I'm reminded of the adage that trying to organise atheists is like trying to herd cats.
The point I'm trying to address is that we have religion, fact. That religion undeniably has an effect on the world. Yes, if it wasn't around, people would still do stuff, but it is around and it makes people do stuff. I'm not trying to debate the relative merits of a good deed done in the name of religion vs a good deed done for the sake of it, rather, what "mechanical advantage" religion presents with respect to getting things done, and has there ever been a time that a fellow atheist has considered this a good thing?
The argument that religion is not necessary for people to do good things is trite and demonstrably false. There are people out there in the world who wouldn't lift a finger to help another human being in toruble, but would walk to the ends of the earth to impress a priest.
The point I'm trying to address is that we have religion, fact. That religion undeniably has an effect on the world. Yes, if it wasn't around, people would still do stuff, but it is around and it makes people do stuff. I'm not trying to debate the relative merits of a good deed done in the name of religion vs a good deed done for the sake of it, rather, what "mechanical advantage" religion presents with respect to getting things done, and has there ever been a time that a fellow atheist has considered this a good thing?
The argument that religion is not necessary for people to do good things is trite and demonstrably false. There are people out there in the world who wouldn't lift a finger to help another human being in toruble, but would walk to the ends of the earth to impress a priest.
