Religion: is it for the good of mankind or not?
- Thread starter iggyus
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Though I am not a very large supporter of religion myself, I beleive that religion in itself isn't bad, its just the religious fanatics that are bad.
The only bad thing (that I can think of) is the annoying twerps who listen to other annoying twerps ('Zomg Islam is bad! Let's crusade!') and actually follow what they say because it's 'out of love of god'. One thing frequently said in the bible is not to kill, then why should you be able to kill if someone tells you to?
Religion gives bonding, feeling of togetherness, support, guidelines for your life and lots more. It's only people who abuse it (like starters of crusades or Hitler) that fuck it up. If I were to tell people we need to commit suicide because christ told me to do so, I know a lot of people won't believe. That's because our society is changing and everyone has his own opinion. If I were to say the same 600 years ago, or even 50, a lot more people would do it..
Religion gives bonding, feeling of togetherness, support, guidelines for your life and lots more. It's only people who abuse it (like starters of crusades or Hitler) that fuck it up. If I were to tell people we need to commit suicide because christ told me to do so, I know a lot of people won't believe. That's because our society is changing and everyone has his own opinion. If I were to say the same 600 years ago, or even 50, a lot more people would do it..
[Posts a vulgar, hateful, /b/-esque rant outlining my disgust with religion and its damage to science, complete with a perceptibly humorous, anti-religious image]APPCRASH said:
But it is the historic place of religions to argue that they are right and that others are wrong.APPCRASH said:
So before that fence wears a hole in the butt of your pants, take a small reality check, aetheists have a perfect right to express their opinions on the rightness or wrongness of religion.
The only difference is aetheists do not claim to come from a position of being right before the argument even starts, nor do we threaten to kill anyone who disagrees with us.
Science help the world if we all beleived we had no right to comment.
The reason I say religion is "bad" is because of what it can incite. I don't need to go off on any of them because they all do stupid things, and have stupid arbitrary sets of rules, the first of which being, "If you do not follow my rules and ONLY my rules you will be damned eteranlly"
Whatever you choose to phrase any supposed higher power as, do you think that in their omnipotent mercy, if any, they would ascribe to the same belief?
Whatever you choose to phrase any supposed higher power as, do you think that in their omnipotent mercy, if any, they would ascribe to the same belief?
Umm... I can't help but wonder if you're actually comparing ancient epic poetry to a cheap joke from the Daily Show or the Colbert Report. My point was that polytheism in general just made for some great reading, while the teachings of one omnipotent deity are rather bland.Kiutu said:
Religion as a source of comfort and moral guidance towards the betterment of mankind = good.
Religion as a reason to destroy other people cos they don't believe in your Religion(this includes science disagreeing with your Religion)= bad.
That said even without Religion as a reason for hate and violence, people will continue to do so.
Religion as a reason to destroy other people cos they don't believe in your Religion(this includes science disagreeing with your Religion)= bad.
That said even without Religion as a reason for hate and violence, people will continue to do so.
For sure....Sphinx86 said:
A quote from an Australian reporter in East Timor, shortly before the complete pre-election collapse of thier society...
"There appear to be many reasons why the various factions are clashing, but being here on the ground, you cant not help but get the feeling, sadly, these people just like killing each other"
Some folks are just like that. Religion provides no better or more palusible excuse than water, land, food or even football.
Karl Marx got a lot things wrong, but the part about "opium of the people" was right on the point.
Religion dull people's reaction against injustice, rather it send people to pursuit "solace". It perverse the discussion of morality and tradition. It only manifest its humility in recognizing that no one will adhere to its obsolete and destructive dogmas unless enforced by civil government.
So no, I don't find religion to be good for mankind.
Religion dull people's reaction against injustice, rather it send people to pursuit "solace". It perverse the discussion of morality and tradition. It only manifest its humility in recognizing that no one will adhere to its obsolete and destructive dogmas unless enforced by civil government.
So no, I don't find religion to be good for mankind.
you know, private RELIGIOUS schools save millions for the government by education kids at no expense to the government, RELIGIOUS organizations donate millions to charity and do lots of charity work. and RELIGIONS spread morals involving goodwill towards man. If muslim extremists want to blow themselves up, don't use them to describe all religion and religious people. If there were crusades hundreds of years ago, do not use them to describe all religions and religious people.
YES, people have died for religion, but people have died for pretty much everything by this point. Religions do not ask members to kill themselves or others (except for small secluded cults and extreme religions)
How would all the athiests like it if i were to go around saying "Hitler went around killing millions in the name of his personal ATHIEST philosophy, all athiests are bad and will get us all killed in the end"
NEVER use old examples, or extremists to label a group
YES, people have died for religion, but people have died for pretty much everything by this point. Religions do not ask members to kill themselves or others (except for small secluded cults and extreme religions)
How would all the athiests like it if i were to go around saying "Hitler went around killing millions in the name of his personal ATHIEST philosophy, all athiests are bad and will get us all killed in the end"
NEVER use old examples, or extremists to label a group
The problem is many people think that they think religion gives 'Morality' when in fact it can be used to justify just about anything, from murder to slavery.
They just pick and choose their morality, and basically say the bible (Or w/e holy book) says what they mean, instead of what the bible actually says.
"No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says; he is always convinced that it says what he means." - George Bernard Shaw
"Men never commit evil so fully and joyfuly as when they do it for religious convictions"
-- Blaise Pascal
They just pick and choose their morality, and basically say the bible (Or w/e holy book) says what they mean, instead of what the bible actually says.
"No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says; he is always convinced that it says what he means." - George Bernard Shaw
"Men never commit evil so fully and joyfuly as when they do it for religious convictions"
-- Blaise Pascal
Malthus theory, if someone died because of it, it is CLEARLY right. Peace and love can only be reached by lessening the number of people on the earth.iggyus said:
Seriously though, organized religion is mostly bad for the people. However, religion in itself is not. It can give people hope to move forward with their lives after something bad has happened. It's kind of like the American Dream, it does a lot of harm, but people need to believe that they can get out of the lower class on hard work alone.
I still say that Dogma (the movie) said it best [I will paraphrase]. Asking questions about our existence and humanities purpose on earth is one of the most fundamental aspects of sentient thought. It is when we build institutions around them that they become vulnerable to human constructs such as hate, greed, control, and exploitation.
Why do we seek the need to go to a church and have our existence dictated to us? Why do not exercise our free will and ....oh I don’t know....... experience the world and find our own direction in life.
I also disagree in the concept placed forward by several of the dominant religions in the world that you must fear your creator and that you must hold to their ideals with the existential threat of eternal damnation (or the equivalent). It feels like faith at the point of a gun.
For even Martin Luther said “Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.”
Why do we seek the need to go to a church and have our existence dictated to us? Why do not exercise our free will and ....oh I don’t know....... experience the world and find our own direction in life.
I also disagree in the concept placed forward by several of the dominant religions in the world that you must fear your creator and that you must hold to their ideals with the existential threat of eternal damnation (or the equivalent). It feels like faith at the point of a gun.
For even Martin Luther said “Every man must do two things alone; he must do his own believing and his own dying.”