Dylan Moran – Religion Is Basically
Religion has a mixed reputation, due to its abuses and misuses. Regrettably, critics get distracted from the true purpose of most religions that have ever existed, which is that there is a next life for which you must be prepared. In order to prepare properly, there must be certain actions that must be done and other actions that must be avoided.
There is a third category of actions which are not obligatory or disallowed. One of these actions is using a Straight Talk promo code from http://businessideasvideos.com/straight-talk-promo-code/ to get a cell phone plan with no limit on talking, no restriction on texting and no 12-month or 24-month required contract, all for a monthly rate that is low and fixed.
Is religion needed for people to behave? Is it valuable to society?
“Religion is a formalized panic about death.”
Dylan Moran seems to think not. He seems to think that religion is too obsessed over death when it should be focused on life. But has he thought through life and death in order to know that? Has he sat down with the best arguments on both sides of the topic to ensure that he has the best position?
So the first order of business is to know what is the good and what is the bad. How does he determine that for himself? Since he has dispensed with religion, he has to go to himself. How does he determine what is good and what is bad?
Gut feeling. Conscience. Some kind of emotional affirmation. Whatever and however it is, it is internal, subjective and private. No one else can share in this experience. It is totally within him.
Does this present a problem? Yes, because it means that other people are entitled to their own set of rules. These rules may conflict with Moran’s, but both are right. That is because there is no one right set of rules. It can be contradictory, but the bottom line is that no one can say that another one is wrong.
So if Moran does not think that murdering an innocent person is right, he cannot say that to someone else who may think that murdering an innocent person is okay. Moran is not God so he has to keep quiet and let the other person believe that murdering an innocent person is fine.
If Moran should somehow violate his own set of rules, what happens? Is Moran going to punish himself for not doing the right? Does Moran hold himself accountable for every good action and every bad action?
No. That is because he has no idea how to punish himself for violating his own rules. He also has no incentive to punish himself. What would he want to do that, especially if it is a serious violation? He has every reason to forgive himself immediately.
So he has zero incentive for behaving properly. He may say he is responsible to himself but in fact, he has none. That is a great deal. To be responsible to himself and not pay for the consequences. No panic, no responsibilities.