Some folks say, “Of course, religion’s good for society – it fosters a strong sense of community, feeds the hungry, houses the homeless and promotes the moral education of our children.” Others say, “Are you kidding? Religion deceives people about the true nature of reality, inspires sectarian violence, teaches dangerous and misleading sex education, and causes endless cultural disputes over abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research - of course, it's bad for society.” Drawing on recent social science research by Gregory Paul, and the “Plan B” Initiative by Lester Brown, this talk suggests a fresh approach to answering this question.

1. Is Religion Good or
Bad for Society?
Oct. 9, 2012
Presented by:
Tim Zebo, PhD EE
http://www.slideshare.net/jerseyguy
http://www.facebook.com/tim.zebo
tzebo@usa.net
Image: http://www.earthzine.org/2008/04/29/noctilucent-cloud /

2. Which Religion? Which Society?
22 Major “Religions”!
22 Major “Religions”!
200 Countries!
200 Countries!
http://www.adherents.com
10/9/12 tjz-2

3. Informal Survey of 9 Friends
What’s Good? What’s Bad?
Good for Society?
Good for Society? Bad for Society?
Bad for Society?
•• Gives desperate people hope
Gives desperate people hope •• Preaching hope prevents change
Preaching hope prevents change
•• Makes dying easier
Makes dying easier •• Creates fear of dying
Creates fear of dying
•• Offers a sense of community
Offers a sense of community •• Creates us vs. them mentality
Creates us vs. them mentality
•• Instills an ethical code
Instills an ethical code •• Makes for benighted brains
Makes for benighted brains
•• Promotes love thy neighbor
Promotes love thy neighbor •• Promotes bad public policy
Promotes bad public policy
•• Offers “comforting” tools
Offers “comforting” tools •• Promotes patriarchal hierarchy
Promotes patriarchal hierarchy
(pray for help when afraid)
(pray for help when afraid) •• Oppresses women
Oppresses women
•• Works to eliminate poverty
Works to eliminate poverty •• Deceives people about our
Deceives people about our
Feeds the hungry
Feeds the hungry relationship to the natural world
relationship to the natural world
•• Houses the homeless
Houses the homeless •• Fosters endless culture wars:
Fosters endless culture wars:
•• Encourages respect for
Encourages respect for abortion, gay marriage, stem cells
abortion, gay marriage, stem cells
environment
environment •• Teaches dangerous, misleading
Teaches dangerous, misleading
•• Gives people something to do
Gives people something to do and wasteful sex education
and wasteful sex education
on Sunday
on Sunday •• Inspires violence around the world
Inspires violence around the world
•• Gets people up early on Sunday
Gets people up early on Sunday
10/9/12 tjz-3

4. Paleontologist Gregory Paul
“Why Does Religion Persist?”
2005: Cross-National Correlations of
2005: Cross-National Correlations of
Quantifiable Societal Health with
Quantifiable Societal Health with
Popular Religiosity and Secularism in
Popular Religiosity and Secularism in
the Prosperous Democracies
the Prosperous Democracies
2008: The Big Religion Questions
2008: The Big Religion Questions
Finally Solved
Finally Solved
2009: Theodicy’s Problem: A
2009: Theodicy’s Problem: A
Philosophy & Theology
Philosophy & Theology Statistical Look at the Holocaust of the
Statistical Look at the Holocaust of the
(published bi-annually by
(published bi-annually by Children and the Implications of
Children and the Implications of
Marquette University)
Marquette University) Natural Evil For the Free Will and Best
Natural Evil For the Free Will and Best
of All Possible Worlds Hypotheses
of All Possible Worlds Hypotheses
2009: The Chronic Dependence of
2009: The Chronic Dependence of
Popular Religiosity upon
Popular Religiosity upon
Dysfunctional Psychosociological
Dysfunctional Psychosociological
Conditions
Conditions
http://www.gspaulscienceofreligion.com/index.htm l
10/9/12 tjz-4

