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Is religion a force for good in the world?
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 (June 7, 2011 at 12:34 pm)Emanuel Wrote: This question is quite pointless, considering that most likely religion will still be for a very long time. You won't live to see it. What a stupid, short-sighted statement.
"How is it that a lame man does not annoy us while a lame mind does? Because a lame man recognizes that we are walking straight, while a lame mind says that it is we who are limping." - Pascal
 (June 7, 2011 at 12:34 pm)Shell B Wrote: Generally speaking, religion is not good for the world, in my opinion. However, I think it is good for some individuals. Perhaps you could elaborate on why you think it's good for some individuals? ![[Image: bloodyheretic.png]](https://images.weserv.nl/?url=img849.imageshack.us%2Fimg849%2F8673%2Fbloodyheretic.png) "Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds." Einstein When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy. They told me I didn't understand the assignment. I told them they didn't understand life. - John Lennon  (June 7, 2011 at 12:34 pm)Emanuel Wrote: This question is quite pointless, considering that most likely religion will still be for a very long time. You won't live to see it. I've been around 5 of your centuries, Human. The galaxy is not a welcome place for religion, as you would find out in about 3 centuries. A shame that you won't live to see it :hearT: Please give me a home where cloud buffalo roam
Where the dear and the strangers can play
Where sometimes is heard a discouraging word
But the skies are not stormy all day
I think not.
 A man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
 RE: Is religion a force for good in the world?
June 8, 2011 at 1:40 am
(This post was last modified: June 8, 2011 at 1:42 am by Jax.)
(June 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm)BloodyHeretic Wrote:(June 7, 2011 at 12:34 pm)Shell B Wrote: Generally speaking, religion is not good for the world, in my opinion. However, I think it is good for some individuals. Well, it can give a peaceful and safe feeling, being taught that a deity is always watching and protecting them. Especially for people who are in extreme distress and have nothing else to turn to. An example is my aunty, she used to not believe in god at all, but then she got divorced and her husband left her. She was in such despair, she turned to religion, and became a hardcore religious person. (Not eating meat, claims she will go to heaven even though she can be a total bitch, nagging people to go to church.) Quote:"I think it's perfectly possible to explain how the universe came about without bringing God into it, but I don't know everything, and there may well be a God somewhere, hiding away. Actually, if he is keeping out of sight, it's because he's ashamed of his followers and all the cruelty and ignorance they're responsible for promoting in his name. If I were him, I'd want nothing to do with them."  (June 7, 2011 at 2:33 pm)BloodyHeretic Wrote: Perhaps you could elaborate on why you think it's good for some individuals? Well, everyone reacts to religion differently. You have those who think it makes them superior. You have those that are afraid. You also have those who were simply raised that way and haven't really thought it through. Of course, any combination of these is possible too. Then, you have people who are kinder to others because they think their religion demands it. You have those who are extremely ill who find comfort in religion, and so on. Those people are better off for their religion. Will they be disappointed in the end? I think so. However, that disappointment will be short lived.  (June 7, 2011 at 11:48 am)BloodyHeretic Wrote: Regardless of whether it's true or not, is religion beneficial in general to the human race, would we be worse off without it? I'm inclined to say the world would be a better place without religion, but any arguments contrary are welcome! No, it is not. Religion fosters hatred and violence among groups - from individuals to nations. Religion holds back scientific and social progress. Religion is used to control the masses to keep them from achieving anything better in their life than is offered through a wealthy ruling class who they are taught that such was ordained by God. Such are appeased by being told that God especially loves the poor, and they will reap their reward in heaven. Those telling them this are the priestly and ruling classes who the religious texts say will be punished by God for their greed, misuse of wealth, failure to give (anything) to the poor (rather they take). Yet, no one seems to notice this evident contradiction in what they are told. Religion encourages people to do some pretty bizarre things which they would certainly not otherwise do. This includes everything from mass suicides to holding "witch hunts" for people in their midst who do not adhere to the beliefs of their faith. Religion offers an excuse for some very mentally unbalanced people to believe they are "blessed" or that anyone with faith can experience the same (hallucinations) they do. This delays them helping themselves or getting any help with their mental problems outside themselves. Religion takes time and money away from people which could be spent doing something more productive and beneficial for themselves or their community. It is obscene to take people on the brink of starvation away from their crops or other jobs and use their labor instead for building a church or other monument to a deity. It is horrible then to take these people's money to buy beautiful things to glorify God while the donors die from lack of clean water. It's obscene to have an impoverished village with a beautiful stone church with precious metal items and pieces of priceless artwork in its center.
Thank you Beth. Bit of a Christopher Hitchens
"Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds." Einstein When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down happy. They told me I didn't understand the assignment. I told them they didn't understand life. - John Lennon |
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