• The worse the crime, the worse the punishment

• If “science” is ONLY biology, chemistry & physics, it’s necessary, but NOT sufficient, to determine right from wrong

• Reasoning (NOT science or religion) that brought about changes in our criminal justice system

• Only administer enough punishment to deter without a perverse incentive structure

• The worse the crime, the worse the punishment

ReservationsReservations

tjz-39http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbplK-J5IA 10/9/12

Lawrence KraussPhysicist, The Origins Project, Author, “Quantum Man:

Richard Feynman’s Life in Science”

• Our morality is constrained by our biology AND the social contract• It’s impossible to define morality without science (=“secular empiricism”)• Science is the way to determine the consequences of our actions• Science ethos: honesty, openess, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full

disclosure==a moral society• When humans behave irrationally it’s usually based on incomplete

information (e.g., Stem cell debate: Blastocysts cannot be used for reproduction; there is no “moment of conception” – huge number of steps between the union of sperm and egg and a new entity

• Questions science can ask & answer: • Is a woman safer if she’s in a cloth bag?• Is her self-worth improved?• Is she freer to manifest her capabilities as a human being?

• Our morality is constrained by our biology AND the social contract• It’s impossible to define morality without science (=“secular empiricism”)• Science is the way to determine the consequences of our actions• Science ethos: honesty, openess, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full

disclosure==a moral society• When humans behave irrationally it’s usually based on incomplete

information (e.g., Stem cell debate: Blastocysts cannot be used for reproduction; there is no “moment of conception” – huge number of steps between the union of sperm and egg and a new entity

• Questions science can ask & answer: • Is a woman safer if she’s in a cloth bag?• Is her self-worth improved?• Is she freer to manifest her capabilities as a human being?

Agrees that:Agrees that:

tjz-4010/9/12

Simon Blackburn, Bertrand Russell Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge, Author, “How to Read Hume”:

Moral Landscape Comments

• Empirical investigation is good idea

• We should be more charitable & loyal

• Recognize that charity often goes awry (e.g., Biafra food aid)

• Benefits come when values are tempered by science (e.g., male & female brain studies will help break down gender barriers)

• Empirical investigation is good idea

• We should be more charitable & loyal

• Recognize that charity often goes awry (e.g., Biafra food aid)

• Benefits come when values are tempered by science (e.g., male & female brain studies will help break down gender barriers)

AgreesAgrees

• Two kinds of mental states:• Beliefs: knowledge about the

world• Desires/Concerns: motivators

to change the world• Values reflect desires; things that

“must” be done• Difficulty: What IS human

flourishing? Drugged zombie?; Fool’s Paradise (Delusion)?; Suppressed desires (Stoic)?; Greediness?

• How to prioritize well-being of self vs family vs friends vs world?

• Two kinds of mental states:• Beliefs: knowledge about the

world• Desires/Concerns: motivators

to change the world• Values reflect desires; things that

“must” be done• Difficulty: What IS human

flourishing? Drugged zombie?; Fool’s Paradise (Delusion)?; Suppressed desires (Stoic)?; Greediness?

• How to prioritize well-being of self vs family vs friends vs world?

ReservationsReservations

tjz-41http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8vYq6Xm2To 10/9/12

Religiosity: 17 Countries“Absolutely Believe in God”

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• God belief is NOT an inherited or cultural property of humans

• There is no “God gene”!

• God belief is NOT an inherited or cultural property of humans

• There is no “God gene”!

“Test of the West”“Test of the West”

http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf10/9/12

Religiosity: 16* Countries“Absolutely Believe in Life After Death”

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• Millions of people in Western democracies don’t believe in a “soul”.

• There is no “spirituality gene”!

• Millions of people in Western democracies don’t believe in a “soul”.

• There is no “spirituality gene”!

“Test of the West”“Test of the West”

* No data for Australia

http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf10/9/12

Religiosity: 17 CountriesAccept “Humans Evolved from Animals”

tjz-44http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf

“Test of the West”“Test of the West”

10/9/12

Successful Societies: 4 Countries6 Indicators

http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdftjz-45

“Test of the West”“Test of the West”

10/9/12

2009 Pew Research U.S. Survey“Accept Humans Evolved from Animals”

http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1105/darwin-debate-religion-evolution tjz-4610/9/12

Will Religion Help or Hinder?Teaching & Promoting Science

• Stories from October 2008 meeting of 60 U.S. high-school science teachers in Atlanta:– “Students burst into tears when told they’d be studying

evolution.”– “Students repeatedly screamed ‘No!’ when he began

talking about evolution.”– “Churches train students to come to school with

questions to ask to sabotage my lessons.”

• Creation Museum in KY is taxpayer-subsidized scientific falsehood and mis-education center.

tjz-47Dawkins, Richard, “The Greatest Show on earth”, Pg. 43610/9/12

Tools for Critical Thinking - 1

tjz-48http://confront.intel-research.net/Dispute_Finder.html 10/9/12

.1% (1,000 People) Spontaneously

Recovered1%

(10 people)were

prayed for

“Nun healed after a night of prayer to Pope John Paul II shortly after his

death.”

Person with

Cancer

http://trueslant.com/michaelshermer/2010/04/03/would-i-ever-pray-for-a-miracle-watch-abc-2020-special-on-miracles-to-find-out/

Understanding Claims that Defy Science and Reason

tjz-49

1,000,000 people develop cancer

999,000 People die from cancer

1%(9,990 people)

were prayed for

Death rate (deaths/week)

Tools for Critical Thinking - 2

10/9/12