I am agnostic on religion — it works for some people and facilitates social coordination, but it can also be abused.

Red sent me an excellent example of “conservative religion” creating a sustainable agricultural model.

For many centuries, priests at Balinese water temples decided when and where rice would be planted and irrigated. Their godly system evolved into a complex set of institutions that maximized the production of rice while minimizing water use and crop destruction by vermin.

When the government tried to bypass the water temples in favor of “modern” techniques espoused by the Green Revolution, the resulting decreases in yields and increases in pollution quickly revealed the efficiency of the system supported by “superstitious” farmers. Back to the temples they went.

Bottom Line: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!