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RE: Is being an atheist important to you?
February 26, 2019 at 9:26 pm
(February 25, 2019 at 11:01 pm)Belaqua Wrote: (February 25, 2019 at 1:44 pm)900ft j Wrote: I am consider religion, faith, and belief in gods harmful to our species.
Maybe so. We've never had a society without those things, though, so it's hard to know.
What argument do you have for this idea?
Ever heard of ISIL?
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
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RE: Is being an atheist important to you?
February 26, 2019 at 10:53 pm
(This post was last modified: February 26, 2019 at 10:58 pm by fredd bear.)
(February 26, 2019 at 9:26 pm)PRJA93 Wrote: (February 25, 2019 at 11:01 pm)Belaqua Wrote: Maybe so. We've never had a society without those things, though, so it's hard to know.
What argument do you have for this idea?
Ever heard of ISIL?
If it's not religion, it's the personality cults often found in dictatorships:
EG; Mao,Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jong Il, Evita Peron, Imelda Marcos.. Can't think of any others of hand, but I'm sure there are more
As previously discussed, it seems humanity may have a built in "urge to the divine', which is possibly caused by our deep need for order. I think that need is met in political personality cults.
A sweeping condemnation of religion is I think, a bit facile.
Religious wars always have a political agenda and very little if anything to do with religion---except of course by the poor dumb bastards doing the actual dying.
The majority of human beings on the planet seem to identify with some religious beliefs. Imo this is because religion meets some very basic human needs. If this were not the case, there would not be literally thousands of different religious beliefs spread all over the world .
HOWEVER, it is also my belief that organised religions are the greatest confidence trick ever perpetrated on the human race. -_people are conned into thinking they need a specialist(priest or similar) to mediate with their god(s) That their god(s) require sacrifice of some kind, ranging from a as say a few flowers to objects , lots of money, or in extreme cases, human sacrifices. Of course the community has to support the priests, so they can concentrate on currying favour with the god(s)
My observation is that it is inevitable that such organisations eventually become corrupt.
YES, some religions, and religious people do a great deal of good. Whether the good outweighs the bad is probably a question which cannot be answered.
The clip linked below is a debate with Stephen Fry taking the negative, and Anne Widecombe &c the positive, on the proposition: The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRcYaAYWg4
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RE: Is being an atheist important to you?
February 26, 2019 at 11:42 pm
(February 26, 2019 at 10:53 pm)fredd bear Wrote: (February 26, 2019 at 9:26 pm)PRJA93 Wrote: Ever heard of ISIL?
If it's not religion, it's the personality cults often found in dictatorships:
EG; Mao,Hitler, Stalin, Kim Jong Il, Evita Peron, Imelda Marcos.. Can't think of any others of hand, but I'm sure there are more
As previously discussed, it seems humanity may have a built in "urge to the divine', which is possibly caused by our deep need for order. I think that need is met in political personality cults.
A sweeping condemnation of religion is I think, a bit facile.
Religious wars always have a political agenda and very little if anything to do with religion---except of course by the poor dumb bastards doing the actual dying.
The majority of human beings on the planet seem to identify with some religious beliefs. Imo this is because religion meets some very basic human needs. If this were not the case, there would not be literally thousands of different religious beliefs spread all over the world .
HOWEVER, it is also my belief that organised religions are the greatest confidence trick ever perpetrated on the human race. -_people are conned into thinking they need a specialist(priest or similar) to mediate with their god(s) That their god(s) require sacrifice of some kind, ranging from a as say a few flowers to objects , lots of money, or in extreme cases, human sacrifices. Of course the community has to support the priests, so they can concentrate on currying favour with the god(s)
My observation is that it is inevitable that such organisations eventually become corrupt.
YES, some religions, and religious people do a great deal of good. Whether the good outweighs the bad is probably a question which cannot be answered.
The clip linked below is a debate with Stephen Fry taking the negative, and Anne Widecombe &c the positive, on the proposition: The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZRcYaAYWg4 Saying "if it's not religion it would be something else" doesn't take away from all of the actual harm that religion does.
If you're frightened of dying, and you're holding on, you'll see devils tearing your life away. But if you've made your peace, then the devils are really angels, freeing you from the Earth.
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RE: Is being an atheist important to you?
February 27, 2019 at 7:01 am
(This post was last modified: February 27, 2019 at 7:03 am by The Grand Nudger.)
The only difference between a world with religion and without it, is that there's one less thing we commonly go apeshit over. When our kids can't stop hitting each other with something, we take that thing away, lol.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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