In the year 1872, Bertrand Russell was born in the Welsh village of Trelleck.
He was only three years old when he lost both of his parents. When he was old enough, he proceeded to Cambridge to study at Trinity College where he excelled in philosophy and mathematics. He received his primary education from a private tutor. After conducting extensive research, he wrote "The Principles of Mathematics" in 1903, which he subsequently expanded with Alfred North. Bertrand has always been a moralist and a vocal individual. He has written many essays on psychological or moral topics. In fact, his publications on Western Philosophy which he wrote in 1946 were his greatest achievement in literature.
Russell's Academic Journey and Challenges
Russell is known for his stubborn radical convictions which he defended with a lot of enthusiasm. His professional journey in academia has faced a lot of challenges due to his pacifist ideologies that made him get in trouble with the authorities. Consequently, in 1916, his position as a lecturer at Trinity College was withdrawn, but thirty years later, he became a Fellow of the same college after being elected. As the First World War was ending in 1918, he was imprisoned for a half a year, and during that time, he wrote the "Introduction to Mathematical philosophy" in 1919. The following year, he taught at Peking in Russia and later moved to the United States in 1938 where he moved from one university to the next imparting students with the information he has gathered over the years. Since 1908, Russell has been a member of the Royal Society as a Fellow, and in 1931, he advanced to the earldom. In 1946, he received a prestigious achievement called the order of Merit. Additionally, he has been an activate participant in political movements that have been campaigning against the proliferation of Nuclear weapons and other groups with similar objectives before he died in 1970.
The Reasons for Writing "Has Religion Made Useful Contribution to Civilization"
Russell was raised in a strongly religious home, but that did not prevent him from questioning the purpose of religion in society. He realized that religious convictions had many negative results throughout history compared to the good it brought in the community. According to Bertrand, there were only a few contributions of religion to society such as the creation of the calendar and assisting the Egyptians in identifying the patterns of the eclipse which made it possible for civilizations to make predictions. Personally, the latter contribution is more of a scientific achievement. Russell identified many adverse effects religion had on the society which inspired him to write this article. According to Lord Bertrand, religion does not have a historical attachment, and he says that religion was a concept developed by man to represent his moral convictions. For instance, in biblical teachings, Jesus taught core moralities to people who came to listen to his teachings. However, many Christians do not follow these instructions.
He notes that the founders of churches do not influence their followers. The principles and truths advanced by the individuals who started them are interpreted by other people who acquire influence and power in society. These people use the power for their benefit instead of serving the community. The truths advanced by the founders of the church are hidden to the public by the few who are supposed to interpret it to the masses, and they thus become barriers to the moral or intellectual progress of the society. In conclusion, it is evident that Bertrand identified many negative uses of religion in civilization and for this reason, he decided to air his views to the public through the article (Russell).
Works Cited
Russell, Bertrand. "Has religion made useful contributions to civilization?" Little Blue Book No. 1463. Girard, Kansas: Haldeman-Julius Publications, n.d.
