Religion in schools

[Shergar]

Where is the joke? And what religion are you referring to? I'm not sure what point your making. To decide that there is only one true belief system can lead to divisions between people. If you divide people, however big the religious collective, then an egotism can develop for those who believe themselves to be right, and a negative attitude can be caste on those who believe in a different religion. If religion divides people then it is not religion, it is sectarianism. It is better to think that I believe in one religion and others believe in other religions, no one is right, it is just personal preference.

Egotism is a deep seated psychological tool developed and necessary for survival in a competitive world. Even if we did not adopt cultural fairy-tales egotism would continue to be rife.

 

[The Undecided]

Egotism is a deep seated psychological tool developed and necessary for survival in a competitive world. Even if we did not adopt cultural fairy-tales egotism would continue to be rife.

I agree that egotism is deep seated, but I don't agree with it being necessary for survival. In fact it is the cause of a lot of our problems, by which I mean global warming, our recent economic crash, global poverty, etc. Perhaps as a tribal people ego could have helped with survival, but as a global community to allow our ego to rule how we interact in the world, I would argue, is more of a hindrance than a help. With your comment about 'cultural fairy-tales' were you referring to religion? If so I agree that though religion, in the most part, is supposed to stamp out egotism in some cases it has helped it thrive, especially during empire building and holy wars. But I think that this is a misuse of a valuable resource for the individual and the community.

 

[Shergar]

I agree that egotism is deep seated, but I don't agree with it being necessary for survival. In fact it is the cause of a lot of our problems, by which I mean global warming, our recent economic crash, global poverty, etc. Perhaps as a tribal people ego could have helped with survival, but as a global community to allow our ego to rule how we interact in the world, I would argue, is more of a hindrance than a help. With your comment about 'cultural fairy-tales' were you referring to religion? If so I agree that though religion, in the most part, is supposed to stamp out egotism in some cases it has helped it thrive, especially during empire building and holy wars. But I think that this is a misuse of a valuable resource for the individual and the community.

No it is not always necessary. But it is always is present in large measure in those that raise their heads above the parapet of obscurity, in those that believe themselves to be in possession of a higher gnossis, or in those that think they know what is best for their fellow man. From the Jehovas Witness, to your local politician, to the columnist doing the editorials in your daily rag of choice..... and indeed to myself making a post that will be lucky to be read by a half score of people it is the ego of thinking we have an idea worth being adopted by others that drives us. So it is not the ego that is actually the cause of any possible problem or benefit, but the idea the ego pimps.