Any attempt at understanding humanity must include an explanation of the hold that supernatural belief continues to have on most of the human race.
Interpretation
Understanding humanity involves recognizing the influence of supernatural beliefs on people's lives.
Victor J. Stenger emphasizes that to truly comprehend human nature and society, one must take into account the significant impact that supernatural beliefs and concepts have on the majority of people. These beliefs shape cultures, values, and interactions, and thus constitute a critical component in understanding the complexities of human behavior and thought.
In practice
In a discussion about cultural anthropology, this quote can illustrate the importance of belief systems.
For the record, prejudices can kill, and suspicion can destroy, and a thoughtless frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own for the children, and the children yet unborn. And the pity of it is that these things cannot be confined to the Twilight Zone.
We have seen the mere distinction of color made in the most enlightened period of time, a ground of the most oppressive dominion ever exercised by man over man.
Civilization exists by geological consent, subject to change without notice.
Into the nothingness of scorn and noise, Into the living sea of waking dreams, Where there is neither sense of life or joys, But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems; And e'en the dearest--that I love the best-- Are strange--nay, rather stranger than the rest.
If ever I said in grief or pride, I'd tired of honest things, I lied.
Peace is the work of justice indirectly, in so far as justice removes the obstacles to peace; but it is the work of charity (love) directly, since charity, according to its very notion, causes peace.
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