Philosophy Roundtable: Can a secular society replace the functions of religion?
Details
Please join us this Sunday as we discuss if a secular society can replace the functions of religion (or spirituality), and what this may mean for our lives. We will look at this at both the social and individual level.
We will meet at the Queensberry Hotel, 593 Swanston Street, Carlton (100m north of previous location) at 2pm for a 2:15pm start sharp.
We kindly ask attendees to pay $5 to attend to help with MeetUp costs & venue costs. This is not mandatory, but if you are a regular member it would be appreciated. Any extra moneys will go towards buying food and drinks for the table. The venue also expects us to spend money as a group, so grateful if everyone could buy a drink from the venue.
There is no pre-requisite preparation necessary, nor a philosophical background, all that is required is a curious mind. These discussions are both a Socrates Cafe style discussion and lively metaphysical dojo, in the spirit of learning and friendly debate, so please feel free to challenge assumptions and be prepared to have your own assumptions challenged.
Find below some questions to consider, however these are free-ranging events and the below serve as a springboard for the discussion:
What might religion offer?
- Meaning and existential orientation
- Moral formation
- Community and belonging
- Ritual and shared identity
- Authority and moral limits
Is religion needed?
- Are some countries (perhaps Australia, perhaps the Nordic countries) doing well with a secular society?
- Are they living off the moral inheritance of Christianity? If so, how long will it last?
- Do we create quasi-religions instead, such as nationalism?
- If religion provides useful functions, can we just replace them with something else?
- Does this question look different elsewhere, such as in East Asian societies.
Philosophers to draw upon
- religion as social glue (Durkheim, Tocqueville, Haidt)
- religion as psychological response (Hume, James)
- religion as declining foundation of morality (Nietzsche, MacIntrye, Dostoevsky)
- religion as historical force shaping society (Weber, Marx)
- religion as replaceable or reformable (Mill, Comte, Kant)
Hope to see you there!