I had a conversation with my one truly religious Aunt a few months back as we went for a walk in the East-end of Toronto for a mid-morning coffee. In our caffeine fueled ramblings I was trying to persuade her that humans love religion for its ability to provide certainty.

A man (a notable atheist I believe) once said something along the lines of, "religions will continue to exist so long as man is afraid of death". I believe the uncertainty of what comes after death is what makes a promise of an after-life so alluring to so many people, and has allowed religions to flourish for thousands of years. The comfort that can be conferred to someone who is grieving a lost family member, or on their death bed, that they will see all of their loved ones again together in a wonderful place. In other words, "the church" was able to provide certainty surrounding humans' preeminent fear. (and I believe it can be said most fear comes from uncertainty).

She did not agree with my hypothesis. I believe because it was providing a rather negative overall outlook on an institution which can admittedly provide much more than simply a perspective on death. Of course neither of us was entirely right or wrong.

Emerging "Scientism"

The context of this conversation was around the general public's new undying and unquestioning allegiance to government edicts. It was the deferral to the supposed "experts", and the need for absolute obedience that so alarmed me as well as my aunt.

"Follow the science" would be snarled at you, condescendingly, as you began to ask a simple question. The Science was set, and questioning it belied your ignorance or maybe immorality.

Regardless if the appropriate policies were followed, the inability to ask simple questions was frightening to the basic tenets of science, as well as citizenship in a free society.

Others before me have speculated on an emerging Scientism. As religiosity continues to decline in the Western world, so this institution of faith is replaced by (big S) Science as the new altar. I speculate on this as the need for certainty for humans to come from somewhere.

This has been the framework for totalitarian regimes of the past, in which religions are rooted out, and the leaders rule with absolute authority. Although I do not argue for a return to monotheism as the guiding force of society, I am weary of the direction our new purs...

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