Prayer Death

[Pippy]

Absolutley, entertainment. But if younger, or shallower people than you and I see it, it could give them dangerous ideas. That makes me dislike it. Like Pop Music, hate that too. Why? If you are not smart enough, it can badly distort your reality...

I wonder if that does not make sense to you guys... That a film about fanatical theism ending with the conclusion that religion must be destroyed is absurd. That is just radical and fanatical Atheism. The problem isn't with theists, or atheists. It is with either group when they become fanatic. When they start pushing their own thoughts on others. So That is why I mock Mahers movie, it's like he went through all that trouble to only yell "I clearly don't know what I'm talking about!".

Hopefully I sound like I am at least making a coherent point, even if you all disagree...
Thanks,
-Pip

[Dotard]

...just turned away from them as I'd do anyone else who said something stupid to me.

Good thing all people are not like this or poor ol' DLF would have no one to talk to.

[binny]

Absolutley, entertainment. But if younger, or shallower people than you and I see it, it could give them dangerous ideas. That makes me dislike it. Like Pop Music, hate that too. Why? If you are not smart enough, it can badly distort your reality...

I'll be the first to admit I was a stupid shallow teenager. I listen to rock music and smoked pot (don't tell anyone). Non of the music influenced me to do anything extreme. I'd like to think I turned out OK, I think I'm a pretty stable, sane human being with 2 great kids (better than I was when I was young). I don't buy that music, TV, video games or other forms of entertainment will cause a young shallow person to go over the edge with extremist ideas. I believe those people are over the edge already. The ideas will come whether they hear it in music or see it in a movie or not. JMO.

[dry land fish]

...just turned away from them as I'd do anyone else who said something stupid to me.

Good thing all people are not like this or poor ol' DLF would have no one to talk to.

Oh you have got to be kidding me. What are we in third grade now?

To whoever said religion should be abolished...I agree. It causes more harm than good. There is a saying that my dad used to tell me when I would say I wished for something. It was "wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which one gets filled first". That really used to make me mad when I was little but it's true. I can wish for religion to be abolished all I want but it will never happen. It's too strong and people will not give it up. I guess that saying could be used for the power of prayer too.

[Minimalist]

Hopefully I sound like I am at least making a coherent point, even if you all disagree...

It's coherent only if you start from the dubious position that "religion" has something going for it. Without that basis, we have to look at the harm religion does (and let us separate "religion" from "god") God is a fairy tale. "God" is the product that religion sells to the gullible. Religion exists to the general detriment of humanity. Maher performed a valuable service.

[binny]

"wish in one hand and sh*t in the other and see which one gets filled first"

I just spit out my coffee and shit my pants. My dad used to say the same thing to me. Holy shit.

[Pippy]

Religion exists to the general detriment of humanity. Maher performed a valuable service.

I disagree. I think he made himself look silly. But we can both hold our own opinions. When some people see somone wearing brand name fancy clothes, they think how the person looks cool, and very "with it". But when I see someone wearing the Hilfigger or GAP, I see someone advertising their ignorance. They are proudly wearing a shirt that says "I am an idiot, swindle me. I will pay $80 for a shirt that I know cost $1 to make, and wear some assholes logo all over town." Who is right, is the well-dressed person better than me, upper class, or demonstrating their idiocy for all to see?

That is part of fanaticism. If you would like the whole world to be atheist, you are going down the path towards fanaticism. I certainly don't want the whole world to believe in god. I want there to be a freedom to believe either way... But I get the impression some of you daydream about no religion. 'I will be able to be less stressed when everyone thinks as I do'. It doesn't work like that.

It isn't that atheism is right, and theism is wrong. It's that your demonstrating the perceived right to thik for yourselves. Then when other people think for themselves, but disagree, you want to shut them up. You have to offer others the same rights you demand for yourself. That is the side of rights that are a responsibility.

Thanks,
-Pip

[dry land fish]

Maher didn't make himself look silly. He was in complete Maher style. I liked the idea that he exposed a lot of the really insane ideas in religion. Such as putting a Christian on the spot and trying to make them reason with how a virgin can have a baby or a man can walk on water. I liked how he didn't just target Christians. I loved it when he visited the Mosque. I believe I have a hatred toward the Muslim faith and with Christians I just roll my eyes and laugh. I wished he had spent more time making fun of the Muslim faith due to the fact they do not give women equal rights and are mentally and physically abusive to them. I have to say that although Christians overstep their boundaries and sometimes you'll get some crazy cults but overall Christians just bitch a lot and at least they don't go around blowing up buildings for God. Usually...there have been some cases of that happening though.

I would not support an effort to make people stop being religious against their will. That would be just terrible. I would support an effort of trying to educate people at a young age to keep them from falling prey to some of the ignorant religious movements. The brainwashing done to children by Muslim extremists is just insane. The same happens in America when we can't teach evolution in schools. Slowly weeding out religion is a great idea.