Religion Thread

[Professor Fenway]

Ok, I split the topics. Keep google in google, religion here.

[Chairman_Tiel]

But they're mutually inclusive!

[҉]

I'm not at all sure that this thread is a good idea. Make sure everything stays civil.

[Keon]

If I had to put a name to a religion I followed, it would be pantheism or Gaiaism. I still celebrate Easter and Christmas and all that, because presents and candy and it's as much part of my culture as it is my religion.

Also, Ilúvatarism is cool.

[Iv121]

BTW How did I end up the host of this one ?

[fr0stbyte124]

BTW How did I end up the host of this one ?

Thread got split and the powers that be decided you started the religion tangent.

[Iv121]

****

[Ivan2006]

Sooo...
We´re talking about religion now?
Anyway, my opinion is that organized religion can have bad effects.
Remember the "witch trials" or the 1k years technological stagnation in the medieval ages?
Not good.
On the other hand, religion was/is neccessary to keep people motivated.
Right now, religion is the reason for the war Israel vs Palestina as well as the Middle Eastern Conflict.

but I´m not saying religion is bad, I´m saying that religious leaders often happen to abuse their power.

[Iv121]

There is no much religion in the middle eastern conflict, it is mostly territorial and somewhat racial.

[Dr. Mackeroth]

I think religion comes from an ingrained belief of self-preservation in humans, and a desire to explain things. This leads to a fear of dying/death, which people seek comfort from. Naturally, in order to negate this fear, people convinced themselves that a higher power existed and that there was life after death. These early religious practices were taken advantage of by some clever and influential people a long time ago, who probably claimed to be in contact with/gifted by these "higher powers", and used this as a leverage point to control people by controlling their "access" to the benefits these "higher powers" provided. These "religious leaders" realized that they could use their influence over the general population to control them, and gain money/positions of power in the process. Then they realized that if they formalized their religion and gave it a structure that could "explain" the questions of human existence, that they would attract more followers.

And that, my friends, was how organized religion was born: out of fear and greed.

As you can tell, I'm a pretty convinced atheist.

I also think religion is a dangerous topic to be discussing where it is permanently on record for all to see. Then again, no one can deny me my freedom of belief.

[Error]

Religion bugs me sometimes.

The one thing some (SOME, and I point no fingers) seem to miss is that fancy little sentence in the charter of rights & freedoms.
"..freedom of religion."
What if I want to hhave no religion? Suddenly, I've got the Jehovah's Witnesses knocking at the door every other day (no offense, but you guys need to give up) promoting commemorations of Jesus and Noah and who-knows-what-else.

The reason I may show a dislike towards religions is because they won't bugger off when asked.

Spoiler:

Oh, and in the words of Gandhi: "I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ."

[Iv121]

Hey they never are, religion is an instrument of rulership. I think that what we all experience is faith.

[Prototype]

I am entirely non-religious, I just obey the one golden rule:
Treat others as you wish to be treated

Unfortunately there are too many assholes in the world, but you still need to be polite to them, so you don't sink to ther level (well maybe not the Westboro Baptist Church, they take things too far, an insult their own religion, I mean even the KKK told them to slow down a bit)

[CommanderKobialka]

Sooo...
We´re talking about religion now?
Anyway, my opinion is that organized religion can have bad effects.
Remember the "witch trials" or the 1k years technological stagnation in the medieval ages?
Not good.
On the other hand, religion was/is neccessary to keep people motivated.
Right now, religion is the reason for the war Israel vs Palestina as well as the Middle Eastern Conflict.

but I´m not saying religion is bad, I´m saying that religious leaders often happen to abuse their power.

lol "witch trials". Humans arent that stupid anymore. And I was actually going to mention the war between Israel and Palestine and I find it stupid. They have been fighting for soooo long. They should just accept each others religions and quit. However, I'm not in their situations and I don't know what it's like over their so I can't really have an opinion

(Gandhi quote)

well... you have a point there. But we try and nobody is perfect. You accusing Christians of not being perfect is very hypocritical.

[҉]

http://theoatmeal.com/comics/religion
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/atheism

Read. Laugh. Follow.