Arbitrary restrictions

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 635.

Dogmatism

Intellectual confinements

Irrationality

Religion often promotes beliefs in irrational superstitions, and will frequently defend itself by opposing rational and enquiring thought. Often this is done by passing laws against blasphemy, and by demanding that religious beliefs are shown greater respect than, say, political beliefs. The idea that rational reasoning is not relevant to religious beliefs is known as Fideism.

When religion purports to offer a complete answer to problems of purpose, morality, origins or science, it inevitably discourages exploration of those areas, and thereby denies its followers a broader perspective, and prevents progress.

Religion typically involves the exercise of religious authority over the beliefs and actions of the individual. Religious authorities tend to be dogmatic, for a number of reasons:

· because they must maintain the plausibility of the claim that their knowledge is timeless,

· because they generally believe that the most reliable source of knowledge was given in the past,

· because systems of preferment tend to reward dogmatism

· because free thinking is feared as something that will undermine belief.

Many religions impose arbitrary restrictions on followers, regarding what they must or must not say, eat, drink; who they may marry, and so forth. Involvement in rituals, fasting, pilgrimages is often required or encouraged. Such pointless restrictions advance no ethical ends, and undermine the dignity of the free human being.