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Post by Pem on Jun 27, 2008 19:17:40 GMT -7
As an atheist I pose this question: What are some good things about religion and what are some bad things?
Simple enough question and I would love to know your answers, don't be afraid to counter others statements, but if a flame war erupts I will give the perpetrators a temporary ban. If anyone thinks I am doing so please PM me and I will try to adjust if necessary.
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Post by millis on Jun 28, 2008 16:58:42 GMT -7
In my view, like many other things, religion has both bad and good qualities to it.
Start with the good. It gives people somthing to believe in, someting to look up to, and en explaination of the world around us that even science can struggle to understand and explain. It provided good brickword for modern day morals and values, as well as many of the laws put into place for our safety. Without a lot of these the world would be in chaos and crime would be much higher than it is now. Such ideas have also helped our development technology wise and socially, becasue without the morals and rules to guide our actions we may have taken longer to become as civilised.
Now the bad... Many disputed have been started over religions, and discriminations taken place. There have been wars over land that is considered sacred by two different religions that both consider it theirs, as well as causing behaviour that is considered illigal such as honour killings, suicide bombers
I suppose it depends on how you look at it I dont really have an opinion, i'll stay mutual
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Light
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Post by Light on Jul 10, 2008 22:11:06 GMT -7
I personally think it's good overall
Since the dawn of society humans have looked for excuses to kill each other. There will always be those who do, and religion is just the current one. We never truly outgrew our primal instincts, and I have found many cases where our behavior can be traced back to them. In addition to what Millis said, it makes people think there is a reason for their existence. It can, however be argued that religion encouraged these thoughts in the first place.
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Post by millis on Jul 12, 2008 12:37:04 GMT -7
Ah, but can religion still be relied upon as a good explaination of how we came to exist? Those assumptions and ideas were put together long before science made any real advancement to be able to say otherwise. So religion could be called an outdated idea
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Light
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Post by Light on Jul 12, 2008 16:51:35 GMT -7
It can be relied upon by those who have grown reliant on it.
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Post by Pem on Jul 13, 2008 10:10:42 GMT -7
I'll make another broad sweeping question with a statement.
Naturally we are all born completely ignorant of the world and we gain religion as we are raised into it. Now then here is a thought exercise:
What would happen to religion if you were only allowed to experience or even learn of it after you've reached the age of reason?
I predict it would die incredibly quickly, religions purposely target the fragile and innocent minds of children. This is the principle of indoctrination.
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Post by millis on Jul 13, 2008 10:22:13 GMT -7
Sound plauseable...to an extent People past the susceptible childhood may be alot less likely to pick up a religion withou asking so many questions it becomes obvious where the flaws lie. But there are susceptible people. It may not die out but it would probably be restricted to the minority.
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Light
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Posts: 59
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Post by Light on Jul 13, 2008 21:57:30 GMT -7
The desperate are as susceptible as children. Religion would die, but slowly, as long as there are the desperate who seek guidance.
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Post by millis on Jul 17, 2008 6:24:07 GMT -7
I wouldn't say it would die. After all, not everyone brought up in religion stay with it, in the same way that not everyone that was brought up in an atheist family will never turn to religion. It depends on the person, and there's probably always going to be people who have experiences or feel the need for guidance that pick up religion. It may fall in popularity, but i doubt it would ever die
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Post by Pem on Jul 17, 2008 17:52:30 GMT -7
Alas I think you are correct I am currently trying to find a quote that states basically that as long as man fears death and is fond of wish thinking, religion will never die. I've read the quote before I just cannot remember it verbatim or the author.
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Post by millis on Jul 28, 2008 12:53:55 GMT -7
Meh, some people need religion. I know at least one person in real life that would have given up on life if it wasnt for her religion, because she thinks there is a reason for her to be alive. Without it...I dread to think what she would have done. Religion dies, we'd probably loose many more a year to suicides.
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Light
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Posts: 59
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Post by Light on Aug 4, 2008 2:55:40 GMT -7
I change my mind, religion is evil. My cousin is 20 and married. His wife is 18 and currently in labor. They are heavily christian conservative, they do not believe in modern medicine, and they are having a home-birth with the assistance of a midwife. They don't believe in birth control and plan to have 10 kids. He has a low-paying job, and they don't believe in the wife working. They wholly believe that god will see them through. Bah, I would take this to the venting section, but I've said it all here.
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Post by Pem on Aug 4, 2008 23:07:24 GMT -7
Things like that are why I'm antitheist the majority of the time Light... I hope common sense will kick in with situations like that but they are usually too late at points like that. All I can say is best of luck (Similar to praying but without the expectation that something will actually happen).
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Post by nothing on Aug 25, 2008 14:25:01 GMT -7
Hah. I'm a Nihilist, so my word doesn't even matter. But if you ask me, some people see the light with the path they follow, other like me have to witness event before going with it. Religion ain't all it's cracked up to be. To most Religion doesn't even exist. Especially in te new millenia. It's more of an annoiance than anything.
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Post by electroshock on Nov 30, 2008 9:23:05 GMT -7
it all depends on if these thoughts and ideals are reinforced over and over. If a person, of any age, is told something once, they may or may not believe it, but told over and over, they will soon come to accept it as truth. Take "Creation v. Evolution" as an example. For the longest time, people thought that the world was created by Deity(s). But they weren't just sat down and told, "The world was created by gods/ a god," they were told over and over by parents, teachers, and religious leaders. This thought of an all powerful being was pounded into their heads until it became fact to them. Then Sir Charles Darwin came along, and created the modernly accepted theory (why it's still considered a theory, i have no clue) of evolution. Now, this theory is practically scientific law. But it got this way because it was pounded into people's heads over and over by parents, teachers, and scientific leaders. So, now, if you go out on the street and ask a random person where people came from, most people will say we evolved from primates. But if you go back, say, 200 years, and ask a random person the same thing, they'll say that man was created by god, and in his image. it all depends on how often it is repeated to them.
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