Interesting question.
For one, the elimination of all religions would also eliminate yet another divisive factor amongst us.
Religion provides comfort to many people, however. In difficult times, especially when facing death, people turn to religion as a source of strength, which is hardly a bad thing. It is the abuse of religion, or religion as power, that complicates the matter.
(Though these End Times nutters really scare me. They aren't concerned about ecological damage being done by our society and they have a tendency to write off whole peoples based on a 'who gets to go to heaven' theory. I believe most major religions have some kind of end times thesis.)
For one, the elimination of all religions would also eliminate yet another divisive factor amongst us.
Religion provides comfort to many people, however. In difficult times, especially when facing death, people turn to religion as a source of strength, which is hardly a bad thing. It is the abuse of religion, or religion as power, that complicates the matter.
(Though these End Times nutters really scare me. They aren't concerned about ecological damage being done by our society and they have a tendency to write off whole peoples based on a 'who gets to go to heaven' theory. I believe most major religions have some kind of end times thesis.)
common sense never prevails,ever.what makes common,common is extremes on some side or another.There is never a continual balance.
Leave religion alone including Islam...its the extremest and those who love them.
Those same religous zealots on any side would just find another reason.
Any cause would find war or terroism.Just look at the envromentist terroism.
Burning down buisness over polution and stuff,that is just another form of war.
there would always be somthing.
What happens with religion is you get the freaks out there that start saying that "God is on our side", then all reasoning can be abandoned because reason is thrown aside and takes a back seat to "what obviously is right"......because what people on this planet are actually raised or brought up to question thier religious background and the traditions that have been ingrained in them for decades? Most religions it's absolutely taboo to even think about questioning your religion. Closed-minded thinking is taught at an early age in most cultures.
You can't reason with religious zealots.......if you come up with a tough question for them to answer all they can come up with is "God only knows that".....
Ok, so that makes me feel better.
Let's throw out all scientific study and knowledge while we're at it and just fvcking make up some answers that no one can defend.
Would definitely be better without religion on this planet, then people would have to find a legitimate reason for thier agendas instead of grasping an all-encompassing incredibly vague ideology and feeling mentally smug and cocksure for doing it.....
I'm sure there would still be some atrocities the likes that mr73551 pointed out, but there would certainly be less of the hardcore, diehard, fight to the death examples that happen when religion is added to the equation.
A lot less serial killers who claimed "God said to do it".......lot less of these religious unabombers shooting abortion doctors and blowing up the clinics......lot less of these lunatics running around in the middle east with a machete looking for a neck to saw in two.......
Salmen Rushdie put out the book "satanic verses" about twenty years ago....flamed the Arab religion and the Shah of Iran put a lifetime bounty on his head, basically meaning that some arabs great-grandson was going to still be looking to put a shiv in Rushdie's back.....all for coming out with a bad review on the Muslim religion.......you tell me that isn't a little extreme.....
Watch where you fart if you go over to the middle east.
You can't reason with religious zealots.......if you come up with a tough question for them to answer all they can come up with is "God only knows that".....
Ok, so that makes me feel better.
Let's throw out all scientific study and knowledge while we're at it and just fvcking make up some answers that no one can defend.Would definitely be better without religion on this planet, then people would have to find a legitimate reason for thier agendas instead of grasping an all-encompassing incredibly vague ideology and feeling mentally smug and cocksure for doing it.....
I'm sure there would still be some atrocities the likes that mr73551 pointed out, but there would certainly be less of the hardcore, diehard, fight to the death examples that happen when religion is added to the equation.
A lot less serial killers who claimed "God said to do it".......lot less of these religious unabombers shooting abortion doctors and blowing up the clinics......lot less of these lunatics running around in the middle east with a machete looking for a neck to saw in two.......
Salmen Rushdie put out the book "satanic verses" about twenty years ago....flamed the Arab religion and the Shah of Iran put a lifetime bounty on his head, basically meaning that some arabs great-grandson was going to still be looking to put a shiv in Rushdie's back.....all for coming out with a bad review on the Muslim religion.......you tell me that isn't a little extreme.....
Watch where you fart if you go over to the middle east.
The left has this fixation on religion that I find fascinating.
I'm not sure if it's some negative compulsion formed over the fact that an individual can find comfort in something other than a leftist ideology, or if it's just plain old fear of something that can't be easily analyzed and undestood, or if it's some other emotional manifestation such as jealousy - buit the left has this maniacal hatred for God that has them nipping at the heels of this ancient human institution.
