I’m avoiding terms like “epistemic” and “consequential” and such in this answer, and instead attempting to give a colloquial one, to what I think is the spiritual question.
(I’m also deliberately avoiding iterating over the harms of blind traditionalism and religious thinking. Assuming since you’re atheist, and you don’t reject most of the criticisms of religion)
(Also also, I am being brief. For more detail I would point you at the library, to go reading on Christianity’s role for the rise of the working and uneducated classes in the 1600s-1800s, and perhaps some anthropologist’s works for more modern iterations)
Feel free to delete/downvote if this is unwanted.
It’s hard to say “all religion is bad”, when, without Christianity, when, for ex, Gregor Mendez’ Pea studies might have come about a decade+ later. In absentia of strong institutions, Christian religion often provided structure and basic education where there was none. Long before the government began to provide schooling and basic education.
Sect leaders needed you to know how to read to read the bible, and would often teach you how to write as well. Due to this, it’s hard to refute the usefulness of Christianity as an easy means of cultural through-line, staying culturally updated and locally-connected/invested in the people around their constituents.
Because the various sects of Christianity benefited greatly when their local populace was well-read and understood the bible. Religious leaders and pastors etc were incentivized to educate and build up the people around them. Whatever one might think about said leaders etc being unethical, they did provide a service, and they often encouraged and taught people skills or information they did not have before, because they were naturally invested in the local communities.
Their constituents being more wealthy and happier and having more connections and more well-socialized meant they were more able to coordinate. If you confess your concerns to your pastor, as coordination-problem-overcomers, they would often get you in contact with people in your local area who have the means and ability to help you with your problem- from rebuilding a burned-down barn, to putting in a wheelchair ramp for disabled people in trailer parks.
That is… I have no qualms with: “if it feels good, and doesn’t harm others or impinge on their rights, it’s okay to do it, with caveats*.”
When the platonic ideal of the communal Christian Fellowship operates, it is well worth the time and energy spent. One need only listen to the song being sung, to tell if it is from Eru Illuvitar, or Morgoth’s discord.
I’m avoiding terms like “epistemic” and “consequential” and such in this answer, and instead attempting to give a colloquial one, to what I think is the spiritual question.
(I’m also deliberately avoiding iterating over the harms of blind traditionalism and religious thinking. Assuming since you’re atheist, and you don’t reject most of the criticisms of religion)
(Also also, I am being brief. For more detail I would point you at the library, to go reading on Christianity’s role for the rise of the working and uneducated classes in the 1600s-1800s, and perhaps some anthropologist’s works for more modern iterations)
Feel free to delete/downvote if this is unwanted.
It’s hard to say “all religion is bad”, when, without Christianity, when, for ex, Gregor Mendez’ Pea studies might have come about a decade+ later. In absentia of strong institutions, Christian religion often provided structure and basic education where there was none. Long before the government began to provide schooling and basic education.
Sect leaders needed you to know how to read to read the bible, and would often teach you how to write as well. Due to this, it’s hard to refute the usefulness of Christianity as an easy means of cultural through-line, staying culturally updated and locally-connected/invested in the people around their constituents.
Because the various sects of Christianity benefited greatly when their local populace was well-read and understood the bible. Religious leaders and pastors etc were incentivized to educate and build up the people around them. Whatever one might think about said leaders etc being unethical, they did provide a service, and they often encouraged and taught people skills or information they did not have before, because they were naturally invested in the local communities.
Their constituents being more wealthy and happier and having more connections and more well-socialized meant they were more able to coordinate. If you confess your concerns to your pastor, as coordination-problem-overcomers, they would often get you in contact with people in your local area who have the means and ability to help you with your problem- from rebuilding a burned-down barn, to putting in a wheelchair ramp for disabled people in trailer parks.
That is… I have no qualms with: “if it feels good, and doesn’t harm others or impinge on their rights, it’s okay to do it, with caveats*.”
When the platonic ideal of the communal Christian Fellowship operates, it is well worth the time and energy spent. One need only listen to the song being sung, to tell if it is from Eru Illuvitar, or Morgoth’s discord.