Just watched Sam Harris, author of "The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Human Values," and could not believe some of his conclusions.
He brings up some good points about how organized religion of all types can and to some degree pervert the inherent moral values that all people have. Slavery is ok, treating women as lower class is ok, child rape is not as bad as wearing a condom, just about every religion has something backwards and I agree that they should not be part of our society. However, he says we should determine morals by scientific means and everyone should just stop doing what they believe in. This could not be more wrong.
Cultures grow over time, they make laws, change laws, fix issues over generations. Sometimes their laws a messed up but they create a balance that works for that society. When you change the rules, this WILL create issues. Classic modern day example is woman's suffrage. First off, I agree that all people should be treated equally. Culture made women less valuable. Put them in the home to raise kids. Made them learn how to cook. (I'll say this again, I think this should all be a choice.) But when women got all the equal rights, all the responsibilities got forgotten and as a result, children had no one to make them quality home cooked meals, or teach them properly. The doubling of capable employees increased unemployment for all. All the effects of this change in culture can still be felt today.
My only point is that when changing the laws, use caution. Progress is good, change is good, but be ready for the consequences of changing a culture that has been refined for possibly thousands of years.
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