Comments on: Breaking the Spell

By: Kevin

Kevin — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:07:24 +0000

I looked at the Harvard web site. It certainly seemed to fit the bill. You’d think Dennett would know what he’s talking about though as he was at Harvard.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:46:16 +0000

According to DD, it has been studied with a particular bias by people with a particular agenda. It has never been studied from a dispassionate, scientific point of view.

I don’t have a degree in religious studies but I imagine it would cover the history angle and maybe religious texts as literature…but not the kind of things that SS wants to study. Nothing that would be published in Nature or The Lancet for example.

It’s possible that DD is completely wrong and he just doesn’t know about Harvard’s RS degree course. I have bookmarked your link for further study.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 18:39:28 +0000

Isn’t it studied lots? My cousin got a degree in Rel Studies (not theology), I think…

For example: http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~csrel

P’raps he’s emphasizing more non traditional aspects (rather than the areas pertaining to history/philosophy/anthropology, etc.). Or merely saying “there should be more”…

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:59:34 +0000

I am a couple of chapters into it and it is quite excellent so far. The gist of it is that religion is an important and powerful phenomenon and is worthy of study. Every other human phenomenon of similar importance has been studied extensively (music, economics, sex, societies) - usually for the betterment of the phenomenon. It’s possible that religion might benefit similarly - or not - and wouldn’t it be nice to know.

He’s not talking about miracles and such - so far at least. He is talking about the power of prayer, prophecy, morality, enrichment, wars. He wants religion to be studied by neurologists, sociologists, economists, moral philosophers, anthropologists, historians and anyone else who might help us to understand the costs and benefits of religions.

He is basically saying - ‘Hey! Wouldn’t it be nice to know?’

It’s very respectful unlike, say, Dawkins, Hitchens & Harris.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:29:23 +0000

Not sure what putting their beliefs under a microscope means. I hope it’s not “how can a bush spontaneously burst into flame” or “well what about these dinosaur bones” stuff. I look forward to your final report.

On a related note, the Economist reviewed “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything” and “The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief”

http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9253863&CFID=8549570&CFTOKEN=562257

If that link doesn’t work, you can try searching for “Hitchens” on Economist.com

One quote from the article that might spark debate “….Religious folk often do the right thing for what Mr. Hitchens would call the wrong reasons. Taking faith away would in many cases take away the will to do them. That cost is worth considering.”

Perhaps not, and if so, perhaps not for this thread.