Re: Hard Sci-fi?

Michael Ash <mike@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> Eivind <eivindorama@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> > True. But we're not really a "spacefaring civilization" are we ? 

> No, but we're on our way there, and if it were somehow a requirement for
a 
> spacefaring civilization to become non-religious, it ought to be working

> now.

   Not sure if you've noticed, but the trend right now is for less manned 
exploration of space.  We may have hit our technological peak, and begun a

slow slide toward senescence.  I'm not saying that religion is connected
to
this in any way.  But I do not think that we count as a spacefaring
species.

> I'm reminded of Niven's Known Space, where prior to first contact,
humans 
> build up this idea that any spacefaring civilization must be peaceful 
> because otherwise they would never make it into space. Then the first
ETs 
> they meet are the Kzinti.

   The Kzinti then assume that any race that neglected to put weapons on
their ships must be total pushovers.  Bad mistake.

   Religion confers some advantages and some disadvantages.  I doubt it's
something we want to discard before seeing if its advantages are helpful
at all in a new environment.  Actually, I'd expect the social cohesion of
religion to be of some benefit in off-world colonies.

....                                                                  ... 
Remus Shepherd <remus@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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