(August 28, 2012 at 7:56 pm)MysticKnight Wrote: Define religion.
No problem. Religion is the scourge of humanity. Hitchens was polite when he proclaimed that religion was our first and worst attempt at understanding our existence. The problem with religion is that power hungry zealots quckly understood the utility of religion when it came to crowd control. In the last 400 years humanity has nursed a far better means of understanding our existence; science. I will also include the portions of philosophy that consider science a kindred spirit when dealing with metaphysics, epistemology and ethics.
Our advancement as a species has come despite the fact that the chains of religion have always served to hinder progress, always. How many people have been put to death because of their lack of feliance to local superstitions? This still happens today. I challenge you to give me just one example where someone was put to death simply because he/she disagreed with the prevailing scientific understanding of reality.
Religion has always used the natural fear of the unknown to control the minds of others. Religion is the antithesis of knowledge and understanding. Scientific knowledge has eroded the absolute truth of religion to the point where religion is put in a position of stating, "believe ancient texts or you will be tormented forever". Religion can only offer prizes in the next life in exchange for absolute obedience in this life.
You talked in another thread about reforming religion. Religion cannot be reformed for the simple fact that it uses fear as a means of exchange. The predominant Abrahamic religions must take their place in the pantheon of myth. They must, because they have nothing to offer but fear, obedence and suffering for the sake of some unproven promise of Eden.
I would like to think that I'm watching the death throws of religion in my lifetime, but the fact that almost half of my countrymen believe the bible to be the literal word of god and that people are still put to death for religious nonadherence in environments where religion holds sway elicits at first a tear and then an almost uncontrollable anger.
Definition of religion: ancient superstition parading as truth which should go fuck itself into oblivion in order to allow concerned humans the ability to engage in the very difficult work of getting along with ourselves and nature.
