Summary
Daniel C. Dennett: Ending the Enchantment - Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
The enchantment I say must end is the taboo against the open, unfettered scientific investigation of religion as one of many natural phenomena. But certainly one of the strongest and most likely reasons for resisting this request is the fear that there is a serious risk that if this spell is broken - if religion is put under the light and microscope - a different and much more important spell will also be broken: the charm of religion itself, with which it enriches life.
Perhaps I want to say how religion is natural as opposed to supernatural, how it is a human phenomenon composed of events, organisms, objects, structures, patterns and the like, which in turn obey the laws of physics or biology and therefore do not involve miracles.
The End of Magic by Daniel Dennett, one of the most respected living philosophers, offers the most intelligent and pragmatic way of communication between the world of religion and the world of science at the moment. Intellectuals from both sides, agnostics and members of major religions, have communicated with more or less success throughout history, but often aggressively and with a lack of consideration and patience for the opinions of the interlocutors. With this capital work, Croatian religious and agnostic thinkers received a new platform for the exchange of ideas, and all friends of good reading will undoubtedly enjoy Dennett's elegant and witty thought in Marina Miladinov's excellent translation.
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