What does religion offer?

[pineapplebunnybounce]

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.

On the other hand, without religion we'd probably have hovering cars by now.

[Thor]

On the other hand, without religion we'd probably have hovering cars by now.

No question religion has stunted the intellectual growth of the human race. Look at the morons in Muslim theocracies. If they had their way, we'd be living like they did in the 12th century.

[paulpablo]

Let's get some examples of (good) things that religions have to offer that secular organizations/people cannot. If religion is so necessary, as the theists out there claim, then there has to be some reason as to why that is, right?

(I genuinely want to know...I was thinking about this earlier and couldn't come up with any reasons, but perhaps my imagination is simply failing me today.)

There is only one thing and that's the threat of punishment or the promise of rewards after death.

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Well it can make good men do bad things while thinking they are good. Maybe it can go in reverse: make bad men do good things while making them think they are bad. Thats all i can think of

Non religious organizations can make good men do bad things or bad men do good things, I could just point a gun at an unarmed bad or good man and say "Don't do that" and that would be fairly persuasive to any rational person to do what I say.

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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.

Celebratory days are organized by non religious people, and I don't think the removal or non existence of religion would effect celebrations.

[Anomalocaris]

Let's get some examples of (good) things that religions have to offer that secular organizations/people cannot.

Is there anything at the core of religion other than breathtakingly shameless secular menipulation and exploitation?

[Bad Wolf]

Well it can make good men do bad things while thinking they are good. Maybe it can go in reverse: make bad men do good things while making them think they are bad. Thats all i can think of

Non religious organizations can make good men do bad things or bad men do good things, I could just point a gun at an unarmed bad or good man and say "Don't do that" and that would be fairly persuasive to any rational person to do what I say.

You forgot the most crucial part: religion makes good men do bad things while making them believe they are good

[paulpablo]

Non religious organizations can make good men do bad things or bad men do good things, I could just point a gun at an unarmed bad or good man and say "Don't do that" and that would be fairly persuasive to any rational person to do what I say.

You forgot the most crucial part: religion makes good men do bad things while making them believe they are good

not really because I can lie to someone, and say "that guy over there is a pedophile he deserves to die" and get someone to do something bad while believing they are doing something good.

It's the same with non religious terrorists, or military organizations.

[Ryantology]

A reason to feel as if you are better, wiser, more special than everybody else. A justification for hating people you probably already don't like.

[paulpablo]

A reason to feel as if you are better, wiser, more special than everybody else. A justification for hating people you probably already don't like.

Again there's loads of non religious things that do this, racism nationalism, all non religious prejudice. Besides the thread is actually about good things religions have to offer that secular non religious things can't.

[Bad Writer]

Secular humanists can usually accomplish more good than religious charities because the former are not wasting people's time on trying to help while taking time off to teach them a silly story about an invisible sky daddy. "Come to our sermon; we have soup and crackers for everyone afterwards!"

[Bad Wolf]

not really because I can lie to someone, and say "that guy over there is a pedophile he deserves to die" and get someone to do something bad while believing they are doing something good.

Thats not quite the same, i'm talking about warping the core values of an entire group of people and their outlook on the world. Also its debatable as to whether it is morally right to just kill a pedophile.

It's the same with non religious terrorists, or military organizations.

Ah yes maybe but these groups don't warp the reality of the members, they simply impose a more religious like regime: don't question commands, just follow orders, do as you are told etc