5. Gregory Paul’s Insight -1
“22 Major Religions?”=>Measure “Religiosity”
ISSP: 1998
ISSP: 1998 Nine Measures of “Religiosity”
Nine Measures of “Religiosity”
•• International
International ••Belief in God
Belief in God
Social Survey
Social Survey ••Regular prayer
Regular prayer
Program (ISSP)
Program (ISSP)
•• 45 Countries
45 Countries
••Belief in the literal truth of Bible
Belief in the literal truth of Bible
•• 800 million
800 million ••Regularly attend religious services
Regularly attend religious services
people
people
•• 35 Questions
35 Questions
•• 1000-2800
1000-2800 ••Belief in life after death
Belief in life after death
responses/
responses/ ••Belief in heaven
Belief in heaven
country
country
••Belief in hell
Belief in hell
Evolution
Evolution
•• Pew
Pew ••Agnostic or Atheist
Agnostic or Atheist
•• Eurobarometer
Eurobarometer ••Accept evolution
Accept evolution
10/9/12 http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf
tjz-5

6. Gregory Paul’s Insight - 2
“Religion’s Benefits?”=>Measure “Success”
25 “Successful Society” Indicators
••Homicides
Homicides ••Marriages
Marriages
••Incarceration
Incarceration ••Marriage duration
Marriage duration
••Suicides: ages 15-24
Suicides: ages 15-24 ••Divorces
Divorces
••Suicides: all ages
Suicides: all ages ••Alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption
••Under age 5 mortality
Under age 5 mortality ••Life satisfaction
Life satisfaction
••Lifespan
Lifespan ••Corruption
Corruption
••Gonorrhea: ages15-19
Gonorrhea: ages15-19 ••Per capita income
Per capita income
••Gonorrhea: all ages
Gonorrhea: all ages ••Income inequality
Income inequality
••Syphilis: ages 15-19
Syphilis: ages 15-19 ••Poverty index
Poverty index
••Syphilis: all ages
Syphilis: all ages ••Employment levels
Employment levels
••Abortions: ages 15-19
Abortions: ages 15-19 ••Average hours worked
Average hours worked
••Births: ages 15-17
Births: ages 15-17 ••Resource exploitation
Resource exploitation
••Fertility
Fertility
10/9/12 http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf tjz-6

7. Gregory Paul’s Insight-3 “Which Society?”
17, Prosperous, 1st World Democracies
Western Europe
Western Europe North America
North America
••Austria
Austria ••United States
United States
••Denmark
Denmark ••Canada
Canada
••France
France
••Germany U.K.
U.K.
Germany
••Holland ••Great Britain
Great Britain
Holland
••Italy ••Ireland
Ireland
Italy
••Spain ••Australia
Australia
Spain
••Switzerland ••New Zealand
New Zealand
Switzerland
Scandinavia
Scandinavia Far East
Far East
••Norway
Norway ••Japan
Japan
••Sweden
Sweden
10/9/12 tjz-7

8. Surprise
http://aspiritualbrain.com/2009/03/page/5/
10/9/12 tjz-8

9. Religiosity vs Successful Societies Scale
Successful Societies Scale vs Religiosity
“Test of the West”
“Test of the West”
(17 Countries)
8.5
••Every 10 unit
Every 10 unit
Healthy ===>
Norway increase in
increase in
7.5
Denmark Religiosity is
Religiosity is
associated
Sweden
Holland
associated
Successful Societies Scale
6.5
Japan
France
Great Britain with a 7 unit
with a 7 unit
Canada
Decrease in
Switzerland
5.5
Germany
Decrease in
Austria
Italy
Ireland
“Success” as
“Success” as
<=== Dysfunctional
New Zealand Spain
Australia
4.5
a society.
a society.
3.5
…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.
…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.
USA
2.5
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0
<=== More Secular More Religious ===>
Religiosity Scale
http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pd f
10/9/12 tjz-9

10. U.S.A. Poverty & Importance of Religion
http://datacenter.kidscount.org/ http://religions.pewforum.org/maps
…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.
…but…Correlation is NOT Causation.
10/9/12 tjz-10

