The Problem With Religions

[LordRahl]

I sincerely believe, that we'd be all much better off, living in a completely secular world (with laissez faire capitalism, of course).

The main problem with any religion is that it is incompatible with Reason. Just browse through headlines on any given day, and you'll see what I mean. You have one group rioting over some cartoons, or another trying to turn mythology into science, or laws.

Where does the whole problem begin? Religious people call things "facts" just because they are written in the "Big Book of Holy Super Duper Truths That If Questioned You'll Burn in Hell Forever, Bit*h". The idea behind critical thinking, and questioning is lost on those people, as from the very early years they are being "mentally raped" with religious dogma. Only very few, usually mentally strong to begin with, are able to free themselves from the damaging indoctrination.

Forget the nukes, and chemicals - it's the Korans, and the Bibles that are the true Weapons of Mass Destruction of today.

 

[Godwynn]

I sincerely believe, that we'd be all much better off, living in a completely secular world (with laissez faire capitalism, of course).

If you were a female I would ask you to marry me.

 

[Aramazd]

I don't think religion is the problem. I think it is fundementalism. After all you don't see the Muslims in America rioting over the cartoon.

 

[LordRahl]

I don't think religion is the problem. I think it is fundementalism. After all you don't see the Muslims in America rioting over the cartoon.

If there were no religions, there would be no religious fundamentalism. It's all got to start somewhere.

 

[Zarn]

I sincerely believe, that we'd be all much better off, living in a completely secular world (with laissez faire capitalism, of course).

The main problem with any religion is that it is incompatible with Reason. Just browse through headlines on any given day, and you'll see what I mean. You have one group rioting over some cartoons, or another trying to turn mythology into science, or laws.

Where does the whole problem begin? Religious people call things "facts" just because they are written in the "Big Book of Holy Super Duper Truths That If Questioned You'll Burn in Hell Forever, Bit*h". The idea behind critical thinking, and questioning is lost on those people, as from the very early years they are being "mentally raped" with religious dogma. Only very few, usually mentally strong to begin with, are able to free themselves from the damaging indoctrination.

Forget the nukes, and chemicals - it's the Korans, and the Bibles that are the true Weapons of Mass Destruction of today.

What makes you think all religious people cannot reason? Have you met every religious person? I can tell that you have never met anyone like me before. Do ignorant religious people get on my nerves? Yes. Do ignorant atheists? Yes.

You just came out and lashed at a group of people with no hard evidence to support your claim that religion 'mentally rapes' people (Say that to someone who was actually raped and see how that person responds to your statement). Are you behaving much differently from the ignorant religious people?

I do not claim everything in the Bible to be fact, and I'm a religious Christian. I question religion often, but I'm still religious. How often do you question your atheism?

 

[Ultima Dragoon]

Hey.

I'm all for a non-religious world, but the thing is, most people need something less solid than science to believe in.

 

[LordRahl]

I do not claim everything in the Bible to be fact

Then you are practicing your own, "hybrid" version of Christianity, which would be considered blasphemous by majority of Christian branches...

You just came out and lashed at a group of people with no hard evidence to support your claim that religion 'mentally rapes' people (Say that to someone who was actually raped and see how that person responds to your statement).

I'm sure they'll react with anger, but I would expect nothing less from someone living in denial. Religious indoctrination is hardly different from Communist Propaganda. Why do you think majority of citizens of North Korea are indiferent about living in what is possibly one of the worst regime on Earth?

How often do you question your atheism?

There really isn't much to question - God doesn't exist, until proven otherwise...

 

[silver 2039]

Silence fool. Religon is a useful tool to control the ignorant masses. The masses must be controlled after all what better way to make the ignorant and illeteriate listen to you? It is quite simple to bend people to your will with religon.

 

[Zarn]

Then you are practicing your own, "hybrid" version of Christianity, which would be considered blasphemous by majority of Christian branches...



I'm sure they'll react with anger, but I would expect nothing less from someone living in denial. Religious indoctrination is hardly different from Communist Propaganda. Why do you think majority of citizens of North Korea are indiferent about living in what is possibly one of the worst regime on Earth?



There really isn't much to question - God doesn't exist, until proven otherwise...

1) Not by my branch (that is the Roman Catholic Church)

2) There is no denial. As for NK, they really don't like living under those conditions.

3) If you cannot question it, you are no better than them.

Religion doesn't cause problems. It is human stupidity that causes problems.

FYI: This isn't a debate. It is I trying to get through to you that not everything is black and white. It isn't religion is good and atheism is bad or atheism is good and religion is bad. People have different beliefs concerning religion, and we all should learn to respect them (not just tolerate). No one holds the fact card. There are atheists that would agree with me (whether or not some attend this board is another story as I have no idea).

 

[Aramazd]

Then you are practicing your own, "hybrid" version of Christianity, which would be considered blasphemous by majority of Christian branches...

Some Christian branches don't take everything in the bible as literal.

