The World Needs Religion Even if it Doesn't Need God

The World Needs Religion Even if it Doesn't Need God

God is dead and man has no need of the myths and false consolation that religion offers. That’s the battle-cry of Richard Dawkins and other tough-minded critics of religion. And yet millions cling to their faith, finding value and meaning in the concepts and rituals they adhere to. But is this dichotomy all we have to choose from – prostration or denigration? Some would argue that there’s another way, that it’s possible to remain an atheist and still make use of certain ideas and practices of religion that secular society has failed to engender – the promotion of morality and a spirit of community, for example, and the ability to cope with loss, failure and our own mortality. But is this “religion for atheists” something that would ever catch on? Without belief in the numinous and some form of authority wouldn’t it all fall apart? And do atheists really need sermons and reminders to be good? Arguing against this motion in this debate from January 2012 were philosopher and author Alain de Botton and... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Sir Sajid Javid – Lessons From the Front Bench (Part Two)

Sir Sajid Javid – Lessons From the Front Bench (Part Two)

For more than a decade, Sir Sajid Javid was at the heart of power in Britain. First elected in 2010, he rapidly rose to his first cabinet position as Culture Secretary. The son of a bus driver and com...

8 Feb 36min

Sir Sajid Javid – Lessons From the Front Bench (Part One)

Sir Sajid Javid – Lessons From the Front Bench (Part One)

For more than a decade, Sir Sajid Javid was at the heart of power in Britain. First elected in 2010, he rapidly rose to his first cabinet position as Culture Secretary. The son of a bus driver and com...

6 Feb 41min

Can Water Shape Our Future?

Can Water Shape Our Future?

In today’s episode, the second in our series in partnership with WaterAid, journalist and author Coco Khan speaks to Helen Rumford, WaterAid’s Lead Policy Analyst for Climate Policy and Campaigns and ...

4 Feb 29min

Julian Barnes in conversation with Ian McEwan (Part Two)

Julian Barnes in conversation with Ian McEwan (Part Two)

Julian Barnes and Ian McEwan are widely celebrated as two of the finest writers of their generation. Along with Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro, they were included on Granta’s prescient Best Young B...

3 Feb 43min

Julian Barnes in conversation with Ian McEwan (Part One)

Julian Barnes in conversation with Ian McEwan (Part One)

Julian Barnes and Ian McEwan are widely celebrated as two of the finest writers of their generation. Along with Salman Rushdie and Kazuo Ishiguro, they were included on Granta’s prescient Best Young B...

2 Feb 39min

Why Can’t We Stop Money Laundering? With Oliver Bullough

Why Can’t We Stop Money Laundering? With Oliver Bullough

In an increasingly digital world, hardly anyone relies on cash. $100 bills are essentially absent from global commerce. So how come the US Federal Reserve printed 752 million and 867.2 million of them...

1 Feb 42min

Is the Arctic the World’s Next War Zone? With Kenneth R. Rosen

Is the Arctic the World’s Next War Zone? With Kenneth R. Rosen

Why Is Everyone Suddenly Fighting Over the Arctic? In this episode, Adam McCauley speaks to journalist and author Kenneth R. Rosen about the Arctic’s shifting geopolitical role in the new world order...

30 Jan 51min

Implementing and scaling AI agents in business

Implementing and scaling AI agents in business

Many organisations are experimenting with AI and AI agents. But far fewer are seeing real, measurable impact. The challenge isn’t ambition, it’s readiness. As we explored in the first episode of this ...

29 Jan 35min

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