So, this is something upon which I was reflecting

[Silver]

Having read a few atheist books, there is this common thought that recognizing any good religion may provide to some people is still a detriment toward understanding that if people persist to practice religion that those people are still inadvertently supporting the actions of the extremists.

My boyfriend raised a rather interesting concept, in relation to alcohol, and I naturally formulated a correlation to religion since we were also discussing that as well.

After all, we are not attempting to ban alcohol just because people are irresponsible with how they drink. It raised a flag, and I am quite known as being a fundamentalist anti-theist. Should religion be banned because of those who mistreat it?

[robvalue]

Religion is a bit different because it's so intangible. You could only realistically ban organised religious meetings or public practices. Further to that, you can't stop people believing any particular superstitious business, discussing it or practicing it in private.

The one thing you could try to also stop is indoctrination, although that would be extremely hard to police.

Personally I don't think banning any of it is a good practical solution. I think it's best to directly address any harm that results from it, and to educate people, including the psychological dangers of indoctrination. Ultimately I feel it will take a societal attitude shift, and it's one that is already well underway in much of Europe.

The other problem with trying to "ban" any sort of religious activity completely is that it's going to make things more divisive than they already are, and will probably make the extremists/fundamentalists (who are the real problem) dig their heels in further and be even more willing to take reckless action.

I think there's a good chance religion will be reduced to irrelevancy just by the natural course of education and promoting equality, in most civilised countries, within a few hundred years. I foresee it being the equivalent of old wives' tales that no one cares much about, although it still goes on. Islam seems to me to be the most worrisome barrier to this, with things how they are now. It seems, on the whole, to be less flexible to being watered down and integrated. I hope I'm wrong about that.

[ReptilianPeon]

A good science education will ultimately put an end to the worst of religion. Relgionists are striving against such a thing because they know it threatens them. And many the audacity to claim that they are not anti-science. But you can't pick and chose which scientific theories you agree with and which you don't. A theory is the highest accolade in sciences, if you were wondering - because scientists are humble people.

[purplepurpose]

Religion is a bit different because it's so intangible. You could only realistically ban organised religious meetings or public practices. Further to that, you can't stop people believing any particular superstitious business, discussing it or practicing it in private.

The one thing you could try to also stop is indoctrination, although that would be extremely hard to police.

Personally I don't think banning any of it is a good practical solution. I think it's best to directly address any harm that results from it, and to educate people, including the psychological dangers of indoctrination. Ultimately I feel it will take a societal attitude shift, and it's one that is already well underway in much of Europe.

The other problem with trying to "ban" any sort of religious activity completely is that it's going to make things more divisive than they already are, and will probably make the extremists/fundamentalists (who are the real problem) dig their heels in further and be even more willing to take reckless action.

I think there's a good chance religion will be reduced to irrelevancy just by the natural course of education and promoting equality, in most civilised countries, within a few hundred years. I foresee it being the equivalent of old wives' tales that no one cares much about, although it still goes on. Islam seems to me to be the most worrisome barrier to this, with things how they are now. It seems, on the whole, to be less flexible to being watered down and integrated. I hope I'm wrong about that.

Why your so mad at religion?(question to other AntiT as well). Did you get indoctrinated?

[Wyrd of Gawd]

Having read a few atheist books, there is this common thought that recognizing any good religion may provide to some people is still a detriment toward understanding that if people persist to practice religion that those people are still inadvertently supporting the actions of the extremists.

My boyfriend raised a rather interesting concept, in relation to alcohol, and I naturally formulated a correlation to religion since we were also discussing that as well.

After all, we are not attempting to ban alcohol just because people are irresponsible with how they drink.  It raised a flag, and I am quite known as being a fundamentalist anti-theist.  Should religion be banned because of those who mistreat it?

In the Bible they just killed the people who didn't follow the religious rules.

[Drich]

Having read a few atheist books, there is this common thought that recognizing any good religion may provide to some people is still a detriment toward understanding that if people persist to practice religion that those people are still inadvertently supporting the actions of the extremists.

My boyfriend raised a rather interesting concept, in relation to alcohol, and I naturally formulated a correlation to religion since we were also discussing that as well.

After all, we are not attempting to ban alcohol just because people are irresponsible with how they drink.  It raised a flag, and I am quite known as being a fundamentalist anti-theist.  Should religion be banned because of those who mistreat it?

maybe, it depends where you live.

However, In 'Merica we have this thing called the bill of rights that would forbid such a ban.

[FatAndFaithless]

Having read a few atheist books, there is this common thought that recognizing any good religion may provide to some people is still a detriment toward understanding that if people persist to practice religion that those people are still inadvertently supporting the actions of the extremists.

My boyfriend raised a rather interesting concept, in relation to alcohol, and I naturally formulated a correlation to religion since we were also discussing that as well.

After all, we are not attempting to ban alcohol just because people are irresponsible with how they drink.  It raised a flag, and I am quite known as being a fundamentalist anti-theist.  Should religion be banned because of those who mistreat it?

maybe, it depends where you live.

However, In 'Merica we have this thing called the bill of rights that would forbid such a ban.

Gonna have to agree with Drich here. Which makes me uncomfortable.

[Silver]

No, I'm sorry.

The end question in my OP was an obvious understanding on my part that religion cannot be banned anymore than alcohol can.

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[J a c k]

It's not logical in any way. You can't ban sex, because some people misuse it. You can't ban food, because some people misuse it.
Why not ban the things that people do through religion that cause the harm? It's a lot more complex and dangerously edgy, but it makes more sense than banning religion. 

On the other hand, I still think it makes even more sense to improve the quality of the education system in order to compete better with religious childhood indoctrination. Instead of banning something (which could be counter productive, just look at the war on drugs), improve the other.

[Drich]

No, I'm sorry.

The end question in my OP was an obvious understanding on my part that religion cannot be banned anymore than alcohol can.  

Sorry for the misunderstanding.

...but alcohol was indeed ban by a constitutional amendment.

Ever watch board walk empire? The whole show is about the money being made on the black market because of said ban. NASCAR is even one of the spin off results of said ban.