Which has made a greater contribution to the advance of civilization: religion or secularism?

Answer 1

Both. Secularism (Iraq being a perfect case study) opened the doors for moderation within a "purist" led society. Religion emboldens a common bond of necessary traits for survival such as hope even when faced with a seemingly impossible situation.

Iraq was hated by "purist" states nearby due to their decision to allow women to be educated and to allow a more free thinking, moderate citizenry versus neighboring Iran where a more "purist" form of Islam is practiced. Al-Q also spoke out against Iraq for their "secularists" approach to governance.

This leads me to believe that absolutes require some form of moderation. In this instance, religion is the absolute and secularism is the force behind religious moderation.

Answer 2

your question is too broad. With a few anecdotal examples a person could argue either way, Or even argue what constitutes secularism in a society.

But I would have to say Religion, it binds people to a cause and promotes goodwill to others regardless of their country, or ethnic background.
Secularism seeks to undermine religion in a country or area. It does not promote moral values. It tries to argue each person is on his own and can make a decision not based on morals but on more physical concerns at that time---this would work well in a society of robots, not in a society that has to teach right from wrong.

Religion provides a good moral base for the stability of a nation, continent or area of a map. Stability promotes trade over war. Trade gives rise to better and more sophisticated goods. Which requires more educated populaces and thereby causes societies to increase their sophistication and infrastructure. You could very well argue secularism is has done this when two or more religions start to overlap on a map and warfare breaks out along religious lines.

Religion is not without fault though. Presently the radicals of Islam are intent on destroying the west--which they deem as a secular society that will corrupt their children.

In the past the Christians persecuted secularist and others for their beliefs. Before that they were persecuted for their beliefs by pagans.

The Jews have never really been dominate anywhere and they were always persecuted by everyone from the egyptians to the secularist to the Christians and now the Islamic fascist.

But over all--I would have to say religion has done more good than bad over the centuries--At least until a major city is destroyed by the RADICAL Islamist movement and the world economy collapses.


Then it will have to be reevaluated. But if you wanted to argue which religion overall has done the greater good.

Christianity by far. Unless you wanted to argue it stiffled innovation in the middle-ages.

Answer 3

Secularism of course. Religion kept civilization in the dark ages. A perfect example of how religion holds civilization back is the middle east. The United States is the last real bastion of the age of enlightenment and it's an endangered species now.

Answer 4

sure. Open your interior reach telephone e book and look up hospitals. If there are any with "St." in there call, or "Christ", or "Jewish" then this might properly be a contribution. check out the charities that your interior reach "United way" helps. i'm going to guess you detect a minimum of a pair you think of are precious. properly, United way began as a non secular company. Ever bypass to the YMCA, or the YWCA? those are the countless extra cloth contributions. traditionally, faith has performed a evaluate advancing scientific learn, social reform, and regulation. additionally, most of the super people in historic previous have been guided, a minimum of in part, by ability of their faith. There have by no ability been any genuine "non-non secular" countries (even america, with it is separation of church and state, is a meditated photograph of a set of non secular ideals,) so it may well be complicated to evaluate precisely how influential faith is to a society.

Answer 5

Both. Religion in the past, secularism now.

Answer 6

Religion in the earliest ages of civilization, but it has done its job, and now is obsolete* in any way but being used as a tool to teach morals to children.
After the dark ages, secularism has done more to contribute to advances in civilization, while religious acolytes have claimed every advancement was the work of the devil.

* not in any way referring to faith in a creator as obsolete.

Answer 7

Secularism in the sciences and Religion in the humanities.

Answer 8

neither: the "ism" focuses on beliefs in both cases. it is technology that has most greatly contributed to civilization's advance, and that has nothing to do with beliefs.

Answer 9

Religion really helped the Arts and Crafts. Without religion would we have all those gold idols.

Answer 10

To answer your question;

Religion, its the basis of Natural Laws for which civilization depends on..