Is Religion a tool?

[Rwandrall]

You are wrong. The VAST majority of Americans are raised to believe in god and to believe that the bible is true and Jesus is Lord. Just because most of them don't bother going to church doesn't mean they were not indoctrinated, through a society that is almost completely dominated by Christianity, to believe the things they believe. Church goers or not, they believe... because they have always been told they should.

You are wrong again. I feel no hatred toward anyone... unless I'm driving behind some moron going 60 in the fast lane while talking on his cell phone... but I digress. I joke, I mock, I even ridicule... but I don't hate. I'm not even anti-theistic.

To be honest, it seems to me that you are having an emotional response where none is called for. I don't mind if you disagree with me, but how dare you morally chastise me in a 'holier than thou' manner! I demand satisfaction! *slaps Rwandrall with a glove*

AMERICANS, you said it. All theists are not american. Japan, China, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, to cite a few, in ALL of those religion holds a minimal role. In civilised countries, religion is secondary, except in the US. US are the exception, not the norm. And even in the US a large minority does not take religion seriously, especially in the young.

The words you use, like "indoctrination", the generalizations you make, are all signs of hatred, or at last contempt. Now the words "they always have been told" are also an exaggeration. You have to realize that people don't go around reminding their children to pray or to not sin. I have lived 18 years in a religious household, religion literally NEVER comes up in conversation. It's something that's on the side.

I did not morally chastise you, i merely pointed out the facts that you have a contempt for religion that blind you to what actually happens, only letting you see the parts that you hate and emphasize them tenfold. That is simply something i do not consider wise, this is why i voiced my objections.

Finally, i did not see any mocking. I saw baseless generalizations, oversimplifications and double standards.

[HigherLvlofThinking]

Its a sooooooo obvisley a tool. Because the believers use it agaist there kids choice. They try and rape you in the head with it when your young and then its stuck in there until hopefully you grow up and know it was lie just like santa caluse! Sadly most people in america dont seem to have enough brain cells to get out of it. It drilled to deep. Even sadder then that they become so convinced that there right that nothing will change there mind....to bad for them! all they had to do was think??!

[Rwandrall]

Its a sooooooo obvisley a tool. Because the believers use it agaist there kids choice. They try and rape you in the head with it when your young and then its stuck in there until hopefully you grow up and know it was lie just like santa caluse! Sadly most people in america dont seem to have enough brain cells to get out of it. It drilled to deep. Even sadder then that they become so convinced that there right that nothing will change there mind....to bad for them! all they had to do was think??!

^^^^^^^^^

See what i'm talking about Paul ?

[Oldandeasilyconfused]

Certainly it's a tool. Smart people know to stay far, far away from it.

If that were true,there would be no organised religions making a series of huge carbuncles on the arse of civilisation. Instead,there would simply be vastly greater numbers of moronic superstitions of the young earth creationist variety,and far worse. IE a very great many irritating pimples.

By no means all religious people are stupid, but most stupid people are religious.Same goes for conservatives of all kinds..

[Autumnlicious]

Its a sooooooo obvisley a tool. Because the believers use it agaist there kids choice. They try and rape you in the head with it when your young and then its stuck in there until hopefully you grow up and know it was lie just like santa caluse! Sadly most people in america dont seem to have enough brain cells to get out of it. It drilled to deep. Even sadder then that they become so convinced that there right that nothing will change there mind....to bad for them! all they had to do was think??!

^^^^^^^^^

See what i'm talking about Paul ?

I see. Let me help you.
...
*gets on the phone*
...
...


Alrighty then, Rwandrall, you're going to be OK!

[theVOID]

So, is Religion essentially a tool for someone who needs to cope and be told what to do in this world? Is it merely a crutch? I'm not sure how an Atheist would view it, since I'm Agnostic myself. I have only read bits and pieces of the Christian bible...and it saddens me how Stephen Harper won't accept gay marriages, not everyone is a Christian! Anyways, that's another story for another thread.

1. Being Agnostic alone is impossible If you do not have positive belief in the existence of a God you are an Agnostic Atheist.

2. Religion is not necessarily a tool. Some if not most genuinely believe it is true, many of those might aslo find utility in religion, but thats beside the point.

[Lethe]

Religion can be many things, a tool, a crutch, an (inaccurate) explanation and a supplier of the warm fuzzies like so:

[Anomalocaris]

So, is Religion essentially a tool for someone who needs to cope and be told what to do in this world? Is it merely a crutch? I'm not sure how an Atheist would view it, since I'm Agnostic myself. I have only read bits and pieces of the Christian bible...and it saddens me how Stephen Harper won't accept gay marriages, not everyone is a Christian! Anyways, that's another story for another thread.

1. Being Agnostic alone is impossible If you do not have positive belief in the existence of a God you are an Agnostic Atheist.

2. Religion is not necessarily a tool. Some if not most genuinely believe it is true, many of those might aslo find utility in religion, but thats beside the point.

I think relatively few would stake a strong position that religion was true were it not for the fact that it is perceived to offer great utility if it were true. It is not for nothing that almost every religion strong enough to survives espouses fantastically extravagant notions of its own utility. Since religion maintain its hold through its perceived utility, it is a tool.

[hellfire]

So, is Religion essentially a tool for someone who needs to cope and be told what to do in this world? Is it merely a crutch? I'm not sure how an Atheist would view it, since I'm Agnostic myself. I have only read bits and pieces of the Christian bible...and it saddens me how Stephen Harper won't accept gay marriages, not everyone is a Christian! Anyways, that's another story for another thread.

1. Being Agnostic alone is impossible If you do not have positive belief in the existence of a God you are an Agnostic Atheist.

2. Religion is not necessarily a tool. Some if not most genuinely believe it is true, many of those might aslo find utility in religion, but thats beside the point.

Not sure how you work that one (1) out Void. An individual might take up the position of having not decided either way. To believe or not to believe - ergo - 'agnostic'. Not sure either whether the certainty of atheism is not in itself a faith - not a religious one perhaps, but by vitue of the belief in the absence of a deity.
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