What is it about religion that has the left rationalizing every possible excuse under the sun to destroy it?
I'm not particularly religious, but I recognize that many of the faithful recieve a comfort from their belief. It helps maintain their ego and supports them during the tough times, and allows them to be helpful toward others during good times. Religion benefits these people, their families, and their comunities - yet the left wants to destroy it.
I just wish I could understand why someone could hold such animosity toward a system that has never caused that person any kind of ill.
It's another manifistation of the left that's beyond rational explanation
I'm not sure if it's some negative compulsion formed over the fact that an individual can find comfort in something other than a leftist ideology, or if it's just plain old fear of something that can't be easily analyzed and undestood, or if it's some other emotional manifestation such as jealousy - buit the left has this maniacal hatred for God that has them nipping at the heels of this ancient human institution.
What is it about religion that has the left rationalizing every possible excuse under the sun to destroy it?
I'm not particularly religious, but I recognize that many of the faithful recieve a comfort from their belief. It helps maintain their ego and supports them during the tough times, and allows them to be helpful toward others during good times. Religion benefits these people, their families, and their comunities - yet the left wants to destroy it.
I just wish I could understand why someone could hold such animosity toward a system that has never caused that person any kind of ill.
It's another manifistation of the left that's beyond rational explanation
Mr blight
I have a question? Why does every argument you ever make
always, or almost always brand the "left" as the enemy? The
left, only in your opinion "has this manical hatred for God." Why
do you make such preposterous statements, I have many good
friends who have their religion and their God and they would
be what you call the "left." You don't have to be a right wing
nut case to believe in a God and it seems in many cases these
right wing nut cases turn out to be right wing hypocrites.
Somebody, somewhere in your life did you a giant misservice
when they taught you that all societies evils are to be blamed
on the "left." Find a little moderation in your life.
I have a question? Why does every argument you ever make
always, or almost always brand the "left" as the enemy? The
left, only in your opinion "has this manical hatred for God." Why
do you make such preposterous statements, I have many good
friends who have their religion and their God and they would
be what you call the "left." You don't have to be a right wing
nut case to believe in a God and it seems in many cases these
right wing nut cases turn out to be right wing hypocrites.
Somebody, somewhere in your life did you a giant misservice
when they taught you that all societies evils are to be blamed
on the "left." Find a little moderation in your life.
Stacilu: Another nice post .... Hey, I've voted both ways - Reagan / Reagan / Bush / Clinton / Clinton/ Gore / Kerry ... I am not a die hard to either party ... I was raised and still do attend Catholic services .. what has driven me away from the Republicans is their touting that they are the "Morally Superior" crowd ... that is so hogwash and nothing demonstrates it better than Karl Rove:
NEWS BRIEF: "Pres. Advisor Karl Rove to Speak at LU Graduation", Liberty University, University Relations, April 6, 2004, http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?pid=6848&newsid=12
"LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA — Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, will deliver the keynote address at Liberty University’s thirty-first Commencement on Saturday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Vines Center.
“The class of 2004 and Liberty University are highly honored that Mr. Rove would take time from his very busy and strategically important schedule for the Liberty Commencement address. I have known Karl Rove for many years and I am greatly impressed with his wisdom, dedication to President Bush and his love for Jesus Christ', comments Liberty Chancellor, Dr. Jerry Falwell."
Notice carefully that Falwell is telling his students that Karl Rove is a believer who personally possesses a "love for Jesus Christ". Since no sinner can possess a love of our Savior, Falwell is telling his people that Rove is a Born Again Christian. For those of you who have been following this presidential advisor for a number of years, you are undoubtedly surprised that this cold-hearted political fighter could possess a "love for Jesus Christ". Yet, we should not be too surprised to learn that this key presidential adviser is depicted as a committed believer, because this is the Christian view of President Bush. If people can be deceived into thinking Bush is Born Again even though his horrible spiritual fruits reach so high, they can be likewise deceived into thinking that his key advisor is Born Again.
However, this is not the Karl Rove I know! This MSNBC article, below, reveals the true heart of Rove, the kind of man I have always known him to be. Notice how recent this article is.
