Yes, religion is very dangerous. It makes a great deal of difference what people believe, both for themselves, as well as for those who are affected by them.
None of this is to suggest that some beliefs should be illegal, which would be an absurd idea, as one cannot control what people believe by outlawing a belief. The law should be about actions, which is how the Inquisition was stopped (and also explains why it was stopped at different times in different countries). Of course, the law did not stop religious people from wanting an Inquisition.
As for how that relates to this thread, it should be illegal to torture people to convert them from gay to straight. But such laws will not eliminate the motive for it. Just the ability to do it with impunity. Assuming, of course, that there are such laws and that they are enforced.
The main point of my original post was, to understand why someone would do the things that they do, all one has to do is understand that they believe certain things. If one believes something, one regards it as true. One regards it as an accurate representation of reality. If they did not regard it as an accurate representation of reality, if they did not regard it as true, they would not believe it, because that is what it means to believe something.
Of course, beliefs are not the only thing relevant to what someone does. One's desires are a big part as well. If the religious parents did not care about their children, then they would likely not regard it as important to torture their children to prevent them from going to hell. It may seem ironic that parents who had the relevant beliefs, but did not care about their children, might not torture their children.
Another factor in what people do is, of course, how the world really is. If someone wants to fly off the top of a building, and if one believes one can fly, one will likely leap off of a tall building. But such a person still won't actually fly. But their beliefs and desires will get them to attempt to do things. Success or failure, though, involves more than just an attempt.
None of this is to suggest that some beliefs should be illegal, which would be an absurd idea, as one cannot control what people believe by outlawing a belief. The law should be about actions, which is how the Inquisition was stopped (and also explains why it was stopped at different times in different countries). Of course, the law did not stop religious people from wanting an Inquisition.
As for how that relates to this thread, it should be illegal to torture people to convert them from gay to straight. But such laws will not eliminate the motive for it. Just the ability to do it with impunity. Assuming, of course, that there are such laws and that they are enforced.
The main point of my original post was, to understand why someone would do the things that they do, all one has to do is understand that they believe certain things. If one believes something, one regards it as true. One regards it as an accurate representation of reality. If they did not regard it as an accurate representation of reality, if they did not regard it as true, they would not believe it, because that is what it means to believe something.
Of course, beliefs are not the only thing relevant to what someone does. One's desires are a big part as well. If the religious parents did not care about their children, then they would likely not regard it as important to torture their children to prevent them from going to hell. It may seem ironic that parents who had the relevant beliefs, but did not care about their children, might not torture their children.
Another factor in what people do is, of course, how the world really is. If someone wants to fly off the top of a building, and if one believes one can fly, one will likely leap off of a tall building. But such a person still won't actually fly. But their beliefs and desires will get them to attempt to do things. Success or failure, though, involves more than just an attempt.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
