(September 5, 2009 at 2:35 pm)Arcanus Wrote: Adrian on more than one occasion has referenced this quote attributed to Steven Weinberg: "Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things. But for good people to do bad things, it takes religion."
In the context set forth by this quote, could someone explain how it takes religion "for good people to do bad things"? That is to say, explain a good person doing bad things. Before I rip that quote to shreds on my blog, I want to ensure I have understood it properly. So, people, weigh in with your thoughts and I'll use them to evaluate whether or not I have understood Weinberg correctly.
Arcanus, not that I think you will completely understand this, for your mindset is set forth through the religion that Steven Weinberg was referring to.
However, I will try and give you a little bit of backing to the phrase and hopefully you will understand it's meaning.
For starters, the quote is not poking at the religious or trying to make fun in any type way. It is in reference to how one feels through actions of guilt and self discipline while clinging onto a faith which so many personal questions can arise no matter the mindset.
Guilt in a form of repercussions of an afterlife or karma superstition.
Self discipline through actions and thought, in which the religion speaks of free-will, but in actuality it's more of a circumstantial will.
And personal questions from which hope, unknowing, and fear can drive someone's mindset to question certain responsibilities as a right or wrong scenario, instead of a needed action.
In saying this, I am not adding every religious person under this breakdown. The example was for a good person doing something bad and a religion definitely can stand up top for the ignorant.
Intelligence is the only true moral guide...
