I think you overlook the strongest argument for spreading religion, namely that by converting people to the One True Faith, we could save them from eternal damnation. As eternity is a long time and damnation is very bad, this would be extremely high QALYs.
Most EAs think all religions are false, so do not subscribe to this argument. However, I do not think religious EAs can avoid this so easily. If you are a Christian EA you should probably try much harder to convert people to Christianity.
My above comment was reasons why effective altruists have found difficulty in reaching out to religion, even though it’s important because much altruism in the world is religiously motivated. However, I understand your point. If someone’s greatest priority is getting others into Heaven by converting them to their own religion, that may be a confounding factor for getting them to do other things.
However, this isn’t the case for all religious people.
How much a religious adherent is supposed to proselytize varies among sects within religions.
From what I know of major world religions, such as Islam, and Christianity, charity is emphasized as an important virtue to act upon independently of, and in addition to, converting others. The moral imperative for charity in religion tends to extend beyond helping only the less fortunate of one’s own religion.
Humans tend to signal their association with an ideology by committing to the goals set out for its adherents. When the goal seems far away, it’s easy for people to promise to achieve it. When the goal is very nearby, its difficulty becomes more apparent, and more people will shirk it. This is called construal-level theory. If you accept that model, I believe it extend to religious conversion. (Some) religious leaders will call upon their followers to convert the unbelieving, yet everyday those same followers fail to confront their neighbors, friends, families, and colleagues from believing differently. As the world becomes more globally interdependent, lots will realize the value in helping and cooperating with groups of outsiders, and their unfortunate.
Religion blends with other cultural forces in people’s lives to cause a diverse array of how they practice, and that still allows effective altruism for millions of religious folks.
Yes, I basically agree. But I think you have slightly misunderstand my argument. Many religions say both
1) You should convert people
2) You should help people
Obviously not all religions say these (for example Judaism is not very evangelical). My argument isn’t that religious people should proletize because of 2). My argument is that, given religious people’s other beliefs about heaven and hell, they should proletize because that is the most effective way of helping people. Even if their religion included no evangelical commandments, they should try to convert people as the most effective way of loving their neighbors. A secular EA charity might try to persuade people in the less economically developed countries to purify their water; a religious EA charity might try to persuade people in the developing world to say their hail marys.
I think you overlook the strongest argument for spreading religion, namely that by converting people to the One True Faith, we could save them from eternal damnation. As eternity is a long time and damnation is very bad, this would be extremely high QALYs.
Most EAs think all religions are false, so do not subscribe to this argument. However, I do not think religious EAs can avoid this so easily. If you are a Christian EA you should probably try much harder to convert people to Christianity.
My above comment was reasons why effective altruists have found difficulty in reaching out to religion, even though it’s important because much altruism in the world is religiously motivated. However, I understand your point. If someone’s greatest priority is getting others into Heaven by converting them to their own religion, that may be a confounding factor for getting them to do other things.
However, this isn’t the case for all religious people.
How much a religious adherent is supposed to proselytize varies among sects within religions.
From what I know of major world religions, such as Islam, and Christianity, charity is emphasized as an important virtue to act upon independently of, and in addition to, converting others. The moral imperative for charity in religion tends to extend beyond helping only the less fortunate of one’s own religion.
Humans tend to signal their association with an ideology by committing to the goals set out for its adherents. When the goal seems far away, it’s easy for people to promise to achieve it. When the goal is very nearby, its difficulty becomes more apparent, and more people will shirk it. This is called construal-level theory. If you accept that model, I believe it extend to religious conversion. (Some) religious leaders will call upon their followers to convert the unbelieving, yet everyday those same followers fail to confront their neighbors, friends, families, and colleagues from believing differently. As the world becomes more globally interdependent, lots will realize the value in helping and cooperating with groups of outsiders, and their unfortunate.
Religion blends with other cultural forces in people’s lives to cause a diverse array of how they practice, and that still allows effective altruism for millions of religious folks.
Yes, I basically agree. But I think you have slightly misunderstand my argument. Many religions say both
1) You should convert people 2) You should help people
Obviously not all religions say these (for example Judaism is not very evangelical). My argument isn’t that religious people should proletize because of 2). My argument is that, given religious people’s other beliefs about heaven and hell, they should proletize because that is the most effective way of helping people. Even if their religion included no evangelical commandments, they should try to convert people as the most effective way of loving their neighbors. A secular EA charity might try to persuade people in the less economically developed countries to purify their water; a religious EA charity might try to persuade people in the developing world to say their hail marys.