tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post560040680409770482..comments2023-10-14T09:40:06.690-05:00Comments on Jean Kazez: The Consolation of ReligionJean Kazezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00592593002719828153noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-28931978821564385742010-06-22T21:29:33.146-05:002010-06-22T21:29:33.146-05:00Amos, I really don't think I said anything abo...Amos, I really don't think I said anything about where social services should come from. I just said that some people do prefer some of their social services to come from within a smaller community--the church, synagogue, etc. So they prefer to sustain the beliefs that keep them a part of those communities. This is all pretty obviously true--some old people like hospice visits from their ownJean Kazezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00592593002719828153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-9580091346079432242010-06-22T20:30:55.978-05:002010-06-22T20:30:55.978-05:00No, that religion is a drug isn't my objectio...No, that religion is a drug isn't my objection. Sometimes people need drugs. My objection is political. Since the 1930's, in most, if not all, Western countries, including in Latin America, governments have expanded social services towards people with problems. Those services may be delivered by anonymous agencies, which is unfortunate, but they are a right that we have s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-25743929595499703412010-06-22T19:33:33.712-05:002010-06-22T19:33:33.712-05:00Quick devil's advocacy on behalf of people who...Quick devil's advocacy on behalf of people who might be opposed to this woman getting religion:<br /><br />Religion is like a drug. It makes you happy, more optimistic etc. but it is habit forming. It is better on balance if you never have to get on the drug in the first place, so encouraging people to think the drug is innocuous and harmless and that there will be no repercussions is bad Faustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-76743106960721594442010-06-22T19:26:29.875-05:002010-06-22T19:26:29.875-05:00Amos, I'm not making any claims here about who...Amos, I'm not making any claims here about who should provide social services. I'm simply saying that there are people who do get them from religions institutions and prefer it that way, so prefer to sustain the beliefs that tie them to those institutions. <br /><br />We get the Nation, so I'll find that issue and read.Jean Kazezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00592593002719828153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-30983314839997833432010-06-22T18:51:28.764-05:002010-06-22T18:51:28.764-05:00http://www.thenation.com/article/god-science-and-p...http://www.thenation.com/article/god-science-and-philanthropys. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-78565272006443973842010-06-22T18:47:47.862-05:002010-06-22T18:47:47.862-05:00Obviously, therapy can take place within the cont...Obviously, therapy can take place within the context of a religious setting, but what you call anonymous agencies have a responsibility towards those with social problems and those who suggest that their function can or should be replaced by religion play into the agenda of rightwing groups which advocate cutting social spending. By the way, while you were away, the Nation had an excellent s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-21327510671024231912010-06-22T18:04:26.607-05:002010-06-22T18:04:26.607-05:00There are many reasons to believe that religion co...There are many reasons to believe that religion could help her.<br /><br />First,there is lots of empirical evidence that religion will help her maintain optimism. Research does show that religious people are more optimistic and happier than non-religious people.<br /><br />Second, churches can serve people's immediate needs very effectively. There is crisis counseling, support groups, Jean Kazezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00592593002719828153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8310450667755637519.post-28966056050374527092010-06-22T17:34:32.566-05:002010-06-22T17:34:32.566-05:00I retired from the Mooney wars, but the woman in ...I retired from the Mooney wars, but the woman in question, from what I can see, needs psychotherapy, child-care or special schools for her children depending on their age, perhaps some kind of welfare payment if she is poor, which is probably the case, etc. Religion may console her, but it will not help her to face her problems and deal with them. I realize that given the economic s. wallersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17448905469871566228noreply@blogger.com