Qiaochu_Yuan comments on Ritual Report: NYC Less Wrong Solstice Celebration - Less Wrong

83 Post author: Raemon 20 December 2011 08:37PM

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Comment author: Qiaochu_Yuan 24 December 2012 09:43:00AM *  1 point [-]

There are parts of our brains that respond very strongly to ritual. As long as they're still there, we might as well use them to impart knowledge that's actually true. Also, if we can't figure out how to supplant religious rituals with new rituals that provide the same social function but without the false beliefs attached, then people will always see a need for religion in their lives.

Edit: Kaj_Sotala wrote a comment expounding the second point above.