Would you agree: decisions based on ideology instead of rationality?

Question

... are more likely to be wrong?

what does this say about the influence of religion in society?

nun: sounds like you're talking about an ideology!

Answer 1

It’s an interesting notion. I am of the opinion that ideology and rationality are not necessarily mutually exclusive. There are certain ideologies that are commonly held that are patently irrational, unworkable, false, and even blatantly immoral. Fascism, some totalitarian forms of socialism (i.e. Communism), and theocracies of any variety come to mind. Many ideologies admittedly are severed from reason and rational thinking. Yet ideology isn’t synonymous with the blind adherence to views that are not tested by reason.

After all the notion of democracy, was once considered by the ruling powers to be a dangerous and unfeasible ideology. Yet the formulation of democratic ideology was the result of years, if not centuries, of deliberation by outstanding intellectuals as to what form of government would be most advantageous to man.

The product of all that thinking was democratic ideology, a notion, though not perfect, is most inclined to foster what is best in mankind and most apt to address human rights and needs. Ideology, as it is commonly used in every day language, has been severely maligned and has been associated with only deplorable ideas that are more driven by emotion than reason. Ideology, however in its strictest sense, does not necessarily mean a collection of ideas without substantiation. Ideology can be about religious fervor, but it can also be about human conventions that honor truth, such as the ideology of democracy.

So in answer to your question ideology is only more likely to be wrong when it does not have, as its guiding principle, the hand of reason. Hence, religions, most of which are either bereft of rationality, or only give a pretense of it; have consistently been on the wrong side of history with regards to everything, from human rights, science, and politics. Its only when secular authorities point to truths in each of these human endeavors that religion, after years of being pulled, kicking and screaming, by the force of modernity, eventually subscribes to more civil and correct notions concerning human rights, science, and politics.

What’s sad about religious institutions, is that they have a way of reinventing themselves every generation, to where they take credit for these advancements in society, when a clear understanding of history demonstrates they have done more to obstruct society’s advancement. That is why it is so important for our society to treat the mastery of historical knowledge as a paramount duty of every citizen. The only reason why religious zealots like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have so much political and social clout in our country is because most of our citizens don’t have an adequate grasp of history to realize just how deleterious the involvement of religious authorities are to the stability of society.

Answer 2

People use neither ideology nor rationality......they are nothing more than parrots......repeating anything they see......even lies, hear says and myths.

99% of people do not have the capacity to think for themselves, they must be told what to think and when to think.