-Religion is the opium of the masses. -Religion is the impotence of the human mind to deal with occurrences it cannot understand. -Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions.
So true...
Now, what do YOU think? Does religion cause wars? Does it keep people in line? Or is this topic pointless? I think that religion is BAD. With no religion on Earth, there would be less war. WW2. Massive slaughter of Jews. Without Jews or any other religious group, WW2 may never have even started.
Correct, there was an organised push to incorporate "The Force" as a religion in the UK and Australian census back in 2002 I so believe. However as of yet I'm not aware of any actual churches or specific Jedi congregations.
As something rooted so specifically in popular culture, I doubt such a thing would gain the status of any monolithic organised religion, obviously- it would likely remain a niche thing.
@ Moe:
I don't see how anyone couldn't like categorical imperatives
Because as far as I can tell, people can't agree on what universal maxims to hold. I think the major caveat with subscribing to CIs is that it tends to force the loss of consideration of contexts, and the grounds for support of CIs are less than comprehensive or inaccurate, similar to the way that certain forms of theism frequently give rise to "catch-all" type justifications.
Even if we claim that it's a universal human need to have solid, authoritative and completely flawless moral codes, I think it's fallacious to believe that we should generate one, because it kinda boils down to "we ought to create a universally absolute moral code because we want one." And as you know I'm not a fan of normative ethics!
A universally absolute moral code.... honestly, without religion, there is none.
If one believes in evolution (moreover, there is no 'god' or spiritual force) then why should we follow any rules or guidelines? If evolution is right, we simply do not exist after we die, so we should have as much fun as we can before we go, no matter who we step on to get there (survival of the fittest, right?).
Furthermore, if evolution is correct, what does it matter if one dies in a freak accident? It was supposedly a 'freak accident' that created us, such is the way we would die. Does not matter if some chaotic car crash kills you, you're just a freak* anyway, just educated pond scum.
*derived from the fact that a freak accident caused life, we are all considered 'freaks'
To me it does not matter. I am a christian. Now, some people are other, some people are none. I simply respect their nature. I do not hate people because of what they believe.
Here is what interests me though. I (as of right now) do not believe in such drastic suggestions, but, it it has been said to me many times before, (even to me from my religion group) that the world is going to end in 2012. Must I take such measures to believe such a cause?
Furthermore, if evolution is correct, what does it matter if one dies in a freak accident? It was supposedly a 'freak accident' that created us, such is the way we would die. Does not matter if some chaotic car crash kills you, you're just a freak* anyway, just educated pond scum.
Correct, homeboy :P We make a pretty big deal of ourselves considering what we are: mere forms of life. Ultimately we're insignificant, things happen, we do things to each other, and who are we to think ourselves otherwise? This doesn't mean that we shouldn't feel the things that we do, but rather that we simply do feel them, nothing more, nothing less (but I would note that this in itself doesn't necessarily imply some reductionism or a lack of spiritualism).
One might claim that this sounds so disenchanting, so flat, but I find such an outlook rather liberating. Not being able to accept this (or the various connotations that you've inserted into your interpretation is one of the motivations for subscribing to religion, or something akin to it. Personally I feel that while it's an almost universal need when it comes to humans (as evidenced by our endless metaphysical querying), that there's a better way out of this: we can be aware that consciousness compels us to feel this way, and in so doing, transcend it, and look at things from a more, well, accurate perspective.
Obviously this is my take on it, and my own reasons for having a firmly agnostic outlook. I wouldn't expect everybody, or even that many people to agree with everything I've said- even if they did I wouldn't insist on their treating this the same way as I have.
I don't think religion is good. Because religion made a lot of wars in humanity, and people get less along whit religion. The religion put a rule to everyone doing it, and they have to respect it or they go to ''hell''. Religion made a hard time for scientist (most in the medieval time) to discover stuff, and prove religion wrong. Some got even killed. Don't you people think that whit out religion the humans would be in peace? They mind would be more open, and science would be a lot more advanced. They mite be less wars. So i really think religion isn't a really good thing.
I don't think religion is good. Because religion made a lot of wars in humanity, and people get less along whit religion. The religion put a rule to everyone doing it, and they have to respect it or they go to ''hell''. Religion made a hard time for scientist (most in the medieval time) to discover stuff, and prove religion wrong. Some got even killed. Don't you people think that whit out religion the humans would be in peace? They mind would be more open, and science would be a lot more advanced. They mite be less wars. So i really think religion isn't a really good thing.
it is not religion that made all the horrible things, but stupid, naive and ignorant people, that misused(hope that word exists and is understandable) knowingly or unknowingly the religous beliefs of others.
and most of the things you say happend in times were tolerance and open mindness were rarely found and unpopular and not necessarily connected to religion
religion is suppose to be about peace, helping people and the poor, believing in God, but now it came to a point that religion is used for power, hate, war
However, in everyday life I admit that it could be positive. If someone is going through a hard time they can use their religion and belief in "God" to help them through it. They'll tell their brain that there is some great being that will solve their problems for them, and they won't worry as much.
If you look at the big picture though, religion is one of the worst things that could have happened to us. Think of how many have died, and are dieing because of it. Earth is at war with itself because of religion, and unless we stop it soon it will be the downfall of us all.
However, in everyday life I admit that it could be positive. If someone is going through a hard time they can use their religion and belief in "God" to help them through it. They'll tell their brain that there is some great being that will solve their problems for them, and they won't worry as much.
If you look at the big picture though, religion is one of the worst things that could have happened to us. Think of how many have died, and are dieing because of it. Earth is at war with itself because of religion, and unless we stop it soon it will be the downfall of us all.
agreed 100% with you on that, I'm a Christian but I know life all to well that God doesn't exist, when people need help they just prey and won't worry much, now when it comes to that ''God'' doesn't help them and if everything turns out good for them they will just say ''thank God'' lol
but in a way it keeps humans organised and help each other and that's the only thing I like about religion, other then that religions hate each other and millions have died because of it
I'll always be a Christian, but I'll always be open minded and do everything instead of preying for it.
it's bad on a large scale (wars) but good on a personal
kinda like a placebo
Basically; it's great for people who are so weak willed that they need an institution they can join so they can try and give life a purpose; everyone else uses drugs or booze.