11. Gregory Paul’s Conclusion
••4/10/10, Essay: Why Belief in God is Not Innate
4/10/10, Essay: Why Belief in God is Not Innate
••“In every prosperous democracy with:
“In every prosperous democracy with:
•• Universal health care
Universal health care
•• Job and retirement security
Job and retirement security
•• Low levels of social ills
Low levels of social ills
•• People abandon churches because they no
People abandon churches because they no
longer need protection and assistance of
longer need protection and assistance of
supernatural powers.
supernatural powers.
“Faith is (largely) a side-effect of
“Faith is (largely) a side-effect of
socio-economic conditions!”
socio-economic conditions!”
Great!........but is Religion Good or Bad for Society?
Great!........but is Religion Good or Bad for Society?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304222504575173890997846742.html
10/9/12 tjz-11

12. Religion’s past “Goods?” or “Bads?”
Religion’s past “Goods?” or “Bads?”
Who Cares! History can’t be changed!
Who Cares! History can’t be changed!
How will religion impact our future?
How will religion impact our future?
10/9/12 Image: http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/aha/aha1.jpg tjz-12

13. Lester Brown’s Plan B 4.0
http://www.earthpolicy.org/
10/9/12 tjz-13

14. A Civilization in Trouble
• World is facing huge social and
environmental problems
– Rapid population growth, rampant poverty,
hunger and disease in many countries
– Climate change
– Water tables falling and rivers running dry
– Forests shrinking
– Soils eroding, grasslands turning to desert
– Species disappearing, fisheries collapsing
http://www.earthpolicy.org/ Photo Credit: iStockPhoto / Steven Allan
10/9/12 tjz-14

15. Lester Brown’s Plan B:
What’s Our Future?
Mostly in Poor &
Mostly in Poor &
- Very Religious –
- Very Religious –
2050: 2.4 Billion
2050: 2.4 Billion Countries
Countries
More People
More People
With Collapsing
With Collapsing
Resources
Resources & Hunger &
& Hunger &
Poverty
Poverty
10/9/12 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304222504575173890997846742.html tjz-15

16. Plan B to Save Civilization: Four Goals
1. Stabilize Population
2. Eradicate Poverty
3. Restore the Earth’s Natural Support
Systems
4. Stabilize Climate
Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Will Religion Help or Hinder?
10/9/12 http://www.earthpolicy.org/ ; Image Credit: iStockPhoto / Joe Gough tjz-16

17. Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Good for Society
Good for Society Bad for Society
Bad for Society
•• Gives desperate people hope
Gives desperate people hope •• Promotes bad public policy
Promotes bad public policy
•• Offers a sense of community
Offers a sense of community •• Promotes patriarchal hierarchy
Promotes patriarchal hierarchy
•• Instills an ethical code
Instills an ethical code •• Oppresses women
Oppresses women
•• Offers “comforting” tools
Offers “comforting” tools •• Teaches dangerous, misleading
Teaches dangerous, misleading
and wasteful sex education
and wasteful sex education
No more darkness;
No more darkness;
no more night.
no more night.
Now I'm so happy
Now I'm so happy
no sorrow in sight.
no sorrow in sight.
Praise the Lord, IIsaw the light!
Praise the Lord, saw the light!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuntDNsQGcc&feature=channel
10/9/12 tjz-17

18. Will Religion Help or Hinder? Sun, Sep. 16,
2012
Speaking at
the Values
Voter
Summit last
week in
Washington
D.C., Rep.
Steve King
(R-IA)
claimed that,
“A victory
over
President
Obama is a
victory for
God.”
http://www.amazon.com/Attack-Theocrats-Religious-Right-Harms/dp/0984493247
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151179646692435.467390.46347342434
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/video-rep-steve-king-claims-victory-over-presobama-victory-god
10/9/12 tjz-18
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/08/contraception-makes-unattractive-turns-men-gay-bestiality-and-murder-_n_1947457.html

19. Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Lester Brown’s Plan B 4.0 : Four Goals
1. Stabilize Population
2. Eradicate Poverty
3. Restore the Earth’s Natural Support
Systems
4. Stabilize Climate Science &
Engineering
10/9/12 http://www.earthpolicy.org/ ; Image Credit: iStockPhoto / Joe Gough tjz-19

20. Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Teaching & Promoting Science - 1
“Perhaps deception, even more than violence, is the chief
enemy of human cooperation.”
- Sam Harris, “The Moral Landscape”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D8AeiAamjY
10/9/12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYtYQ0a7btQ tjz-20

21. Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Teaching & Promoting Science - 2
U.S. House of Representatives Energy
and Commerce Committee
Chairman
Fred Upton (R-MI) – “Every member and
every subcommittee will be on the
frontlines as we take on federal agencies
to target areas to immediately cut
spending."
Subcommittee on Environment and
Economy
Chair - John Shimkus (R-IL)
Vice Chair - Tim Murphy (R-PA)
“Science & religion are in conflict because evidence & reasoning trump
‘faith’ when it comes to understanding reality.”
– Sam Harris, “The Moral Landscape”
10/9/12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7h08RDYA5E tjz-21

22. Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Lester Brown’s Plan B 4.0 : Four Goals
1. Stabilize Population
2. Eradicate Poverty
3. Restore the Earth’s Natural Support
Systems
4. Stabilize Climate
10/9/12 http://www.earthpolicy.org/ ; Image Credit: iStockPhoto / Joe Gough tjz-22

23. Action Anyone?
Image: http://www.speedwaybikes.com/tracks/actionpark2008.htm
10/9/12 tjz-23

24. How Can We Individually Help?
Take Action to Support…
• Reproductive Health Care and Family Planning:
– International Planned Parenthood Federation (http://www.ippf.org/en/ )
– Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (http://www.rcrc.org/ )
– Amnesty International (http://www.amnesty.org/ )
• Separation of Science and Religion in U.S. Education:
– National Center for Science Education (http://ncse.com/ )
on
– Teach Them Science (http://www.teachthemscience.org/ )
sli des &
• Separation of Church and State: S CA issues f. call
– Americans United for Separation of See en’s J con
m
Church and State (http://www.au.org/ ) wo nthly N
– Secular Coalition for America (SCA) (http://secular.org/ ) mo
– Freedom from Religion Foundation (http://www.ffrf.org/ )
– Center for Inquiry (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/ )
• Equal rights for all - including same-sex couples
– Human Rights Watch (http://www.hrw.org/ )
• Humanists
– Red Bank Humanists (http://www.redbankhumanists.org/ )
– NJ Humanist Network (http://www.njhn.org/ )
– American Humanist Association (http://www.americanhumanist.org/ )
10/9/12 tjz-24

25. How Can We as a Community Help?
Apply Critical Thinking & “The Science of Morality” to
Social Justice & Human Rights Problems
"Formidable as the task may seem at present, the long-term
need is to persuade Americans that having evidence for
your beliefs is a good idea.” -- Peter Singer, Princeton Univ.
http://www.criticalthinking.org/
10/9/12 tjz-25

26. Harris’ “Moral Landscape” is a 3D Map of
Outcomes of “Human Flourishing”
Terrific Lives Bad Lives
Good Lives
Horrible Lives
10/9/12 tjz-26

27. How to Discover What’s Moral (terrific peaks)?
“Philosophy is not enough” – Sam Harris
UTILITARIANISM LIBERTARIANISM SOCIAL CONTRACT
COMPLEX EQUALITY FEMINIST ETHICS CHRISTIAN
OF CARE REALISM
CATHOLIC SOCIAL LIBERATION BIBLICAL NOTIONS
THOUGHT THEOLOGY OF JUSTICE
10/9/12 tjz-27

28. The Moral Landscape on Religion
Chapter 4 Notes
Chapter 4 Notes
••“Religion brings benefits to developing
“Religion brings benefits to developing
societies, but the data shows that the happiest
societies, but the data shows that the happiest
and most secure societies are the most secular”
and most secure societies are the most secular”
••“Best predictor of social well-being is
“Best predictor of social well-being is
tolerance of differences (e.g., gays, lesbians,
tolerance of differences (e.g., gays, lesbians,
women, other religions, etc.). Tolerance does
women, other religions, etc.). Tolerance does
NOT flourish under orthodox religions.”
NOT flourish under orthodox religions.”
••“Religion is why we’re talking about gay
“Religion is why we’re talking about gay
marriage instead of a national energy policy.”
marriage instead of a national energy policy.”
10/9/12 tjz-28

