(August 15, 2013 at 9:01 am)Maelstrom Wrote: Religion is to humanity as the appendix is to the human body.

Ha thats brilliant
Probably very useful in our evolutionary past, irrelevant now, a dead weight, sometimes it kills people when it goes wrong

I think in the modern age, the relevance to what religion can provide vs. what other philosophical opinions can provide really is small. Most philosophical viewpoints do in fact offer really what you want them too. It is based on a lot of times the emotional and physical needs of the person. Not to mention the fact the personality temperament of the individual and what is most compatible to their mental temperament and how they interpreted the world. With that said however, religion plays an important part in the development of humanity. Christianity historically can be said preserved Europe from Muslim oppression. Also however bad, united Europe from warring tribes to united city states. Religion had it place in our psychological evolution, for a time it provided a means to understand the world around us. It gave us comfort for dealing with death. So in short religion has it role to play in our minds like it or not, regardless of personal vendetta. However, as any psychological state it evolves. We are seeing organized religion as it stands right now, becoming obsolete and in some cases negative.

I am sorry for the winded response, however this question above does not need to be over simplified. It is a good question to ask, however it needs to answered in a rational and reasonable sense. Also, the question is very subjective to the person.

Judaism and Christianity gave rise to the Muslims. Christianity protected Europe from its own bastard child, but then it turned right around and caused the Dark Ages.

I do like that appendix analogy though, Maelstrom.

Quote:God is the immemorial refuge of the incompetent, the helpless, the miserable. They find not only sanctuary in His arms, but also a kind of superiority, soothing to their macerated egos: He will set them above their betters.


— H L Mencken

(August 15, 2013 at 11:06 am)BadWriterSparty Wrote: Christianity gave rise to the Muslims. It protected Europe from its own bastard child, but then it caused the Dark Ages.

I do like that appendix analogy though, Maelstrom.

Most of the concepts of Islam (oddly) was inspire from an already existing pagan religion of that day. Muhammad also got inspiration from Judaism. In the Quran Jesus (Isa) is barely mentioned, so I am pretty sure some rendition of Islam would have existed. However the foundational beliefs are drawn from a combination of Hadiths which are basically doctrines based on interpretation of the Quran. Granted hindsight examinations are speculation. With that said, the fact remains that organized religious systems are not really needed in todays world. The sheer resistence are growing pains of the human mind as we learn we do not need a god to deteremine our purpose in life and the concepts morality and ethics are in our hands.

It offers nothing but a false sense of security. It allows people to convince themselves that they are really immortal. I guess that's nice in a way, but I don't like it.

Hot catholic chicks?

(August 15, 2013 at 9:01 am)Maelstrom Wrote: Religion is to humanity as the appendix is to the human body.

While I like the idea of your analogy, it has recently been discovered that the appendix does have a function.

It turns out that the appendix is a store house for beneficial bacteria. If a person contracts a disease, such as cholera, that kills of the friendly fauna in the gut, the friendly fauna stored in the appendix are able to 'reboot' the gut.

"Scientists from the Duke University Medical Centre in North Carolina say following a severe bout of cholera or dysentery, which can purge the gut of bacteria essential for digestion, the reserve good bacteria emerge from the appendix to take up the role."

Maybe you should change your analogy to wisdom teeth or goose bumps...

It has some pretty buildings, too bad they were built by people without much social status.

The only thing I can think of is that without religion there would be no Christmas. It's really a terrific holiday.... getting together with your family, exchanging gifts, great food.... and the message of peace and goodwill is highly positive. If only they would take the mythology out of it.