God and Religion in the West

The Role of God in the West

Current religious teachings in the West are based upon dogma.  The Judeo-Christian religions have remained largely fixed in their beliefs for 2000-2500 years.  During that time, science has made immense discoveries about nature - and a lot about the origins of humans.  Religious leaders have rejected many of the findings of science because they conflict with much older teachings. This places religion in direct opposition to science and what is otherwise accepted as truth in our civilization. 

Religion has not grown with our civilization and, because of its strict adherence to dogma and non-acceptance of scientific findings, has contributed to its own demise in our civilization.  In so doing, religion has compromised its own contribution towards meeting group and individual needs in the West.  This has lead to an under-representation of the altruistic human needs to contribute to the group.
 
Western Civilization would likely be strengthened by a religion that used and worked with science.  There should be no fundamental or inherent conflict between science and religion - the only conflict is the inflexible stance of religion on dogma and adherence to a named god.  By reasoning we can know that there can only be one God that represents the truth about life.  Religion and science can jointly orient towards that ultimate truth.

Religion and science should work hand in hand.  Religion must be aware of the past, but also be willing to grow and accept what we learn about ourselves and the world around us.  We also need science to dedicate itself to understanding human nature and human motivation.  Religion should accept the findings of science, and use them to refine religious beliefs and teachings. The core of religion should be the essence of Life itself.  That is where God is. 

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.  Romans 8:28

God and religion in the West

In the West, God and religion are not a fundamental institution in the same way as the triumvirate of science, capitalism, and democracy.  Religion does not have a formalized role in Western societies; in fact, the first amendment to the US Constitution formalizes the separation of Church and State and explicitly forbids the participation of church in state. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;…” First amendment, US Constitution.

God is more like a conscience to be applied as needed, as shown in the figure.

Figure. God and religion are not a formal part of the triumvirate that serves as the foundation for the West.  Instead, God and religion are like a conscience and can exert influence on any of the 3 triumvirate institutions.  God can be used as needed (“prn” is medical term for “as needed”).

The religious teachings of the Christian God, consistent with similar teachings in other civilizations, eschew the worldly pleasures.  This fundamentally and directly conflicts with capitalistic motivation which motivates people by satisfying self-desires.  Religion is definitely not part of democracy, as stated in the US Constitution.  However, religion can play a large influential role in democracy as recently demonstrated by the strong Christian coalition organized by Karl Rove and George Bush, Jr.  Likewise, religion does not have a direct role in science, but it can exert influence over science as demonstrated recently by controversies about cloning, abortion, and stem cell research.

Religion is applied as needed (prn) to meet group success. Religion can also just as readily be ignored when it gets in the way of group success.  Christian teachings could never support the actions of the first Europeans towards the Incans, the 17th-20th Century Imperialist actions of the West, the actions of the US to Native Americans, the actions of the US towards Mexican settlers on the gold fields of California, or most of the military actions of the US since WW2. 

God and religion in the West are applied as needed (prn) and ignored when they obstruct group success.  This results in duplicitous behavior.

The Western tie to the God of Abraham is very weak compared to Islam. In Islam, God is central to all.

The West has been hugely successful because the human left brain has been given the largest leadership and governance role. The ties to group responsibility and to the right brain are relatively weak compared to Islam and to the East.  Democracy is the formal Western tie with the right brain, God and religion also play a less formal but influential tie with the right brain. 

Is our tie to the right brain strong enough?  The fall of the Roman Empire appears to demonstrate that democracy is necessary.  The left brain, with the initial actions and influence of Julius Caesar, eliminated democracy which led to the eventual demises of the hugely successful Roman Empire.  Democracy is needed for continued success and we are right to cling to it.  However, democracy was lost previously. Can it happen again?  The West emerged from the ashes of the Dark Ages with a God to be applied as needed.  Our Western group now has an added tie to the right brain.

The Western connection to the right brain is with democracy and a loose tie with the God of Abraham.  Is this enough?