A World without religion

[Cakes]

Without religion acting as a unifying force for humanity durring civilization's early development

This is actually true, religion was a very important part of early civilization.
So, what's it still doing around?

 

[chiggerwood]

Would be the same, because religions themselves dont cause wars, abusing the ideals does.

WOW someone actually gets it! Seriously religion has NEVER caused or started a war. It has only been a catalyst. What has started wars is power hungry people that were disgusting enough to take advantage of peoples love for their God, and their inability to read; see dark ages, or ignorance; see Westboro baptist church, which I will be quick to state that they're enough to make Jesus Christ, and God Almighty atheist. They're Christians in the same way suicide bombers are Muslim.

 

[Danman1]

Am I th only one to think of Imagine when I saw the article title? No hell, below uss. Above us only sky. Fuck now it's in my head. Anyway a world without religion would only work if 98% of the population weren't narcasistic asshats. Which they are.*
People are lead to crusade and kill to make people accept their beliefs. And if everyone were allowed to have their own beliefs there would be mass murder and rape round the clock. Which there is allready I guess, but it would be individuals fighting eachother, not Christians versus Muslims or whatever. And that wouldn't be nearly as fun as now because Religions can afford better guns.


*Do I need a survey to prove this? Go into a crowded area, Say a school hallway or a mall, And count 100 people. As some game reviewer once said 'people are shit'.

 

[Simalacrum]

I don't know actually. Theres a possibility that chaos would ensue, as nobody had an explanation for their own existence (scientific or otherwise), and they didn't have any moralities to follow. Then again, our ancestors might not have needed moral guidance of such kind (especially the guidance of some religions were...erm...), and infact the lack of explanation of the omniverse may have propelled us into greater scientific leaps, resulting in our great Human Empire spanning across the galaxy.

Who knows.

Might have happened.

 

[Cakes]

RAWR GRR FUCK FUCK FUCK

Yeah, that's not gonna get you anywhere. What point were you trying to make here...?

 

[Autovon]

People probably wouldn't have morals if religion never existed.

 

[faceless chick]

RAWR GRR FUCK FUCK FUCK

Yeah, that's not gonna get you anywhere. What point were you trying to make here...?

I dunno but it's exactly his kind that will still be around if religion died and prevented any real progress from being made even in a scientifically oriented world.

i still think the world would be sadder and more depressed without religion, though.

 

[obliterate]

Let's look at the bright side of things...We will be much more advanced in science...yeah I think that covers it up

 

[Axeli]

Well, for such a historical scenario to be even possible, people themselves should be different.

People as creatures should not be so eager to go for and cling to the easy answers, they should be capable of accepting their own ignorance, mortality and insignificance. They should be rational and intellectually independed.

A smart and wise person without any religious upbringing does not jump to the conclusion that thunder is cause by a giant blacksmith's hammer or that after you die a guy with a dog face will measure your heart against a feather.
Yet someone made such conclusions and evidently managed to somehow convince other people, too. All because they just couldn't accept that they really knew nothing.

 

[chiggerwood]

i was tempted to write something but it really wouldnt change anything in something like this oponions dont change, they only cause flame wars so these posts are useless.

You speak the truth. It is useless to have these threads. No good ever comes from these threads. Thank you for your post. I'll just ignore threads like his from now on. You have made me wiser today, and no I'm not being facetious.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

something something

Oy! Don't you go pressing your athiesm here, buddy!
Haha, I kidd. I have philosophy, not religion. Agnosticism--for the maybe!
Nah, I'm just saying that the lessons and values that they teach, or admittedly attempt to, is generally what helps most people through their formative years and the hard spots in their lives. Not necessary, but if you need it, then good for you, ya know?

What's the opposite of Christopher Reeve?
Christopher Walken.

I have to admit--I laughed.

 

[faceless chick]

Well, for such a historical scenario to be even possible, people themselves should be different.

