The relationship is attenuated. The proper analogy is this: the belief that there is a certain underlying order to the physical universe is essential to move from magic to science. Yet even once that belief prevails, one might believe in phlogiston, or the four humors, or spontaneous generation, before improvement in observation, refinement of theory, and development of instrumentation and method prove them false and gets one on the right track. Throughout, though, the idea of a physical order that is non- capricious is essential.
Similarly, the belief that there is an underlying moral order to the universe, which means that there is something (Tao or God) that instills it, is essential to making solid progress in the development of moral philosophy, even though one might begin believing all sorts of nonsense, or have a lag in overall societal impact as a result of improved views.
Polytheistic religions, by and large, are not theist in the sense required, because there remains a considerable amount of caprice in the moral order, something about which Plato complained. Only when philosophies like Vedanta or Stoicism begin to change the substance of pagan views, in favor of an uncorrupted source of moral order (the Dharma, the Logos) are the "theist" in the sense intended by gao....... |