29. The Moral Landscape: Science vs Religion
World Sciences World Religions
Contradictions in the Bible •• Even fundamentalists have to
Even fundamentalists have to
“cook the books”:
“cook the books”:
•• Love neighbor as self
Love neighbor as self
•• Stone any bride who’s
Stone any bride who’s
not a virgin on her
not a virgin on her
wedding night
wedding night
“Religion cannot be the source for moral truth.”
– Sam Harris
10/9/12 http://www.project-reason.org/gallery3/image/105/ tjz-29

30. The Moral Landscape: “Introduction”
?
?
“Human flourishing depends on the brain
states of conscious creatures” – Sam Harris
10/9/12 tjz-30

31. The Moral Landscape: “Moral Truth”
“In theory, moral truth can be measured”
“In theory, moral truth can be measured”
•• “Even educated people today mistakenly think
“Even educated people today mistakenly think
there is only moral preference.” – Sam Harris
there is only moral preference.” – Sam Harris
•• Human flourishing, like health, lies on a
Human flourishing, like health, lies on a
continuum defined by goals & both can be
continuum defined by goals & both can be
measured using science & reason as tools
measured using science & reason as tools
•• “Does anyone doubt we can measure the
“Does anyone doubt we can measure the
difference in human flourishing for a woman
difference in human flourishing for a woman
living in a cloth bag vs not living in a cloth bag?”
living in a cloth bag vs not living in a cloth bag?”
•• The degree of human flourishing is derived from facts about:
The degree of human flourishing is derived from facts about:
(a) brain states, (b) the world (c) behavior
(a) brain states, (b) the world (c) behavior
••Values do derive from facts: illegal DVD copies result in
Values do derive from facts: illegal DVD copies result in
measurable harm
measurable harm
••“David Hume (“Can’t get an Ought from an Is”) & Stephen Jay
“David Hume (“Can’t get an Ought from an Is”) & Stephen Jay
Gould (“Non-Overlapping Magisteria”) are simply mistaken.”
Gould (“Non-Overlapping Magisteria”) are simply mistaken.”
10/9/12 http://tbknews.blogspot.com/2007/10/violent-oppression-of-women-in-islam.html tjz-31

32. Googleplex: A Human Flourishing Testbed?
(Google takes employee brain states seriously!)
Google Rule #1: “Food must be within 100 ft of every employee!”
What dimensions useful for human flourishing should we capture?
10/9/12 http://www.scrigroup.com/limba/engleza/124/Life-in-the-Googleplex81893.php tjz-32

33. “Homework”: Watch Two Terrific Videos
Greta Christina asks, "Why are atheists
Psychologist Jonathan Haidt studies how angry?" Is it because they're selfish, joyless,
we evolved to be moral. He asks a simple, lacking in meaning, and alienated from
but difficult question: Why do we attempt to God? Or are they driven by a passion for
lose ourselves in a group? Using the empathy and justice? She speaks not only
science of evolution by group selection, he to atheists, but also to believers who want to
proposes a provocative answer. understand the so-called new atheism.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUI_ML1qkQE
http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_humanity_s_stairway_to_self_transcendence.html
“If society lacks the commitment of men's wills to a common objective, then it is no
“If society lacks the commitment of men's wills to a common objective, then it is no
more than a pile of sand that the least jolt or the slightest puff will scatter.”
more than a pile of sand that the least jolt or the slightest puff will scatter.”
—Émile Durkheim
—Émile Durkheim
10/9/12 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim tjz-33

34. Let’s Dialog

35. Dialog Topics: Implementing Social justice,
Human Rights & Human Flourishing
1. What is the complete set of dimensions for human flourishing?
 Social & Political Dimensions <= Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Friendly & healthy family, friends, neighbors, churches, clubs, strangers, etc.
• Unfriendly & unhealthy family, friends…(Sociopaths = 2% Males, 1% Females)
Health Dimensions
• Physical: Eating & exercise behavior keeping you at a healthy weight
• Emotional: Thoughts & behaviors keeping you feeling good
• Cognitive: Thoughts & behaviors keeping you thinking rationally
?
 Financial Dimensions
• Working & spending behaviors keeping you out of debt
 Environmental Dimensions
 Etc.!
2. How to add new “Googleplex dimensions” to ISSP & other surveys?
3. Is a new Universal Declaration of Human Rights to include them feasible?
4. Any new insights from a map of “U.S. States: Societal Success vs Religiosity”?
5. What risks does “faith” (belief without evidence) pose to human flourishing?
6. Does a moral society need any other “rules” than the Science ethos: honesty,
openness, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full disclosure?
7. What, if anything, should the U.S. do about “Women in cloth bags”?
10/9/12 http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/
tjz-35

