Francis

Americans Haven’t Found a Satisfying Alternative to Religion

Maybe talk to some actual Humanists? Not just Dawkins?

"…A few weeks ago, I called Mr. Dawkins, the famous atheist whose book had so shaken me all those years ago. I wanted to know what he made of the fact that America's secularization had stagnated.

He remained hopeful that secularism can replace religion. "It seems to me, should be reasonably easy to sort out," he said. For ethics, he encouraged people to take civics classes and host a weekly discussion club. For community? "Play golf."

He said he understood that churches in particular could provide moral instruction (and he said he valued the ethical teachings of Jesus as a man). But he insisted people should be able to fulfill their spiritual desires outside of faith: "It should be quite easy to show documentary films: David Attenborough films, Carl Sagan films, Neil deGrasse Tyson. There are lots of substitutes to spirituality that those can provide."

But many of the people I have spoken to say those kinds of alternatives aren't enough..."

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/style/religion-america.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

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To the Editor:

Richard Dawkins is not wrong to note that many of us do indeed find profound spiritual insight in David Attenborough's naturalism, Carl Sagan's cosmic philosophy, and even Neil deGrasse Tyson's "personal" astro-physicism.

But his glib suggestion that seekers of community just try golf misses the green. 

Even the most reductively scientistic of inquirers should understand the deep and humane sources of community to be found in the trans-generational pursuit of rational understanding through scientific investigation. Scientists themselves participate in their respective communities of inquiry, obviously, but so do all of us who feel stirred and enlightened by a growing comprehension of our place in the natural cosmos. We feel ever more at home in a natural universe that could only mystify our pre-scientific ancestors, and can only befuddle those steeped in superstition.

As Sagan said, “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality... The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.” Sagan was a true humanist. Dawkins evidently is not.