Religion

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts) Thu Sep 21, 2017, 12:41 PM Sep 2017

Sociologist Rodney Stark gets cranky about religion

From the article:

Most recently, the Baylor University professor penned “Why God: Explaining Religious Phenomena.” He explains why faith is a universal feature of human societies, and he argues against emerging theories that any system of belief about the meaning of life can be considered “religion.” That term must necessarily include a belief in a God or gods, Stark says.

To read more of an interesting interview:

http://religionnews.com/2017/09/18/rodney-stark-cranky-religion-illuminating-and-hilarious/

NOTE: My posting of this article should not be taken as an endorsement of any or all opinions expressed therein.

5 replies

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Sociologist Rodney Stark gets cranky about religion (Original Post) guillaumeb Sep 2017 OP

One would think a sociologist would be aware that societies like... France exist. AtheistCrusader Sep 2017 #1

Your statistics in no way contradict his assertion. guillaumeb Sep 2017 #4

No need to atttempt to move his goal posts for him. AtheistCrusader Sep 2017 #5

"an interesting interview" trotsky Sep 2017 #2

He was described as "cranky". guillaumeb Sep 2017 #3

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

1. One would think a sociologist would be aware that societies like... France exist.

Reply to guillaumeb (Original post)

Thu Sep 21, 2017, 02:36 PM

Sep 2017

Country "I believe there is a God" "I believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" "I don't believe there is any sortof spirit, God or life force"

France 27% 27% 40%
Czech Republic 16% 44% 37%
Sweden 18% 45% 34%
Netherlands 28% 39% 30%

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

4. Your statistics in no way contradict his assertion.

Reply to AtheistCrusader (Reply #1)

Thu Sep 21, 2017, 04:58 PM

Sep 2017

Unless one can find a society in which there was never any type of religious belief.

AtheistCrusader

(33,982 posts)

5. No need to atttempt to move his goal posts for him.

Reply to guillaumeb (Reply #4)

Thu Sep 21, 2017, 05:13 PM

Sep 2017

"faith is a universal feature of human societies"

Society:
"the community of people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, and organizations"

A plurality of Frenchpeople do not have religion/feature of religion as a part of the society to which they belong. More stringently so when you consider the Government of France.

[religious] faith is not a universal feature of human societies. Not unless I use such broad terms that one could say 'stamp collecting is a universal feature of human societies' because a minority of the society collects stamps.

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

2. "an interesting interview"

Reply to guillaumeb (Original post)

Thu Sep 21, 2017, 03:48 PM

Sep 2017

Q: Many nonreligious people say that religion is, overall, a social ill. What say you?

A: That they are wrong.

Wow, hard to argue with such a well-articulated position. Is this what's supposed to pass for advanced theological thought?

guillaumeb

(42,641 posts)

3. He was described as "cranky".

Reply to trotsky (Reply #2)

Thu Sep 21, 2017, 04:55 PM

Sep 2017

And I found him to be so. One hopes that his books are more nuanced.

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