[lbo-talk] Getting some business that Magic Barry ain't, got

[Jenny Brown]

On May 10, 2008, at 3:31 PM, Charles Brown wrote:
>> What religion has over our atheism is optimism, a
>> can-do spirit, the power of positive thinking. Thus,
>> religion gets people to _do_ things. It inspires action.
>> What socialist theorists need from religion is that
>> optimism that we can change things. that "yes we can
>> spirit".
>>     
> Doug wrote:
> Can you promise them eternal life?
>
>   
I'm not sure that's really the main selling point of religion, but 
without lying, a liberation movement can promise that an individual's 
contributions are a part of an eternal struggle, meaning not endless but 
timeless.  Scientists, artists, revolutionaries.  The job of movement 
leaders and theorists is to make that contribution as impactful as possible.

Having a powerful force, like a god, on your side could be pretty 
inspiring though.  Even if it's not a very interventionist god, you 
figure the cruel bastards will get theirs in the end.  At least that's 
what people say, I was raised an atheist and never really 'got' 
religion, so what do I know?

I do think religion is to deal with that unfathomable combination of 
consciousness and death, but I don't think ones own eternal life is 
really the promise most desired, more likely it's that dead loved ones 
aren't really dead in some way.  Which of course they aren't, they're 
living in your memory.

Jenny Brown