In sum, the contrived histories of #naturalism that purport to show its victory over supernaturalism were fabricated in the 19th century and are simply not consistent with the historical evidence. They are also tainted by a cultural condescension that, in the past at least, descended into outright racism. . . .
History suggests that our regnant modern naturalism is deeply indebted to monotheism, and that its adherents may need to abandon the comforting idea that their naturalistic commitments are licensed by the success of science. As for the idea of the supernatural, ironically this turns out to be far more important for the identity of those who wish to deny its reality than it had ever been for traditional religious believers.
– Peter Harrison, The birth of naturalism https://aeon.co/essays/investigating-the-roots-of-the-natural-supernatural-dichotomy
#religion #atheism #history #racism #HistoryOfIdeas #ScienceHistory
L.J., romantic toiler
npub1s6…939lr
2026-09-21 15:07:17 UTC
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wss://relay.momostr.pinkPublished at
2026-09-21 15:07:17 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "In sum, the contrived histories of #naturalism that purport to show its victory over supernaturalism were fabricated in the 19th century and are simply not consistent with the historical evidence. They are also tainted by a cultural condescension that, in the past at least, descended into outright racism. . . .\n\nHistory suggests that our regnant modern naturalism is deeply indebted to monotheism, and that its adherents may need to abandon the comforting idea that their naturalistic commitments are licensed by the success of science. As for the idea of the supernatural, ironically this turns out to be far more important for the identity of those who wish to deny its reality than it had ever been for traditional religious believers.\n\n– Peter Harrison, The birth of naturalism https://aeon.co/essays/investigating-the-roots-of-the-natural-supernatural-dichotomy\n\n#religion #atheism #history #racism #HistoryOfIdeas #ScienceHistory",
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