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Alain de Botton: Why I am not a Christian

below is his conclusion. (link for full article..)

I have never prayed, and I don’t believe in anything supernatural, yet I believe that once faith goes from a society, there are particular dangers that open up. We don’t need to fall into these dangers, but they are there and we should be aware of them.

For a start, there is the danger of individualism: of placing the human being at the centre stage of everything. Secondly, there is the danger of technological perfectionism: of believing that science and technology can overcome all human problems, that it is just a matter of time before scientists have cured us of the human condition. Thirdly, without God, it is easier to lose perspective: to see our own times as everything, to forget the brevity of the present moment and to cease to appreciate (in a good way) the miniscule nature of our own achievements. And lastly, without God, there can be a danger that the need for empathy and ethical behaviour can be overlooked.

Alain de Botton was born in Zurich, Switzerland in 1969 and now lives in London. He is a writer of essayistic books that have been described as a ‘philosophy of everyday life’, and have been best-sellers in 30 countries. Alain also started and helps to run a school in London called The School of Life. His latest book, Religion for Atheists, is out now. He was talking to Sarah Lothian.


interesting read.
splat levels_
the article mainly deals with
.religion and its role in society - 1 level
.religion at a person level
well one things for sure. we live in an egocentric world. It's ALWAYS ABOUT ME!!!
which is a shame. it's been that way probably since the world existed. survival etc etc

Matthew 22:35-40 When the religious teachers at the time, super egocentric, pretty much using religion to their own advantage and conveniences questions Jesus.

"One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Hmm... i hear many people say yer religion is good as it can make a better world if you take bits and pieces of it. Take the teachers, leave out the God part. >.>
If God existed then he probably just wants us to concentrate on the message of "love". And no doubt people would be more than willing to agree , we are to love one another by placing others first. It could/would make the world a better place. It's the opposite of greed, lust, gluttony, wanting things to run things at our own desire, being closed minded etc etc.

But oddly enough, the first part of what Jesus said is very much largely ignored. Sure love is all good, but derrr.. Jesus did challenge everyone above all place God first ><" Irony, God is so very ego-centric too. haha. It's all about HIM!
If you wanted to work backwards then, a follow up question would be, why does God deserve all our energies? What are the reasons, and are they good enough. (at this point the objective/facts/knowledge slowly blends down the funnel of perception/personal/subjective)

Ahh the continuum of objective-subjective fascinates me.
People fascinate me
People fool me
People flabbergast me


anywho...
other topics would be of interest include religion and the universe (all those why and how questions, and its relevance) , religion and philosophy/consciousness