People as creatures should not be so eager to go for and cling to the easy answers, they should be capable of accepting their own ignorance, mortality and insignificance. They should be rational and intellectually independed.

A smart and wise person without any religious upbringing does not jump to the conclusion that thunder is cause by a giant blacksmith's hammer or that after you die a guy with a dog face will measure your heart against a feather.
Yet someone made such conclusions and evidently managed to somehow convince other people, too. All because they just couldn't accept that they really knew nothing.

Should I remind the world that egyptians and romans and greeks, who were very intelligent and advanced, were also very religious?

They just accepted religion as "fact" just like we accept the articles we see published in newspapers, and got on with their studies.

We should do the same.

 

[khaimera]

Without it its possible we could get less done becuase of the existential void we would have to face. It could lower prductivity. Relgion is what keeps many people moving forward and motivated to do good.

So, you say that if people came to the conclusion that there wasn't another life waiting for them, they'd do less in this one?

What the fuck?

I think that some would people would do less for two reasons.

First, I think that without a faith in something, many but not all, would become depressed and hopeless. Sure life may be meaningless, but that hope that there's something bigger and better awaiting is a big motivator to just get out of bed and live.

Second, I think many people are selfish and only do good things for the eternal reward they think they will receive becuase of it. How many people use morality based on religion as a guide for what to do and not do.

Death + no afterlife could be a motivator to live one's life to teh fullest, but in my experince it doesn't. Death denial is too strong.

Okay, well, I am an atheist, and I am neither depressed or hopeless. I get out of bed in the morning and go to university, which is more than the majority of people can say at my age.

I belive you. Thats why I said many and not all people. Of course there would be lots of exceptions. Personally, I'm agnostic and it works fine for me. I've just met so many people for whom religion gives their life meaning. It really helps alot of people.

 

[Slick Samurai]

Not much different, but one could argue if religion NEVER existed, then morals would base from selfish routes. The killing wouldn't be different either, no penalty for slaughtering a nation would equal to about the same death toll, if not higher.

 

[GHMonkey]

i thin the idea of god is comforting to people and to be rid of god would make the end terrifying for SOME in the end. so i think the idea of god is a good thing.if you don't beleive in god, go ahead. that's what you believe, just don't push it in other peoples faces otherwise you are no better than the religious fanatics that you so bitterly despise. grow up, seriously. its like being in middle school again "I'm right, You're wrong"

 

[katsa5]

Didn't Communism already try for that? We've seen how well that worked out.

 

[Nargleblarg]

No war, terrorism, intolerance, and a world unified under a hello kitty flag....what a horrible world.

 

[delet]

Without the guidance of religion, of any shape or form, chances are we'd be dead or suffering a lot by now. As much as I HATE religion, that's mostly due to what it's become and how many people misuse and interpret their respective texts to allow them to rise up in power.

As I see it, religion started out as a simple way to explain the unexplainable. Why does the Sun rise? Why do the crops go? What happens after we die? All could be explained with the belief in a superior being, one that can do things we couldn't ever think possible to do ourselves; a God. Eventually, people came up with the idea that they could try and do things to appease these gods; usually sacrifices of animals or people. Things evolved to the point it's at now and here's where I start to hate.

The idea of only one God came up and this eventually led to conversions, executions, and wars. Religion was also taken advantage of to take money and gain power in society. Religion, as it is now disgusts me in a way. People killing others and themselves in the name of their God. People preaching 'Convert or burn!' in the name of their God. It is because of modern day religion that I dislike it so much.

The only reason I can see for religion to exist, at this point, is to give our lives meaning. The two unanswerable questions are left to religion: "What's after death" and "What's the meaning of Life". Religion guarantees eternal life and happiness after death as long as you do 'right' in this life. What is considered 'right' is debatable depending on religion. Religion's purpose is to keep us all from just killing ourselves, though I don't see it as doing anything else it strives for effectively...

... Well, that's my life philosophy on this subject in general. Sorry if I've offended, I'm just throwing my beliefs into the pool.