I'm sure they'll react with anger, but I would expect nothing less from someone living in denial. Religious indoctrination is hardly different from Communist Propaganda. Why do you think majority of citizens of North Korea are indiferent about living in what is possibly one of the worst regime on Earth?

Most religious people aren't indoctrinated. Indoctrination is no different the communist propaganda, true, but one would have to indoctrinate people with atheism to remove religion.

There really isn't much to question - God doesn't exist, until proven otherwise...

Lack of proof doesn't equate to lack of existance.


I would not try to predict if the world would be better or not if religion was removed. It is just too complex and many outcomes might occur from lack of religion.

 

[Tenochtitlan]

I was able to free myself from Islam. It was the best thing I ever did.

 

[LordRahl]

Not by my branch (that is the Roman Catholic Church)

Whatever has happened to the Word of God being infallible?

There is no denial. As for NK, they really don't like living under those conditions.

They don't like living under those conditions, yet they're not doing much about changing them either. This is in stark contrast to the Eastern European nations who have been able to overthrow their communistic regimes.

If you cannot question it, you are no better than them.

I never said I cannot question it. I said there's not much to question - a single sentence, (with built in question too!) - compare it to thousands of pages of religious dogma.

Religion doesn't cause problems. It is human stupidity that causes problems.

Religion does cause problems - If people lived their lives based on reality and not some pie-in-the-sky fantasies we could all work to make this world a better place. Religion will never allow it.

 

[bhsup]

Yes, indeed. It's not like atheist communists were not responsible for tens of millions of deaths last century. Get rid of religion instead of communism, definitely.

 

[Perfection]

While I admire your like for reason I think your disdain for religion goes to far.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of religion. I find religious beliefs intellectually unfulling and the result of no or poor empirical methodology. However, to equate religion with a weapon of mass-destruction is false. Religion doesn't make people killing machines, there is a whole lot more to fundamentalist then religion and a whole lot more to human violence then fundamentalism.

 

[MobBoss]

Religion isnt the problem. People are the problem.

 

[LordRahl]

but one would have to indoctrinate people with atheism to remove religion

One would have to indoctrinate people with Reason to remove religion. I see nothing wrong with that.

Lack of proof doesn't equate to lack of existance.

In which case, you allow arbitrary claims, to be valid. Unicorns exist, and I am God - you can't prove otherwise. That is why the burden of proof always rests on those trying to prove existence. Think of it as Scientific Method's equivalent of innocent-until-proven-guilty.

 

[Fifty]

I agree with perfection.

@honest atheist: Just to hazard a guess, is your favorite author Ayn Rand?


I should also add that I think that all the horrible people in the world would find an excuse to do their horrible things... religion is just an easy way out for them. Think Stalin, Mao, and even Hitler for horrible evils done for more or less secular reasons. How many people total do ya suppose died from those three?

Anyways, yeah, I think religion is just an easy excuse for evil people to do the evil things they do, and that if religion didn't exist they'd find another way.

 

[Zarn]

Whatever has happened to the Word of God being infallible?



They don't like living under those conditions, yet they're not doing much about changing them either. This is in stark contrast to the Eastern European nations who have been able to overthrow their communistic regimes.



I never said I cannot question it. I said there's not much to question - a single sentence, (with built in question too!) - compare it to thousands of pages of religious dogma.



Religion does cause problems - If people lived their lives based on reality and not some pie-in-the-sky fantasies we could all work to make this world a better place. Religion will never allow it.

1) You don't know anything about the Catholic Church, so don't try. Catholics interprete the Bible for themselves. We don't even have to take everything to Pope says as official (very few things are official).

2) China has a close eye on NK, and the military (of NK) is loyal due to better treatment. Russia couldn't keep an eye on everyone and their military wasn't as loyal.

3) If you don't think there is much to question, then you don't question it.

4) No, that is human stupidity that does not allow it. Religion has nothing to do with it.

 

[MobBoss]

1) You don't know anything about the Catholic Church, so don't try. Catholics interprete the Bible for themselves. We don't even have to take everything to Pope says as official (very few things are official).

Uhm...even I have a hard time trying to swallow that one. What happens if the pope excommunicates you? You ignore it?

Also, werent the early catholic followers forbidden from even owning a bible? That only the priesthood could interpret it?

I dunno...I have some catholic friends that wouldnt agree with your statement about taking what the pope says as official. I would tend to believe doing so would make you a non-practicing catholic.

 

[Aramazd]

One would have to indoctrinate people with Reason to remove religion. I see nothing wrong with that.

Reason doesn't mean God doesn't exist. It will mean that more people will probably be atheist, but there will still be religious people.

In which case, you allow arbitrary claims, to be valid. Unicorns exist, and I am God - you can't prove otherwise. That is why the burden of proof always rests on those trying to prove existence. Think of it as Scientific Method's equivalent of innocent-until-proven-guilty.

True. However, I have the right to be skeptical about these things, just as you are skeptical about the existance of God.