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The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 3:29 am
It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.
The reason religion is so powerful is because of the concept of God. God is above everything. The universe, the Earth, humanity, were created by God. Since religion exists due to God, then religion is above everything too. Above politics, countries, economy, etc.
Life after death, for example, is exclusive to religion. No political ideology promises you heaven after death. Religion tells you you will meet your parents after death, and reunite. No political ideology promises this.
This is why religion is so dangerous. Since God is above everything, so is religion, as the cause of its existence is God, and God is absolute. So your beliefs are absolute.
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 3:41 am
(This post was last modified: June 6, 2021 at 4:47 am by no one.
Edit Reason: keyboard gnomes
)
People are arrogant, dumb, fragile, insecure, and most of all, dumb.
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 8:18 am
(This post was last modified: June 6, 2021 at 8:19 am by brewer.)
God then becomes the ultimate human justification/rationalization.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 8:27 am
(June 6, 2021 at 3:29 am)Macoleco Wrote: It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.
I suppose to test this, we'd have to work out whether people have been more or less willing to do violence for political purposes than for religious purposes.
Like, how many people in history have thought, "I am facing my political enemy on the battlefield to defend my homeland and my way of life, but because this war isn't based on God I guess I'll just go home."
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 8:55 am
(June 6, 2021 at 8:27 am)Belacqua Wrote: I suppose to test this, we'd have to work out whether people have been more or less willing to do violence for political purposes than for religious purposes. Nope. Such a test would be morally abhorrent. Yet we have seen such tests in real life. It is not some intellectual exercise, something you seem to believe everything reduces to. No, not at all. In reality, millions have died on foot of such philosophical babblings.
Your problem is that you are stuck in academic philosophy. All clean and pretty.
You really do not care about what people do with that afterwards. The practical results of your navel gazing are unimportant to you.
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 8:59 am
(June 6, 2021 at 8:27 am)Belacqua Wrote: (June 6, 2021 at 3:29 am)Macoleco Wrote: It is quite common to listen people saying that political ideologies, for example, can be as dangerous as religion. Nonetheless, I disagree with this statement.
I suppose to test this, we'd have to work out whether people have been more or less willing to do violence for political purposes than for religious purposes.
When did political ideologies ever promise eternal life or eternal damnation?
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 9:00 am
(This post was last modified: June 6, 2021 at 9:01 am by The Grand Nudger.)
Religion is politics. The addition of a theistic god, like the addition of any earthly dictator, spells disaster. People will die for their beliefs, whatever they happen to be.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 9:04 am
(June 6, 2021 at 9:00 am)The Grand Nudger Wrote: Religion is politics. The addition of a theistic god, like the addition of any earthly dictator, spells disaster. People will die for their beliefs, whatever they happen to be.
Does it?
OK, having no dog in the fight, I propose this.
The rise of the evangelicals to power in the USA ensures that the USA will fall.
Agree? Disagree? Discuss?
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 10:32 am
Unlikely, given the persistence of theocratic states in history (both de jure and de facto). Cold comfort to the people on the wrong end of their efforts, ofc.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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RE: The reason religion is so powerful
June 6, 2021 at 11:03 am
Meh...it seems to me that religious belief just as often serves as a constraint on the corrupt ambitions of the powerful. Human dignity is a purely relgious concept. Secular governance can still retain the idea for a while but without the rligious underpinning it is just an unchallenged assumption. Cut flowers cannot hold their bloom forever.
<insert profound quote here>
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