1. The Trouble with Atheism

Comment #13750 by penbat on December 19, 2006 at 9:24 am

UKslim

Who said anything about faith ? I am all for understanding everything purely on a scientific basis. Darwins theory allows you to understand natural selection. Psychology and EQ allow you to understand human behaviour. Human behaviour in any context can have a dysfunctional element due to the existance of personality disorders such as narcissism.

2. The Trouble with Atheism

Comment #13739 by penbat on December 19, 2006 at 8:54 am

J and Jared

My paragraph breaks were slightly wrong. When i said don't drag religion into this i meant religion isnt becessary to explain human behaviour because psychology and EQ do this on a scientific basis.

My thoughts about being OK for adults to be religious are my own thoughts and nothing directly to do with EQ.

My comments werent just about EQ, human hehaviour and evil can be very well understood on a scientific basis by learning about the psychology of narcissism and psychopathy etc.

EQ is a scientific approach which can be used to provide a moral framework using simple principles such as mutual respect and "treat others as you would like them to treate you".

3. The Trouble with Atheism

Comment #13711 by penbat on December 19, 2006 at 6:57 am

TO ImagineAZ

Yes it is quite common for narcissists to be grandiose and think they are god like or omnipotent. Narcissists sometimes start religious or quasi-religious cults so people can worship them.

4. The Trouble with Atheism

Comment #13701 by penbat on December 19, 2006 at 6:18 am

I find it odd that Richard Dawkins and other secularists dont seem to be aware of emotional intellience (EQ) and narcissism. I basically agree with Richard Dawkins.

Morals and man's behaviour are addressed scientifically by the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) popularised by Daniel Goleman. There are a huge number of books and references on Google about this. Also the science of psychology explains evil in terms of narcissism, psychopathy and bullying etc.

There is no need to drag religion into this. Personally I have no problem with an adult having any religion or belief which they have chosen of their own free will, but feel uneasy about children being indoctrinated into any particular non-scientific belief system.

Evil behaviour can occur in any belief system such as marxism or christianity because of human nature being what it is.

EQ gives some good maxims for mankind. "Treat others as you would like them to treat you" and treat everyone with mutual respect.

Stalin had Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) but some religious people have had this condition too. Anyone with NPD is always destructive to others in some way.

My website on this issue is http://www.bullyeq.com