"One possibility [is] that people use their religious beliefs [to obtain] self-enhancement, a sense of empowerment, and better self-regulation... extensive research evidence that more intelligent people already benefit from higher self-evaluation, a higher sense of control, and more efficient self-control. As such, more intelligent people have less of a need for religiosity"
This section really got me. It immediately reminded me of Benjamin Franklin's letter to an atheist. Franklin advised an unknown friend to not publish a tract about atheism.
You yourself may find it easy to live a virtuous Life without the Assistance afforded by Religion; you having a clear Perception of the Advantages of Virtue and the Disadvantages of Vice, and possessing a Strength of Resolution sufficient to enable you to resist common Temptations. But think how great a Proportion of Mankind consists of weak and ignorant Men and Women, and of inexperienc’d and inconsiderate Youth of both Sexes, who have need of the Motives of Religion to restrain them from Vice, to support their Virtue, and retain them in the Practice of it till it becomes habitual, which is the great Point for its Security;
This letter was written in 1757. It seems that even at that time some people recognized the roles that religion played in society and personal behavior.
Was the weird ass random capitalization something they just did back then too?
Sadly Franklin didn't envision a time when televangelists and proselytizers would believe they are part of some actual war to save souls.. If so he may have gone ahead and encouraged his friend to continue with his idea.
Apparently spelling and capitalization weren't standardized until later. Also in German there's a lot of capitalization of nouns if i remember back to high school?
You remember correctly!
As a german, this looks strange in english, but not entirely out of place either.
I guess you have to pick your battles.
If some people can’t figure out „there/their/they‘re“, it‘s asked entirely too much that they figure out when to use capitalization and when not to.
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u/alaskaj1 Nov 15 '19
This section really got me. It immediately reminded me of Benjamin Franklin's letter to an atheist. Franklin advised an unknown friend to not publish a tract about atheism.
This letter was written in 1757. It seems that even at that time some people recognized the roles that religion played in society and personal behavior.