The supernatural is being swept out of the universe in the flood of new knowledge of what is natural. It will soon be as impossible for an intelligent, educated man or woman to believe in a god as it is now to believe the earth is flat, that flies can be spontaneously generated... or that death is always due to witchcraft... The god hypothesis is no longer of any pragmatic value for the interpretation or comprehension of nature, and indeed often stands in the way of better and truer interpretation. Operationally, God is beginning to resemble not a ruler but the last fading smile of a cosmic Cheshire cat.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- New knowledge makes belief in gods as improbable as believing the earth is flat; the god hypothesis has no pragmatic value now.
- In plain terms
- Modern knowledge makes religious belief seem outdated and unhelpful.
- What can you take from it?
- Question old beliefs in light of new natural knowledge.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Does religion still have value today?
- What replaces old frameworks?
Another view
Faith often provides value beyond pragmatic interpretation of nature.
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Sooner or later, false thinking brings wrong conduct.
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