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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;EWC3, post: 4037888, member: 93416&quot;]I suppose Bertrand Russell contributed greatly to this sort of debate in both the UK and US during the 20th century? As I read him he had no opposition to sincerely held religious belief, his concern was with insincerely use of religion towards political ends - here is a sample quote (not the best actually, but to hand)</p><p><br /></p><p>Bertrand Russell &gt; One is often told that it is a very wrong thing to attack religion, because religion makes men virtuous. So I am told; I have not noticed it.</p><p><br /></p><p>What I think is little known is that his most influential critic was Maynard Keynes</p><p><br /></p><p>Maynard Keynes &gt; &quot;Bertie in particular sustained simultaneously a pair of opinions ludicrously incompatible. He held that in fact human affairs were carried on after a most irrational fashion, but that the remedy was quite simple and easy, since all we had to do was to carry them on rationally.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Having scoffed at rationality in politics, Keynes went on to say</p><p><br /></p><p>Maynard Keynes &gt; “civilisation…. (is) ….a thin and precarious crust erected by the personality and the will of a very few, and only maintained by rules and conventions skillfully put across and guilefully preserved.”</p><p><br /></p><p>Given the extent of Keynes’ influence over so many aspects, of modern government in general, and of course monetary matters in particular, perhaps I might find someone here who thinks these quotes of interest?</p><p><br /></p><p>Rob T</p><p><br /></p><p>PS Thanks to Rasiel for raising this matter, and the moderators for permitting it.</p><p><br /></p><p>From a UK perspective, Rasiel’s idea that judges are the sort of people to turn to for rulings on such matters seems kind of odd to me…..[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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