The Role of Religions
Religions play a major role in the world. I will try to think about the dimensions of this, without going into the personal experience and recognition of faith.
Worldview; for thousands of years, religions have been guiding cultures towards a good and just life, providing, through their stories, hope and understanding in individual and social life.
Protective equipment; religions have combined to create institutions and groupings that have provided tribes and peoples with spiritual strength and physical security against external enemies.
Civilisation; religions have been used to instil such things as the visual arts and literacy.
Responsibility for our fellow human beings; religions have provided help for the poor, the sick and the lonely, and refuge for those fleeing oppression.
Open-mindedness; religions involve encountering the miraculous and mysterious, humbling oneself facing something higher and inexplicable.
This is what I believe are the good intentions and good deeds that make religions so important. Evil, which is also justified by religions, cannot change this.
The "grand narratives" of religions should continue to be read and interpreted in a positive way.