36. Reference Slides

37. Judgments of Facts & Values
 Facts: the way things are
- “This DVD weighs .5 ounces”
 Values: what’s worthwhile (or not)?
• Aesthetic
- “This is great science fiction”
• Comparative
- “Star Wars #1 is better than #2.”
• Instrumental
- “Netflix can easily mail this.”
• Interpretive
- “War will always be with us.”
• Moral
-”It’s wrong to copy this DVD based
on harm, fairness & authority.”
10/9/12 tjz-37

38. Chapter 5: “The Future of Happiness”
Chapter Text
Chapter Text
•• Hard problem: well-being &
Hard problem: well-being &
satisfaction depend on history:
satisfaction depend on history:
--drug addict or Oprah?
drug addict or Oprah?
•• Easier to speak of “moving up” or
Easier to speak of “moving up” or
“moving down”
“moving down”
•• “Happiness” Science finds:
“Happiness” Science finds:
We very poorly:
We very poorly:
--remember past
remember past
--perceive present
perceive present
--predict future
predict future
•• Our experiencing self &
Our experiencing self &
remembering self often disagree!
remembering self often disagree!
Possible Dialog Topic
Possible Dialog Topic
•• Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?
Is it ethical to prolong minor suffering to create happier memories?
10/9/12 tjz-38

39. Comments by Steven Pinker
Harvard Philosopher; Author, “How the Mind Works”
Agrees
Agrees Reservations
Reservations
•• Terrible reasons to believe
Terrible reasons to believe •• If “science” is ONLY biology,
If “science” is ONLY biology,
what’s “right” & “wrong” are:
what’s “right” & “wrong” are: chemistry & physics, it’s
chemistry & physics, it’s
•• Faith (belief without
Faith (belief without necessary, but NOT sufficient, to
necessary, but NOT sufficient, to
evidence)
evidence) determine right from wrong
determine right from wrong
•• Subjective certainty
Subjective certainty •• Reasoning (NOT science or
Reasoning (NOT science or
•• Scripture
Scripture religion) that brought about
religion) that brought about
•• Authority
Authority changes in our criminal justice
changes in our criminal justice
•• Science has informed
Science has informed system
system
advances in our morality:
advances in our morality: •• Only administer enough
Only administer enough
•• Torture
Torture punishment to deter without a
punishment to deter without a
•• Racism
Racism perverse incentive structure
perverse incentive structure
•• The worse the crime, the
The worse the crime, the
worse the punishment
worse the punishment
10/9/12 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fbplK-J5IA tjz-39

40. Lawrence Krauss
Physicist, The Origins Project, Author, “Quantum Man:
Richard Feynman’s Life in Science”
Agrees that:
Agrees that:
•• Our morality is constrained by our biology AND the social contract
Our morality is constrained by our biology AND the social contract
•• It’s impossible to define morality without science (=“secular empiricism”)
It’s impossible to define morality without science (=“secular empiricism”)
•• Science is the way to determine the consequences of our actions
Science is the way to determine the consequences of our actions
•• Science ethos: honesty, openess, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full
Science ethos: honesty, openess, creativity, anti-authoritarianism, full
disclosure==a moral society
disclosure==a moral society
•• When humans behave irrationally it’s usually based on incomplete
When humans behave irrationally it’s usually based on incomplete
information (e.g., Stem cell debate: Blastocysts cannot be used for
information (e.g., Stem cell debate: Blastocysts cannot be used for
reproduction; there is no “moment of conception” – huge number of
reproduction; there is no “moment of conception” – huge number of
steps between the union of sperm and egg and a new entity
steps between the union of sperm and egg and a new entity
•• Questions science can ask & answer:
Questions science can ask & answer:
•• Is a woman safer ififshe’s in a cloth bag?
Is a woman safer she’s in a cloth bag?
•• Is her self-worth improved?
Is her self-worth improved?
•• Is she freer to manifest her capabilities as a human being?
Is she freer to manifest her capabilities as a human being?
10/9/12 tjz-40

