Alain de Botton knows that even a bad example can be a useful example. He wants to learn something from religions and use it for today’s new worldviews. I thought this fit in well to the series God: From Magic to Motivation.

Even rationalists understand it’s important to sometimes look at what works, rather than what’s right.

Some key points:

The sermon wants to change your life. A lecture wants to give you information. Sermons tell you to repeat the lesson many times a day. Lectures tell you information one time and assume that should be sufficient.

Religions have given us calendars that make you reflect on your place in a community through ritual and connection and participation. Religions address personal change and growth. Secularism has given us the choice of who will represent you in government.

Religion combines our physical selves with our mental selves.

Religion uses art to remind us of what to love and what to fear or hate.

Religions are institutions fighting for the higher things of the mind.

Corporations are beginning to reflect much of the structure or framework of religions, but their goals are worded differently.

There are many gaps in secular life, and they can be fulfilled. Atheism shouldn’t cut itself off from the rich resources of religion because of the unserviceable doctrines.

What do you think?

Should culture replace scripture?