Malcom Collins is basically the male version of a Bene Geserit, with the exception he actually believes. He even talks about genetic selection. This is extraordinary.
Very interesting. Even though there are quite a few things that I think are wrong headed about the telos of their project, I can’t help but be charmed by the Collins. In addition they are always interesting and offer some new insight or perspective I hadn’t considered.
Not impressed by his hot take on salvation history at the 37 minute mark. Why did God reveal things where, when, and the way he did? Is it possible God knows something we don’t know and he has good reasons for the way he did things? This guy can’t seem to conceive that anyone, let along God, might know something he doesn’t know ….
If religion only exists for the purpose of perpetuation of the species, in some intergenerational darwinian pipeline of genetic and knowledge transfer, then what is the ultimate destination for humanity? It seems to me that Malcolm is concerned about the future for his children, which is understandable as a parent, but only from the practical concerns of material existance. As a parent myself, I also have metaphysical concerns for my children and others around me, that are not disconnected from pure material existance, but consider the impact of how material existence effects the metaphysical and future of existence in the eschaton.
🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:01 🌍 *Decline in Global Birth Rates* - Discussion about the alarming decline in global birth rates and its impact on society. - Explanation of the correlation between wealth and fertility rates, with wealthier nations experiencing lower birth rates. 07:09 💡 *Economic Factors Affecting Fertility Rates* - Examination of how economic systems influence fertility decisions, with more kids now equating to less wealth. - Exploration of the shift from the traditional model of large families to smaller family units due to economic changes. 13:09 🛐 *Role of Religion in Fertility Rates* - Analysis of how religious beliefs and practices can significantly affect fertility rates. - Observation that conservative religious groups tend to have higher fertility rates. 14:50 🌐 *Cultural and Religious Traditions' Impact on Fertility* - Discussion on the varying impact of different cultural and religious traditions on fertility rates. - Comparison of fertility rates among different religious groups, including Catholics and Muslims. 16:12 ⛪ *Fertility Rates Within Religious Communities* - Insights into the difference in fertility rates within religious communities based on levels of conservatism and church attendance. - Observation that more conservative or devout individuals within a religious community tend to have higher fertility rates. 17:20 🌍 *Fertility Rates and Cultural Diversity* - Analysis of the relationship between cultural diversity and fertility rates in countries like the United States and Israel. - Discussion on the impact of conservatism and cultural systems on fertility rates, especially in Catholic countries. 20:10 🛐 *Religion, Fertility, and Intergenerational Fidelity* - Exploration of the necessity for religions to not only maintain high fertility rates but also ensure intergenerational adherence to the faith. - Identification of groups like the Amish and conservative Jews who excel in intergenerational fidelity and high fertility. 25:06 🚀 *Technological and Economic Engagement in Fertility* - Discussion on the future implications of groups that maintain high fertility while being technologically and economically engaged. - Emphasis on the significant future influence of these groups in shaping humanity, including space colonization. 29:24 ⚙️ *Designing Religions for Modern Challenges* - Insights into designing religions that can withstand modern challenges, including maintaining high fertility and technological engagement. - The need for religions to be adaptable, yet firm in their doctrines, to prevent loss of followers and ensure long-term survival. 35:24 💭 *Addressing Logical Inconsistencies in Religion* - Discussion on the reasons behind deconversion from religious faiths, focusing on logical inconsistencies. - Analysis of challenges like the 'good God problem' and the need for religions to adapt logically to modern understanding. 38:12 🌐 *Concept of a Totalizing Religion with Local Revelation* - Exploration of the issue with religions having a local revelation and its implications on global applicability. - The necessity for religions to address the logistical challenges posed by historical revelations and miracles. 42:07 🤔 *Rethinking Religious Narratives* - Rethinking and restructuring traditional religious narratives to fit modern contexts. - Emphasis on interpreting religious stories as metaphors or symbols rather than literal events. 48:07 🔄 *Progressive Revelation and Intergenerational Faithfulness* - The balance between progressive revelation and maintaining intergenerational faithfulness. - Importance of understanding the underlying reasons for religious practices and adapting them intelligently. 53:02 🚀 *Engineering a Religion for Future Generations* - Strategies for designing a religion that is intellectually plausible and aligns with long-term goals. - Creating a network of families with similar religious goals to provide a community for future generations. Made with HARPA AI
Boy, does Malcolm talk fast. Thank the RU-vid gods for the playback speed adjustment. I didn't catch all of the conversation because multitasking, but my quick take is: Using religion as a vehicle for any political purpose, in this case biopolitical, is, to me, a recipe for disaster. Churches are places of worship and evangelization with the primary goal of personal "here and now" salvation. I think that creating a religion motivated primarily by some longtermism philosophy is to isolate it from its true meaning and function. Ultimately, what ends up happening is the opposite of its intended mission for humanity.
All good and fair points. But even asking the question of "how would one design a religion to last into the future" I believe is a helpful and interesting question. But I agree it is probably best not viewed as an ultimate goal but a welcomed side effect of pursing the ultimate goal which is the glory of God.
The way I see it, people need both a short and long term ROI I often think of the miserable kids who were Pascal's Wagered, but never had a single relgious experience a day in their life.
