TED Community » Volney Faustini

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I'm passionate about

Digital Natives, the future of education and work.
Innovation, the Web and the revolution.
People,

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• TEDCred score: +116.00 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

• A reply on Conversation: Has religion outlived it's usefulness?

  Feb 22 2011: If I were given the opportunity to suggest a name for the next TED conference, I would strongly recommend Os Guiness for his sharp and intelligent pointing of potential errors that American Society might bring about in following a radical secularism as well as the radical religious right. Every time we polarize the discussion or our intents, we do an awfull job on liberty, diversity and unity.
  
  His 2008 book The Case for Civility: And Why Our Future Depends on It - challenges us to a higher and more noble position that is more than being tolerant: to be civil. And I agree with him. The public square is not to be naked (stripped of any religion) nor to be sacred (as some Muslim Societies are - and sad to say - some radical Christians would love).
  
  Although the question was not posted - but it comes about that when we want to square in on religion (or better saying to put religion on the table and try to strip it). This is just an impossible task for the quest to believe is innate in the human being, and that is what gives us power to decide and live. Each one of us has a personnal faith - Philosphy and Epistemology will give us more light on the matter.
  
  So as I tryed to make my point in my other comments - we fall into a trap not being able to separate Religion from other forms of 'ism's. The assumption that Religion follows a sacred text is limited. What counts is not what we explain for our deeds and behaviour (afterward) but what came before, and caused us to act (and live) and that is ... our personnal belief system.

• A reply on Conversation: Has religion outlived it's usefulness?

  Feb 21 2011: When we look upon someonelse's creed or worldvision and consider it a fallacy, we are creating a religion of our own, thus making an argumentative circle that entraps our own position. We cannot use 'reason' (the Rational framework that is) as a superior assumption in which we build our argument. Even if we have to go into Philosophy - this has to be clarified.
  
  RD does in fact create a new religion to fight a widespread creed under the umbrella which peolple believe in a Supreme Being. It is easy to fall into a cry mourning for having to live in the same world where people don't accept the same 'ism as we do.
  
  I understand perfectly well - even though being a Brazilian - that American Society is in a constant strugle with the religious influence perpetuaded by those with political power. But the Democratic Sistem has to find ways to minimize any kind of bad influence.
  
  I would say - since Mr. Bush is mentioned - that the great majority of the Latin American Christians (Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox) did not endorse his decision for war, and felt that his motivations were more personnal than religious.

• A comment on Conversation: "What is your TED story? How TED or TEDx has impacted your life in a meaningful way"? Want to share it?

  Feb 20 2011: Although I had known about TED talks for sometime, what really struk me in a more definite way was to be in TEDxSaoPaulo about 14 months ago. We had all the speakers but one to be Brazilians, so it was really awesome to see things being shared that was really new for most of the attendees or topics that were being negleted by main stream media. I felt energized and proud of my people and that changes were happening in my country.
  
  Then by the end of the day, a young 19 year old volunteer came up on the stand and challenged people like me who speak-write English to help out with translation and sub-titles, since the Brazilians were behind the Bulgarians in the TED Translation ranking.
  
  It just happens that today there is no video available for Portuguese-Brasil translation or review. The Brazilians volunteers are so in for it that seldom is there a talk on the waiting list. I guess what looked as a competitive effort turned out to be a major effort to make all talks availabre for the Brazilian people.
  
  So it is really joyful to share that TED impacted my life in such a way that made me a part of it's community worldwide.
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  A comment on Conversation: Has religion outlived it's usefulness?

  Feb 17 2011: Respectfully I say that to discuss any kind of direct action against religion - ever more by people outside its quarters - is plainly nonsense. Live it to those who are inside to bring balance and consistency upon their beliefs.
  
  The radicals - on any matter, issue or belief are a danger to themselves and others: if he is a believer, an agnostic, or an atheist. Of course any bad or wrong behaviour should be adressed by law and justice. But subjectively what can a disagreer do?
  
  Try to eliminate or to put any kind of limits or restrain on people's creed is just impossible. And using the argument that it is for the sake of humanity is just like throwing the baby away with the dirty water.
  
  Religion cannot be properly defined or characterized. Any kind of human movement in groups motivated by some kind of idealism or subjectivity can fall into the same trap. Anti religion is another kind of religion. Freedom above all is the best policy.
  
  Christianity has shown itself to be extremely bad on many occasions, and extremely good on others. The same applies to other religions. September 11 - how awfull and heartbreaking - is one example of the many attrocities played by man.
  
  Many give the argument that Western society would not be what it is otherwise if it wasn't for its Christian pressupositions and beliefs.
  
  Now, as we live in times where Institutions are on the brink - let the reactions, the reform movements, the self healing efforts and so on, be natural, spontaneous and nevertheless human.

• A reply on Conversation: What's the overlooked gem, the book I haven't read that I must?

  Feb 17 2011: For sure it is a gem, since only recently the author's writing have been more publicized in languages other than Portuguese. The titles are: The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas by Machado de Assis, and Dom Casmurro a Novel. Just to add a final note, Machado de Assis, brazilian novelist and poet is considered the greatest wriiter in brazilian literature.