Article focused on understanding how it is that New Religious Movements (NRMs) have gained so many adherents in the past half-century.
Hubski. :) Reading this, it occurred to me that most religions have some beliefs that are ridiculed by others for being outlandish, and these beliefs are almost never near the surface of their day to day operations. In fact, daily interactions are mostly mundane, and mostly indistinguishable from any close secular social group. I've been to social gatherings of a few different faiths, and they are effectively operating on the same dynamics of non-religious gatherings I have been a part of. In the US, I think you might find that our urban development promoted this loneliness. With the rise of suburbia, porches disappeared, the distance between houses increased, and kitchens faced the back yard. Many Americans live in physical isolation, and mostly encounter other people through planned activities.I will leave you with the following questions: Can secular societies find a way to relieve human loneliness? If so, how?
Hey mk "In the US, I think you might find that our urban development promoted this loneliness. With the rise of suburbia, porches disappeared, the distance between houses increased, and kitchens faced the back yard. Many Americans live in physical isolation, and mostly encounter other people through planned activities." I think your statements about physical isolation is an important variable to consider when discussing the rise of NRM. I feel like the development of mass urbanization in the 20th century is tightly correlated with mass secularization. As a consequence of this I feel like many people experience extreme loneliness. I guess I feel like secular society needs to combat this in some way. We need to either re-design the infrastructure of our societies to promote integration and improve social life or we need to actively foster an inclusive community identity to replace what religious institutions provided in past centuries.
I absolutely agree. IMO people often consider their choices to be too much a product of their mind and not enough a product of the environment. It's amazing how blinded people can be to very basic options and alternatives. By and large, we live the lifestyles that we were born into, without examination that would lead us to significant disruptions. I'm not saying that I am above this in any way, either. However, where we do have data and history to draw on, we can design our world with a bias for outcomes that we would prefer. I do strongly believe that we can help build a more rewarding and connected society by changing the spaces that we live in and move through. And, I am only half-joking about Hubski. :)I guess I feel like secular society needs to combat this in some way. We need to either re-design the infrastructure of our societies to promote integration and improve social life or we need to actively foster an inclusive community identity to replace what religious institutions provided in past centuries.
Haha, I have grown to love Hubski. It is a great community. And I really agree that "we can build a more rewarding and connected society by changing the spaces that we live in and move through". Very well said. I've thought about it often, and have had an opportunity to live in a lot of difference places and spaces, but I am still unsure what is the best social arrangement for individuals and society as a whole. It would make for a great discussion!
First of all, did you like the film? Secondly, Alain de Botton gave a Ted Talk titled Atheism 2.0 that attempts to answer the question you ask Can secular societies find a way to relieve human loneliness? If so, how?
He argues that atheism or secularists should adopt the aspects of religion that bring comfort to society. The communal nature, the need for ritual etc. Not sure I agree with him, but it's good that people are asking these questions. There's obviously a need there and I don't think it has to be satisfied by religion (god) alone.