I enjoyed this. Wish I heard more of you. Thank you for sharing Sam. I’d like to speak to him as well. As you know I have my own concerns regarding Judaism and it’s response to the ever increasing technological advances and it’s ramifications. Based on the fertility rate it looks like we may take over - id like us to do so in orderly, timely and productive fashion
23:00 Malcolm says that mormons have low retention rates because they don't let their teenagers freely indulge in wider society like the amish do , but neither do ultra-orthodox jews and yet they have the best retention rate
Perhaps it's because they're in constant civil war (drag cartels). You can't have all your eggs in one basket when you are in that level of existential danger.
Sam, I love that you listen and don't interrupt. When you have a guest on, you have a guest on. I can't stand channels where they have guests on and then interrupt, often don't let them finish KEY THOUGHTS. Why even have a guest???? What you call "a light touch" I call MANNERS @@transfigured3673
17:00 "the more immigrants you have in a country, the higher the native population's fertility rate" This is not caused by the presence of immigrants and the proof of this is that in western european countries, native fertility rates were higher several decades ago when there was much less immigrants. mass immigration into Europe has not resulted in native fertility rates increasing. rather the european countries where there is the least mass immigration (mediterranean , balkan and eastern european countries) have the least mass immigration because immigrants rather go to the richer north-western european nations. and those mediterranean, balkan and eastern european nations with low mass immigration have lower birth rates than north-western european nations due to effects of communism and certain economic differences between mediterranean and north-west european nations.
47:40 Tell me you support eugenics without using the word eugenics. It's one thing for my fellow materialists / nihilists to follow this path of Darwinian survival of the fittest to a cultural space with its attendant consequences, but to prop it up with a made up theology emphasizing market competition just shows how market competition is the highest power there. I can't argue with the socioeconomic analysis, but it's all so hollow if the only solution is to just thrust humanity forth into the 40k universe.
I think Malcolm would distinguish between reproductive decisions made voluntarily by a family and state mandated or coercive eugenics. But I should also add, I don't agree with embryo selection methods for multiple reasons. I am in favor of reproducing the good old fashioned way. Where to draw the line for couples who want children but have so far been infertile and want to try various fertility treatments is hard to say.
I don’t know enough about mormonism: is there some theological justification behind Malcolm’s peculiar disinterest towards proselytising? I find it odd that he seems to prioritise darwinian concerns (ie the colonisation of space) over the truthfulness of his faith
The cynical USE of religion to promote a worldly goal-such as high fertility rates-is morally, spirituality, and theologically invalid. And unfortunately, that’s what Malcolm seems to advocate.
I had a weird theory that the Sons of God in Genesis 6 could be time travelers from the future; it seems pretty plausible that they might be the descendants of Malcolm and Simone.
Malcolms diagnosis is very interesting. But his prescription (revise religions) seems really shallow and not thoughtfully engaged with theology or philosophy. He seems to underpin alot of his prescription with a utilitarian ethic that basically says revise religion, remove its metaphysics so that it can be intellectually viable in order to draw more people back which will likely change the downward trajectory of global fertility. Its clear half way through this conversation he switches from sociological analysis into theology and its just not convincing to me. Christianity for example is not driven by an overarching concern for the survival of the species. For the Christian, death is not the end of life. Death infests life. How Jesus understood categories of life and death are very interesting. The Christian way is to learn to die well. Not preserve ones life. Its only when we embrace this disturbing and radical invitation to die with Christ that we learn to see what life and death mean through his eyes. All that to say, I very much enjoyed listening to Malcolm. I just think his response, that we should revise pre-modern Christian metaphysical assertions to revive conservative cultures is a very strange one given that the turn from pre-modern to modern thinking that privileges disenchanted reason and rationality grounds the liberal secularist worldview that is one of the big causes of this problem to begin with.
This is well said. Many outside the Catholic faith can’t understand the concept of “dying so we may rise with him”. It’s the folly of the cross. I enjoy listening to the Collins when they talk about fertility stats and attempt to educate people ln the fertility crisis, but boy do they have some weird beliefs and Solutions.
@@Bennyboy42422 definitely. It's giving "cult" vibes haha. I find this kindve utilitarian shallowness is so common among secular right wing public intellectuals who bemoan the degradation of society and have nostalgia for some cultural christian past but do not actually want the full measure Christian faith. This is common with Jordan Peterson, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens etc etc. They all claim we need cultural Christianity to save us but do not understand that secularism is part of the legacy of a watered down cultural Christianity that emerged out of modernity. Max Weber demonstrated this.
@@transfigured3673 Yes, the exmuslims of north america website has some and I think PEW research has done some polling. one figure I recall for either north america or USA was that 1/4 of people born to islamic families end up leaving. This is signfiicantly lower in Europe. they don't intermingle or westernise as much in europe.
@34 Bottom line, your religion must be able to convert at a high rate from the urban monoculture. That’s the version of Christianity which wins. Peterson was the John the Baptist for this version.
You speak of Catholicism no longer being an effective strategy to motivate reproduction, and yet there are an awful lot of 4 and 5 kid families at church. Seems to me the larger issue is that living in historically Catholic places is no longer an effective strategy to motivate people to be Catholic.
I’ve suspected that Amish ‘opposite’ feature might be the most winsome approach with both kids and adults. Interesting to see that play itself out with data.
2:57 "so that means in a lot of these Latin American countries you're basically having a population that's halfing every year.." My English is not perfect, but I've double checked it with the transcript.
