Does Religion make you nice?

[Minimalist]

I will not read 'The God Delusion'; it is written by a conceited twat and has nothing to offer me. I will not read 'God is Not Great', as the same is true of Hitchens as of Dawkins.

So you are content to remain an ignorant bible-thumper.

Thanks for sharing.

[TheDarkestOfAngels]

I suppose that is true DarkAngel. You don't think that religion doesn't have the tinest bit of influence on people at all? I know atheist are more open minded but we can be bastards as well, when we want to be. I don't know I always think that religion could have a impact on the person because look at the fanatics and religious assholes today. I guess it could depened on the person.

Bull Poopie.

It certainly influences the way people think, but it's not easy to find people to where their faith consumes every bit of their daily lives. My parents for example go to church every sunday, but I'd be hard pressed to think how they'd be otherwise different if they were atheists other than finding something better to do with their time every sunday.
I suppose though what I'm saying that a person is a douchebag whether he's an atheist or the pope. You have to remember that assholes like Pat Robertson is fairly rare in the sense that of the millions of the faithful here in the US, the vast majority are good people, but you only really hear the loud, obnoxious ones.
I'm saying that even if they weren't full of religion, they'd be trying to sell you other things for different reasons. I imagine Pat Robertson weren't an evangalist would be in west africa tryign to convince people that he's a Nigerian prince in financial troubles whose willing to part with millions of US dollars in exchange for a small favor...

[downbeatplumb]

good people with added religion can commit acts of heinous atrocity.
It doesnt have to be religion, the same can be true of any 'authority' were the responsibilty for peoples actions has been removed and replaced with whatever the authority is.
theres a famous experiment with college kids playing the role of jail guards to other college kids that shows it well, (cant remember what its called though).
Whats bad about getting authority from religion though is religions can be made to mean almost anything and used to justify almost anything.
This is true for all the abrahamic religions, its why devout people fly planes into buildings and the hilsboro church pickett soldiers funnerals.
Not sure about the other religions I dont know enough to comment but would guess its similar.

[Live_free]

^Wow. No, linking me to studies still does not prove anything, Live_free. Because study is not applicable to people on an individual basis. Individuals can be nice regardless of their religion or lack thereof, and to say otherwise is to make enormous generalization out of the situation. Don't try to tell me what I do and do not comprehend; you come off as an arrogant prick when you do so, and you prove nothing either way.

I was making a generalization because the person before me was and I was going off the same premises.

derp

[Edwardo Piet]

I think community is very important. Anti selfishness and anti greed too.

I agree. But I also think trying to be 100% selfless is giving yourself an impossible task, is likely to make you miserable, and you end up more likely to piss people off than if you were a bit more naturally selfish.

[fr0d0]

I agree. That shouldn't stop you trying tho'.

[FadingW]

It is possible for a nice person to remain nice in spite of religion. But religion makes mass manipulation towards inhumane acts very easy. Religion can be substituted for nationalism in this regard.

A good test for religion is what an adherent does in the face of someone:

Mocking what they hold to be sacred
Leaving the faith
Or stating simple disagreement

[Entropist]

But religion makes mass manipulation towards inhumane acts very easy.

And also: the justification of such acts.

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

I will not read 'The God Delusion'; it is written by a conceited twat and has nothing to offer me.

Interesting ad hominem,which gives the impression that the writer is an ignorant and closed minded fool.Sincere apologies if I have misunderstood..

I've read "God Is Not Great' and was pretty much underwhelmed. I think Chris Hitchens is a highly intelligent,literate and articulate polemicist,but a mediocre philosopher. I had to read his book to make that assessment.

I've also seen him interviewed on TV. I agree he can come across as an arrogant plonker.However, I don't confuse the man with his writing.

Have not read Dawkins,only seen a lot of him on TV. He also comes across as a very clever polemicist. He's also obviously an experienced and skilled debater. I have yet to see a believer opponent/critic who is his intellectual equal or as prepared as he for proper debate. I'd be fascinated to see him debate a good Jesuit theologian.


For those who wonder why I suggest a debate with a theologian, I refer you to the famous Russel/.Copleston debate.(1948)

You may if you wish listen to part of the original debate or read the transcript via the link below.Neither are very long.The spoken part takes 20 minutes, including the introduction,and is on the existence of God.
http://www.bringyou.to/apologetics/p20.htm

[Bull Poopie]

I suppose I shouldn't of said I donot care what others think, Padraic. I do take what others say into consideration espcially when I am not fully knowledgeable of certain things. I see the different opinions on religion here and I agree in some areas. As I have mentioned before I am not a experienced skeptic but I am always willing to learn.:-) Emotions can over whelm us to have us say and do igrant things. To me it depends on the person and their characteristics. How they take things and what they do with religion, if they take it to the extreme or become pacifist with it.

I have Dawkins "God delusion" and have found it quite interesting. He is an intelligent author that I wouldn't hesitate to read another one of his books. I have on the other hand not read Hitchens books, as of yet. Though does anyone have any suggestion as to what would be a good book of his?

Poopie.