Religious belief however involves accepting irrational statements.

I submit that depends on the religion and the statements. Our dominant religions--Christianity, Judaism, Mohammedanism, have plenty of authoritarian dicta that aren't rational by any usual standard of the word. But they also have a lot of wise and pithy syaings which are useable as general guides in the confusions of life and which although they are not material can certainly be deemed rational. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoisdm are also rich with propositions which are pretty rational even when they are abstract and sometimes poetic.

A lot of intellectual abuse has been perpetrated by churches and priests of various religions (whatever they are called). This makes people understandably of the whole sloppy mess. But, ya know, babies versus bath water.


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