41. Simon Blackburn, Bertrand Russell Professor of
Philosophy at Cambridge, Author, “How to Read Hume”:
Moral Landscape Comments
Agrees
Agrees Reservations
Reservations
•• Empirical investigation is
Empirical investigation is •• Two kinds of mental states:
Two kinds of mental states:
good idea
good idea •• Beliefs: knowledge about the
Beliefs: knowledge about the
•• We should be more charitable
We should be more charitable world
world
& loyal
& loyal •• Desires/Concerns: motivators
Desires/Concerns: motivators
•• Recognize that charity often
Recognize that charity often to change the world
to change the world
goes awry (e.g., Biafra food
goes awry (e.g., Biafra food •• Values reflect desires; things that
Values reflect desires; things that
aid)
aid) “must” be done
“must” be done
•• Benefits come when values
Benefits come when values •• Difficulty: What IS human
Difficulty: What IS human
are tempered by science (e.g.,
are tempered by science (e.g., flourishing? Drugged zombie?;
flourishing? Drugged zombie?;
male & female brain studies
male & female brain studies Fool’s Paradise (Delusion)?;
Fool’s Paradise (Delusion)?;
will help break down gender
will help break down gender Suppressed desires (Stoic)?;
Suppressed desires (Stoic)?;
barriers)
barriers) Greediness?
Greediness?
•• How to prioritize well-being of self
How to prioritize well-being of self
vs family vs friends vs world?
vs family vs friends vs world?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8vYq6Xm2To tjz-41
10/9/12

42. Religiosity: 17 Countries
“Absolutely Believe in God”
“Test of the West”
“Test of the West”
••God belief is NOT
God belief is NOT
an inherited or
an inherited or
cultural property
cultural property
of humans
of humans
••There is no “God
There is no “God
gene”!
gene”!
10/9/12 http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf tjz-42

43. Religiosity: 16* Countries
“Absolutely Believe in Life After Death”
“Test of the West”
“Test of the West”
••Millions of people
Millions of people
in Western
in Western
democracies
democracies
don’t believe in a
don’t believe in a
“soul”.
“soul”.
••There is no
There is no
“spirituality gene”!
“spirituality gene”!
* No data for Australia
10/9/12 http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf
tjz-43

44. Religiosity: 17 Countries
Accept “Humans Evolved from Animals”
“Test of the West”
“Test of the West”
10/9/12 http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf
tjz-44

45. Successful Societies: 4 Countries
6 Indicators
“Test of the West”
“Test of the West”
http://www.epjournal.net/filestore/EP073984414.pdf
10/9/12 tjz-45

46. 2009 Pew Research U.S. Survey
“Accept Humans Evolved from Animals”
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1105/darwin-debate-religion-evolution tjz-46
10/9/12

47. Will Religion Help or Hinder?
Teaching & Promoting Science
• Stories from October 2008 meeting of 60 U.S.
high-school science teachers in Atlanta:
– “Students burst into tears when told they’d be studying
evolution.”
– “Students repeatedly screamed ‘No!’ when he began
talking about evolution.”
– “Churches train students to come to school with
questions to ask to sabotage my lessons.”
• Creation Museum in KY is taxpayer-subsidized
scientific falsehood and mis-education center.
10/9/12 Dawkins, Richard, “The Greatest Show on earth”, Pg. 436 tjz-47

48. Tools for Critical Thinking - 1
10/9/12 http://confront.intel-research.net/Dispute_Finder.html
tjz-48

49. Tools for Critical Thinking - 2
Understanding Claims that Defy Science and Reason
“Nun healed after a
Person
night of prayer to
with
Pope John Paul II
Cancer
shortly after his
death.”
.1% 1,000,000 people
(1,000 People) develop cancer
Spontaneously
999,000 People
Recovered
die from cancer
1%
1%
(10 people)
(9,990 people)
were
were prayed for
prayed for
Death rate (deaths/week)
http://trueslant.com/michaelshermer/2010/04/03/would-i-ever-pray-for-a-miracle-watch-abc-2020-special-on-miracles-to-find-out/
10/9/12 tjz-49