The worst idea Mankind ever had?

[cuddly_tomato]

In my opinion, it is religion, not because I don't believe, but because of all the destruction, horror and death caused by it. It's insane. People put all their faith into something that was written by some random guy. Millions of people have died because of it. And that's bullshit about Communism causing more deaths, Communism's been around for, what? 100 years? Tops? Religion has been around for Thousands. Think of all the great wars religion has caused. The Crusades spring to mind. Religion is Mankind's biggest mistake. I'm sure all you religious people out there will disagree, and all you patriotic Americans will say Communism. I just have to say, I'm not an Atheist. I'm completely Agnostic. But, quite frankly, the world would be better without religion, no matter what happens after we die. I've said my piece.

EDIT: The person above me is talking shit. Just so you know

You are provably wrong. The Great Leap Forward alone killed far more people than all the religious conflicts combined. Here is my evidence:-

http://users.erols.com/mwhite28/warstat0.htm

How about you provide some of your own, particularly as you are accusing someone of bullshit without backing it up.

Atheism, because people like this believe in it. I don't think atheists are wrong just this person is a moron..."6 million jews killed during the holocaust" this was caused by hitler trying to remove a RACE not the religion, note hitler didn't hate jews, they were just an easy target for the german populace.

I humbly disagree. Don't make the mistake of associating theophobia and bigotry with atheism. I myself don't believe in god or any kind of omnipotent being, but I don't begrudge or think less of those who do. Why? Because my own religious/spiritual outlook is not based on hatred. All religious wars, all acts of genocide and all cases of religiously motivated terrorism are defined by hatred. Hatred of those who think differently, not the religion itself. People don't attack others because they think their god told them too, but because they hate that the other side don't agree with them, that the other side is different than they are.

Thus it is with the guy you quoted. He is the same as Fred Phelps, Jerry Falwell and the like. They do have a religious belief, but it is based on hatred of that which they don't agree with, and a sociopathic urge to "correct" anyone who disagrees with their worldview. What you are talking about isn't atheism, it is theophobia and bigotry, and that can exist in any creed, culture, or religion.

 

[caross73]

worst idea ever RELIGION.

Maybe. Pick one of these atheist states you would like to live in...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_atheism

Sweden. Oh, wasn't on the list? Maybe because atheism isn't a religion or form of government, and doesn't need government to promote it. Your whole argument, that the absence of religion in government leads ipso facto to despotism, is ridiculous. States don't need to be religious and shouldn't be. That is not the same as promoting atheism, even if the government is, in practice, atheist. The counterargument, that religion in government leads to strife, operates just fine, even when atheism IS the religion.

The worst idea ever isn't religion, its that someone can be right about something just because they believe in it, and so should you.

Most wars in this world, from ancient Greeks to now, are caused by tribalism.

This I agree with. Wars start because other people are seen as 'the other.' And what does religion do? It creates new tribes based not on anything other than a shared, unprovable, unshakable belief, automatically creating a new other. As long as religion continues to create groups of chosen people, people who are better and more entitled than everyone else because they toe the line their God sets for them, I will continue to say religion is a bad idea. Give me a solid agnostic, or a weak atheist, who doubts everything, any day of the week than a religious person who knows.

 

[Fox1789]

Furbies and folk music

 

[AlphaOmega]

Religion

 

[Zildjin81]

What about religion? The deaths that have been caused by religion pale in comparison to communism. (I won't even get on the part that communism has been around for a tiny fraction of that of religion as well).

I can cite exact numbers if you wish of the deaths caused by Communist countries vs the biggest atrocities of religion. Let me know if you want to try this argument with me, you will lose, the numbers are there.

What are those numbers? I believe you I just want to write then down somewhere for next time I get in an argument about this stuff.

 

[fulano]

It would have to be religion for me. Not for what most people would associate with it, though.

Quite honestly, I believe religion is the single biggest tragedy mankind brought on itself.

 

[Sane Man]

I posted some of my argument earlier in this thread in a reply to ninjaman! I used R. J. Rummel as my source. Just scroll up and you'll see it.

 

[NeedAUserName]

Evolve out of the sea... Life would be so much easier if we had the 3/5s of the land, instead of the 2/5 (roughly). And everyone would be a lot more connected, with inland pools/lakes instead of islands.

 

[Kais86]

While I don't particularly like religion, it was a good idea, at first, then it kind of fell apart, religion is what allowed mankind to survive thus far by going out and grouping people together thus increasing the chances that they will live. Currently though it is an archaic idea primarily used to placate the masses and start stupid arguments. I'd also like to point out that any given religion is a cluster of ideas, not a single one, let alone the rather large number of individual religions. Admittedly my idea for dumbest idea is also a cluster of ideas, but they all point to one beginning idea: let's make things safe, warning labels, terrible idea, before you get up in arms about this let me clarify my statement, Survival of the fittest has been overwritten by "save them all" and idiots breed far faster than intelligent people, especially when you set it so that the world is idiot proof. this leads to a world where intelligence will lose quality and when all of the smart people no longer exist what will happen? Massive culling, waves of death as no one is intelligent enough to develop society further and mankind will fall into a new dark age, eventually leading to our extinction as someone finds and accidentally activates our weapons, and they destroy earth.

 

[wowcrendor]

Telemarketing.

 

[letsnoobtehpwns]

Communism, nukes and socialism... fuck! Never mind, I already said socialism.

 

[L33tsauce_Marty]

Heh, Master Cheif would be proud. GG convanent!

 

[Strelok17]

*clears throat* obviously, good people, it is the Internet phenomena we know as forums

 

[Shadow5]

Stupidest thing ever???

Test conclusively that certain food additives han cause multiple organ failure and still allow them to be used in food

 

[TopHatTim]

Reproducing.

AHAHAHA holy shit thats the most clever unthought of response ive heard of in a while.

 

[TopHatTim]

The stupidest thing mankind has ever done?

hitler...
that bastard ruined that mustach for everyone.

 

[fulano]

Telemarketing.

I can feel the pain...of being alive.

Yeah, telemarketing can be quite life draining. Seconds seem like minutes and minutes seem like hours.

 

[defcon 1]

 

[Bat Vader]

Fox News being created. Just an idea.

 

[klarr]

umm when somone said " hey lets make a anime that never ends and anouther that has a little kid parrot the same phrases over and over again" and now we have inuasha and naruto.
no offence to those of you who like the show or manga.