That's why I like the Christian Churches. Over 2000 years they have struggled with made an uneasy peace beteween our rational and emotional believs and desires.

They are not so much 'reconcilled', as given harmless avenues to expend their energy.

The irrational parts of man are harnesed to prevent them doing bad, mysticism of the mass and eucharist is far less destructive than the dogma of green or communist orthodoxy.

Meanwhile the rational is given energy and direction by the meaphors of Jesus and etc.

Given the choice between christian dogma and greenie dogma, or worst of all, feminist dogma, I know my children would live safer and more paecefull lives in a world ruled by Christian beliefs!

Jon J,

<So how do you manage to spread a belief when you can't convince anyone else that there are reasons to hold it?>

You pose an interesting question, Jon J, and I am tempted to offer an outlandish response. Coincidentally, I am no theologian, and not very spiritual, so my approach to this is plain, and may or may not be rational, but at least is honest.

Of all the masses of humanity I would venture that the vast majority currently hold a belief in some sort of deity, to whom or to which they have occasion to pray for guidance or for aid or support. Some more regularly and rigorously than others; some only in times of deep distress. (Much prayer may of course be through an antecedent, a Saint or a passed relative - but all such would be meaningless unless founded on a belief in 'something' beyond this mortal coil, something either of soul, of reincarnation, of life eternal, or of God(s); and hence founded on 'something' beyond the mere physical universe.)

Some of course hold such beliefs and activities to be irrational and inconsequential, or as having been 'manufactured' to appease the poor and hopeless masses, the 'workers'. It remains nonetheless that the naysayers are vastly in the minority.

Here surely is an opportunity (potentially) to unite humanity to a common purpose, of the common good, through the forging of a set of universal tenets based on acceptance of a benevolent universal presence (a life-force) embodied in the very spirit and essence of Humankind. The problem of course is the current systemic diversity, the apparent lack of common ground, and the antagonisms of 'special place' or of one God above all others, of sect against sect, movement against movement - but based on rationality, or irrationality?

Atheists and agnostics will never sway the masses, but a cooperative 'reformation' of world belief systems could possibly illuminate a universal path to true enlightenment and the fulfillment of a benevolent, sustainable and enriched human destiny.

The author's argument is sound, but his language is horrid. For every instance of the word "rationality" substitute liberalism, one-worldism, amoralism, nihilism, etc. Then it would make more sense.

Rationality is concerned with the accuracy of knowledge/facts/beliefs. It is value neutral.

Atheists/rationalists/naturalists can have ANY set of values: liberal, conservative, anarchist, whatever.

I happen to agree that liberalism is a sure way to ruin a country, but it doesn't make sense to attack "rationality" when liberalism is the target.

Bren122 : You have missed the point of Sells. Edith worked for good, and such goodness is never lost in the human project. It is more that rationalists put their faith in process. A process to fix man. Man's nastiness is due to either him being a nasty creature driven by self interest ( liberalism) or being good but corrupted by capitalist constructs (socialist).

With a goal of changing such nasty behaviour both apply education (re-education?) and mechanisms of the law made up of a hole new stratum of commissions, tribunals and rights charter overseers. These are new age additions that go beyond the general course of law that pursues justice for crime and antisocial behaviour generally covered by the Decalogue. They cover, in the main, ignorant, fearful and unloving behaviour. Such behaviour is best addressed by the Christian faith that firstly provides a creation story that incorporates a cause of it, and secondly, a salvation story that remedies it. As Chesterton said "Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.".

Progressive politics has failed us. The hope of the secularization process has dimmed to a dark night of the soul, with no hope of revealed light for it. Despair is all that is waiting, with the Market having become the prevailing influence on us with its delights addressing our materialist values.

In the meantime we people of God will get on with our service to mankind in our loving way of truth and beauty. Our story gives us understanding and the unfolding truth in the Risen Lord enlightens the path ahead with love and reason.