The Precarious Human Role in a Mechanistic Universe
Religion’s influence upon society has waned in the past century, and it will continue to wane in the years to come, forecasts John F. Brinster, retired Princeton physicist and psychologist. He looks forward to secularism gaining progressively more ground over the next few generations.
More and more people will practice spirituality, but fewer and fewer will practice religion.
Human thought itself is evolving as people base life decisions less on faith and more on imagination, critical thought, and reason. This could especially be so if, as many commentators anticipate, artificial brain enhancements boost brain power worldwide and accentuate analytical logic in human thinking—i.e., human brains will be aided by computers and thus think more like computers.
Established religious traditions will labor to block secularism’s growth at every turn, Brinster says. Secularists will need to build strong, organized civic movements and education reform initiatives if they want to succeed. If they do, the consequences for the world will be vast, the author believes: We would see the blossoming of science and education, the universal affirmation of women’s rights, and the emergence of a peaceful global society freed from ancient sectarian feuds.
Brinster dives into some highly sensitive and controversial topics, but treats them with deep thoughtfulness and respect. While some readers may strongly disagree with some of his premises, almost any honest reader will be impressed.
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