Abandoning religion

Summary

The transcript discusses the concept of 'darkside epistemology,' where lies necessitate further lies, drawing parallels to religious narratives that may conflict with scientific evidence. It argues against literalism in religious texts and highlights the challenges of the Enlightenment's attempt to discard religion. Instead, it suggests that the human need for mythology is deeply ingrained, as we are embodied consciousness. The conversation touches on the role of stories in shaping our understanding of the universe and the potential for science to create new narratives that resonate with our mythological heritage.

Takeaways

• 🚫 The speaker advocates for discarding religion and reconstructing human experience from scratch, as they believe it's better than trying to salvage anything from religion.
• 📜 The concept of 'darkside epistemology' is introduced, suggesting that lies necessitate more lies, creating a web of falsehoods that extend beyond specific facts to encompass entire belief systems.
• 🦎 The speaker uses the example of creationism versus evolutionary biology to illustrate how initial lies about the origins of life lead to further lies about the design of animals and what constitutes evidence.
• 📈 The speaker criticizes the 'retreat to commitment' that religion has made in the face of scientific challenges, arguing that it has led to a defensive stance and the development of bad epistemology to protect central religious lies.
• 🤔 The speaker acknowledges the problem of literalism in religious texts, where people take ancient scriptures literally and selectively apply their teachings without fully adhering to all aspects of the texts.
• 🌐 The Enlightenment's attempt to discard religion is seen as unsuccessful, with the speaker arguing that reason alone is a poor substitute for the human need for meaning and narrative.
• 🎭 The speaker argues that the heritage of religion, particularly its mythological aspects, is an integral part of human culture and consciousness that cannot be easily discarded or replaced.
• 🌟 The embodiment of humans as conscious beings is highlighted as a reason why mythologies and narratives persist, as they serve a deep-seated need for stories that explain our place in the universe.
• 📚 The speaker suggests that even scientific endeavors, such as writing papers on complex topics like magnetohydrodynamic Riemann solvers, have a narrative structure that can be influenced by the need for a compelling story.
• 🌌 The potential for science to create new 'true stories' about the universe is discussed, with the speaker emphasizing the importance of these stories being true, regardless of other benefits they may provide.
• 🔄 The speaker points out that many possible narratives for the universe have already been mapped out in mythologies, suggesting that even scientific cosmology may inadvertently retell these ancient stories.

Q & A

What is the 'fourth position' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'fourth position' refers to the idea of discarding religion and starting over to reconstruct the human experience without relying on religious teachings.

What is 'darkside epistemology' and how does it relate to the need for more lies?

Darkside epistemology is a concept suggesting that lies require other lies to maintain consistency. It implies that once a falsehood is introduced, additional lies are needed to support it, creating a web of deceit.

How does the concept of lying about one's actions at work illustrate the idea of darkside epistemology?

Lying about one's actions at work can lead to a chain of lies, such as lying about the presence of the boss, which then requires further lies to maintain the initial falsehood, exemplifying the concept of darkside epistemology.

What shift occurs when discussing religious teachings and the need for lies according to the transcript?

The shift is from lying about particular facts to lying about the rules of evidence and the considerations used to determine what constitutes good evidence, which reflects a deeper entanglement in falsehoods.

What is the 'retreat to commitment' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'retreat to commitment' is a defensive stance taken by religion against scientific advancements, where believers protect their core beliefs without necessarily engaging in open inquiry or accepting scientific evidence.

Why is literalism considered a problem according to the discussion?

Literalism is problematic because it involves taking ancient scriptures written under different conditions literally, leading to a rigid interpretation that may not align with contemporary understanding and can hinder progress.

What is the argument against discarding religious heritage and starting over?

The argument against discarding religious heritage is that it is an integral part of human culture and experience. It is believed that even if we attempt to start over, the deep-seated human need for mythology and narrative will re-emerge.

How does the concept of mythologies play a role in the discussion?

Mythologies are seen as a universal human heritage that reflects our embodied consciousness. They provide narratives that resonate with us on a deep level, and these narratives are likely to re-emerge in any new stories we construct about the universe, even when based on scientific understanding.

What does the speaker suggest about the role of stories in understanding the universe?

The speaker suggests that stories about the universe, including scientific narratives, serve an important function and should ideally be true. However, the way humans naturally tell and interpret stories may not always align with the core facts.

How does the transcript relate the idea of science and fun?

The transcript implies that science could benefit from incorporating more fun and engaging narratives, as the current scientific discourse may be too dry and lacking in the mythological elements that resonate with human consciousness.

What does the discussion about cosmology and myth suggest about the future of scientific storytelling?

The discussion suggests that future scientific storytelling, particularly in cosmology, will likely draw on the rich heritage of mythologies to construct narratives that are both scientifically accurate and emotionally resonant for humans.