Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

The world is finally moving to a post-theological era.


Less conflict around religion, and more social progress without it standing in the way.

That sounds pretty good to me.


In an atheistic culture, "social progress" is just a moniker for an increase of liberalistic nihilism and hedonism.

Modern western society has so much to thank Christianity for, it's a real shame if it ends up going this way.


I hope you're right, but I think it's a mistake to think that religion has been the cause rather than the excuse (or justification if I'm being nicer) for actions that were going to happen regardless. Conflicts will still exist, progress will still be impeded, we'll just come up with new reasons to tell ourselves it's okay.


"'Progress' is simply a comparative of which we have not settled the superlative." --Chesterton.


We are tribal animals, "religion" in America will just be replaced by online made-to-order belief systems, Trumpism, anti-Trumpism, etc. At least religions have some time-tested roots.


Optimism!

When will social progress stop though, when is it complete? There are perhaps a lot of things wrong in the world but it's not clear to me that people can any longer fall back onto blaming various institutions (for opression ... etc.). Yet agitation seems to be increasing, despite the lack of institutional barriers. Indeed it seems to have moved on to targeting social demographics for 'progress' (the white male).

Progressives started off by dismantling the social engineering and traditions of the religious institutions, but that is largely complete. All that remains is to start their own social engineering project.




Consider applying for YC's Fall 2026 batch! Applications are open till July 27.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: