We are privileged to have the famed atheist Bertrand Russel join us in a conversation regarding how to improve civilization.
Interviewer:
Mr. Russel, in your opinion does religion offer benefits on which to build a civilization?
I regard it [religion] as a disease born of fear and as a source of untold misery to the human race. I cannot, however, deny that it has made some contributions to civilization. It helped in early days to fix the calendar, and it caused Egyptian priests to chronicle eclipses with such care that in time they became able to predict them. These two services I am prepared to acknowledge, but I do not know of any others. (emphasis mine)
Interviewer:
Mr. Russel, could you please clarify that broad characterization of religion? Would you like to mention the influence that religion has had on things such as the value of human life, human rights, the role of women, the value of children, or the abolition of slavery?
B.R.:
No.
Interviewer:
How about the establishment of the virtues of compassion and mercy that flow from the teachings of Jesus?
B.R.:
No.
Interviewer:
How about the influence that Christianity has had on scientific discovery due to the belief of a Law-Giver that enabled scientists to trust the very notion and dependability in the laws of science?
B.R.:
Pure coincidence.
Interviewer:
Mr. Russel was it simply a coincidence that scientists such as Keppler, Boyle, Pascal, Pasteur, Newton, etc., were all professing Christians?
B.R.:
Exactly.
Interviewer:
Mr. Russel, what about the powerful influence of Christianity in the “protestant work ethic”, moral absolutes, charitable giving, the very notion of free-trade and capitalism is the West?
B.R.:
Again, No.
Interviewer:
Mr. Russel have there not been contributions to civilization in literature (Dante, Chaucer, Donne, Dostoevsky, Shakespeare, Dickens, Milton, etc.), music (Handel, Vivaldi, and Bach) art and architecture (pick any Christian-inspired cathedral in Europe)?
B.R.:
Nope. Just creative people doing creative things who happened to believe in the tenets of Christianity.
Interviewer:
Mr. Russel could you not, at least, acknowledged the contributions that religion has displayed in Holidays such as Christmas (family, sharing, tolerance, peace) or Easter (love, hope, perseverance, courage)?
B.R.:
Not at all. They just happened to coincide and have no bearing on one another. Religion is just anemic when it comes to making contributions on civilization. It is a myth, a dream, a fickle illusion people like to clutch onto because they are weak and need such dreams.
Interviewer (exasperated):
Mr. Russel, do you have a reliable alternative for civilization that WILL counter your view of an “anemic” religion in general and Christianity in particular?
B.R.:
The world at the present day stands in need of two kinds of things. On the one hand, organization – political organization for the elimination of wars, economic organization to enable men to work productively, especially in the countries that have been devastated by war, educational organization to generate a sane internationalism. On the other hand it needs certain moral qualities, the qualities which have been advocated by moralists for many ages, but hitherto with little success. The qualities most needed are charity and tolerance, not some form of fanatical faith such as is offered to us by the various rampant isms.
I think these two aims, the organizational and the ethical, are closely interwoven; given either the other would soon follow. But, in effect, if the world is to move in the right direction it will have to move simultaneously in both respects. There will have to be a gradual lessening of the evil passions which are the natural aftermath of war, and a gradual increase of the organizations by means of which mankind can bring each other mutual help. There will have to be a realization at once intellectual and moral that we are all one family, and that the happiness of no one branch of this family can be built securely upon the ruin of another. At the present time, moral defects stand in the way of clear thinking, and muddled thinking encourages moral defects. Perhaps, though I scarcely dare to hope it, the hydrogen bomb will terrify mankind into sanity and tolerance. If this should happen we shall have reason to bless its inventors.
Interviewer:
So, on the one hand religion has done next to nothing for civilization and on the other hand political organization and terror will be our two-headed savior..?
B.R.:
You got it.
(interviewer walking away mutters to himself)
“It is of no wonder why Mr. Russel wrote: We cry into the night and there was no reply.”
He claims fear leads to religion. I think of this verse…
Romans 2:4 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”
I guess the real question would be, “Which came first, fear? Or the worship of God (or religion)? The Bible would say worship.
I think the saddest thing of all, is his logic. He makes complete sense to himself. If only we had simulators for people to step into and see their ideas followed through. I wonder if he sees himself subjected to the government in this model or as a dependent or at the top making the laws? Would he like it just as much? If people would just revisit history even!!! What would this world would be like with his solution? Instead of a reverent fear of God, there would be a cold fear of government with no one trusting anyone. Pick a fear… any fear….
crazy. The Athiest seems like he’s standing on shifting sand: not sure how he would answer any of the questions.
He looks like he wants to fight, but he knows he cannot because the subject he knows will tear him to pieces.