What unites us better than religion?

[Augustus]

Possibly altruism, but that has yet to be worked into a coherent narrative.

Altruism would be a product of an ideology would it not? We are altruistic (at times) towards those we view a commonality with, so it seems to me to be an effect of some degree of unity rather than a cause in itself.

 

[Buddha Dharma]

Altruism would be a product of an ideology would it not? We are altruistic (at times) towards those we view a commonality with, so it seems to me to be an effect of some degree of unity rather than a cause in itself.

Right I expounded on my thought some and mentioned that. I'm a philosopher, so I don't underestimate the problems with trying to appeal to altruism, as though that required no further clarification.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Language and culture unite better than religion. Of course they also divide us.

I'd say that's the best answer so far.

 

[Fool]

As as add on to the thread "How well does religion work as a social glue uniting people politically and socially?"

One common argument is that religions create in/out groups and are thus divisive which, taken in a vacuum, is factually correct.

In a more practical sense though, unity is not our natural state, we are divided along multiple different aspects of identity. For something to be divisive, it would therefore really need to be more divisive than one or more practical alternatives.

Are there any ideologies, worldview, religions, etc. that do not create in/out groups? How practical are these in terms of uniting people politically and socially? What would make diverse peoples and cultures adopt such an ideology in large enough numbers to erase divisions?

Thoughts?

love is not a respecter of persons