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A Point of View - Believing in Belief

John Gray argues that the scientific and rationalist attack on religion is misguided and atheist critics do not realise that religion is not generally about personal belief.

John Gray argues that the scientific and rationalist attack on religion is misguided. Extreme atheists do not realise that for most people across the globe, religion is not generally about personal belief. Instead, "Practice - ritual, meditation, a way of life - is what counts." Central to religion is the power of myth, which still speaks to the contemporary mind. "The idea that science can enable us to live without myths is one of these silly modern stories." In fact, he argues, science has created its own myth, "chief among them the myth of salvation through science....The idea that humans will rise from the dead may be incredible" he says, "but no more so than the notion that humanity can use science to remake the world" Producer: Adele Armstrong.

  • Broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 8:50AM Sun, 18 Sep 2011
  • Available until 12:00AM Thu, 1 Jan 2099
  • First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8:50PM Fri, 16 Sep 2011
  • Categories
  • Duration 10 minutes

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