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Do you think religion [regardless of if you believe in god] is a force that causes positive or negative change? I understand it can have cause either, but up until this point in human history, what effect do you think it has had overall? Basically, when the goods and bads of religion are averaged, what was it's net effect? Limit your answer to religions practiced within the last 2000 years if it makes it less broad. Sorry for saying the same question so many ways, just wanted it to be clear what I was asking. |
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The burden of proof lies with the one making the claim
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Certain aspects of religion provide benefits while others provide detriments. Some benefits I think are the feel-good feeling it provides (sometimes, if you're a "God is loving and he blessed me with this adorable puppy" type), a way for a community to get together, plus a huge amount of very nice art. |
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That's my biggest issue with religion. It may provide comfort to individuals, but it also leads to bigotry and warfare in tons of cases. And I hate how it's used to stop research and crush civil rights e.g. stem cell work, abortion, gay marriage. |
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The burden of proof lies with the one making the claim
Goals:
10 Lucids [X]
Look at my reflection [X]
Dream sex [X] with climax [X]
Religion causes more evil than good. And i agree with mario. |
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But in all fairness, religion has set the ground rules for what is acceptable and what isn't in society. Some are of course better than others( I'm not bad mouthing any religion) but most have very basic rules of don't chea,t lie and steal. Don't kill anyone and so on. |
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The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is, not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended. - Frédéric Bastiat
I try to deny myself any illusions or delusions, and I think that this perhaps entitles me to try and deny the same to others, at least as long as they refuse to keep their fantasies to themselves. - Christopher Hitchens
Formerly known as BLUELINE976
Yeah I agree that there are good things and bad things. I'm not religious myself. It can help people to belong and feel like a part of something, but I think that people have abused it. |
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Ok... that didn't quite come out the way I though it would, but religion has been around longer almost anything. But they were the ones that basically enforced in a way. Nothing scares people like burning in hell and being tortured for eternity.... or some bullshit like that. |
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Religion is like communism: Great idea on paper (for the comfort reasons and all that stuff), but mix in the human factor, and you've got the epic fail we see today. |
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Religion is history's most used reason for war. |
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Should ancient romans fight over oil instead? Religion is ancient and a part of every culture the world has seen. Not to mention religion for many cultures in history and even today was also government. So of course it was going to be used as an EXCUSE for war. |
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I suppose you aren't very fond of electricity or the light bulb, then. And GPS navigation is completely worthless. The internet is just a waste of time. Vaccines are only bunk and don't do a damn thing except give kids autism. Good god, wake up! Wastefulness is not the product of scientific advancements (the same field currently working on reducing waste problems); it is the product of human ignorance and laziness. All that junk could have been recycled or reused. How quickly you forget the oppression religion has wrought in the past. Remember Galileo? The church forced him into silence and put him under house arrest. They suppressed a brilliant mind. And they did it more than once. I don't care if religions are peaceful and mind their own fucking business, but when I watch TV and see thousands of people discriminating against gay people or innocent women seeking abortions in the name of god and jesus, I get pissed. When I see the Pope condemning condoms, I get a tad bit angry. Religion in our society today serves no purpose beyond comfort. If we were all to buy into the doctrine of the church, we would surely be marching backwards within the decade. |
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Religion stifles free thought and natural curiosity and promotes ignorance as a virtue. |
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"Someday, I think you and I are going to have a serious disagreement." -- Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) Last of the Mohicans
Group mentality is Hell unleashed upon the individual |
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Signature work courtesy of Cloud
Come to think of it, religious groups are excellent for organizing individuals, providing sanctuary and help. In fact, the Mormons have a great temporary, private welfare system to help those who genuinely need help. Other than that, they are utterly useless and stifle scientific advancements. |
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The worst thing that can happen to a good cause is, not to be skillfully attacked, but to be ineptly defended. - Frédéric Bastiat
I try to deny myself any illusions or delusions, and I think that this perhaps entitles me to try and deny the same to others, at least as long as they refuse to keep their fantasies to themselves. - Christopher Hitchens
Formerly known as BLUELINE976
Ideas, in of themselves do nothing. Thinking that they do is a primitive anthropomorphism. |
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Last edited by Philosopher8659; 09-23-2010 at 10:19 PM.
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