Good God

[Paul the Human]

Again, this was clearly a good thing. Anyone could have paid for it, but anyone didn't. This was genuine, bona-fide charity work from a christian organisation to and in support of christians and non christians alike.

Agreed. Religion can and does do good things. I don't think anyone (not even Min) would deny that. The question is one of balance. Religion on a macro scale is guilty of a lot of wrong doing, but it still does good things, as well. Sometimes the motivations behind these 'good things' is suspect and sometimes it seems altruistic. It's not all one or the other.

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Is there not an argument to be made that Atheism/Religion isn't as important as say, global warming. And if those with religious inclinations can be motivated to get out and do something about it simply by pressing the right religious buttons and quoting the right bits of scripture, that this should take precedent?

Do I think that a 'Church' or a preacher should use his power to influence followers to do good works, because he has that power? Sure. Why not. What I don't believe is that religion is necessary to meet that end. If religion weren't the tool being used, something else would be. There is no end to the ways to manipulate the masses.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not out to rid the world of organized religion. I only care that it even exists when it is responsible for bad things. When it does good, I'm happy that good was done, even if superstitious people had to be manipulated into doing it.

Again, I'm playing the devils advocate card here. This isn't necessarily my opinion..... or is it?

No. It's not.

Hmm.