NEWS BRIEF: "Inner Circle", MSNBC, November 15, 2004
"Nov. 15 issue - Karl Rove called the group "the Breakfast Club." They met at Rove's unadorned house in northwest Washington on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003 ... Rove had called this meeting of his top advisers to discuss all the ways they were going to bury Howard Dean ... Rove was the unquestioned boss of the campaign to re-elect the president. Everyone reported to him; even local GOP bosses checked with him before making a move. The group he gathered around his dining-room table this December morning was the tight little inner circle ... For a Republican, there was no greater call to duty than an invitation from Rove to join the Breakfast Club.
"Rove set up a reporting system designed to hold accountable party bosses and volunteers alike. He created the mystique of an all-seeing, all-knowing boss of bosses ... A Rove colleague called him 'five-dimensional'. His friends as well as his enemies described him as generous, crude, charming, repellent, thoughtful, vindictive, funny, mean, brilliant and foolish. Plump and balding, a jolly joker, he could be savage. In Esquire magazine, writer Ron Suskind recalled sitting outside Rove's office waiting for an interview to begin. Inside, he wrote, he could hear Rove bellowing at an aide, 'We will f--- him. Do you hear me? We will f--- him. We will ruin him. Like no one has ever f---ed him!' ... Rove was well aware of his reputation and cultivated it. On Halloween 2003, a NEWSWEEK reporter teased Rove for not wearing a costume. 'I'm scary enough', he replied."
Like President Bush, Karl Rove is prone to use the "F---" word regularly in his daily speech.
Before you defend Karl Rove as a Christian, remember that, at the urging of President Bush, Rove arranged for a Hindu religious ceremony to be performed in the White House. Further, Rove participated in this pagan religious service.
NEWS BRIEF: "Pres. Advisor Karl Rove to Speak at LU Graduation", Liberty University, University Relations, April 6, 2004, http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?pid=6848&newsid=12
"LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA — Karl Rove, Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, will deliver the keynote address at Liberty University’s thirty-first Commencement on Saturday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Vines Center.
“The class of 2004 and Liberty University are highly honored that Mr. Rove would take time from his very busy and strategically important schedule for the Liberty Commencement address. I have known Karl Rove for many years and I am greatly impressed with his wisdom, dedication to President Bush and his love for Jesus Christ', comments Liberty Chancellor, Dr. Jerry Falwell."
Notice carefully that Falwell is telling his students that Karl Rove is a believer who personally possesses a "love for Jesus Christ". Since no sinner can possess a love of our Savior, Falwell is telling his people that Rove is a Born Again Christian. For those of you who have been following this presidential advisor for a number of years, you are undoubtedly surprised that this cold-hearted political fighter could possess a "love for Jesus Christ". Yet, we should not be too surprised to learn that this key presidential adviser is depicted as a committed believer, because this is the Christian view of President Bush. If people can be deceived into thinking Bush is Born Again even though his horrible spiritual fruits reach so high, they can be likewise deceived into thinking that his key advisor is Born Again.
However, this is not the Karl Rove I know! This MSNBC article, below, reveals the true heart of Rove, the kind of man I have always known him to be. Notice how recent this article is.
NEWS BRIEF: "Inner Circle", MSNBC, November 15, 2004
"Nov. 15 issue - Karl Rove called the group "the Breakfast Club." They met at Rove's unadorned house in northwest Washington on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003 ... Rove had called this meeting of his top advisers to discuss all the ways they were going to bury Howard Dean ... Rove was the unquestioned boss of the campaign to re-elect the president. Everyone reported to him; even local GOP bosses checked with him before making a move. The group he gathered around his dining-room table this December morning was the tight little inner circle ... For a Republican, there was no greater call to duty than an invitation from Rove to join the Breakfast Club.
"Rove set up a reporting system designed to hold accountable party bosses and volunteers alike. He created the mystique of an all-seeing, all-knowing boss of bosses ... A Rove colleague called him 'five-dimensional'. His friends as well as his enemies described him as generous, crude, charming, repellent, thoughtful, vindictive, funny, mean, brilliant and foolish. Plump and balding, a jolly joker, he could be savage. In Esquire magazine, writer Ron Suskind recalled sitting outside Rove's office waiting for an interview to begin. Inside, he wrote, he could hear Rove bellowing at an aide, 'We will f--- him. Do you hear me? We will f--- him. We will ruin him. Like no one has ever f---ed him!' ... Rove was well aware of his reputation and cultivated it. On Halloween 2003, a NEWSWEEK reporter teased Rove for not wearing a costume. 'I'm scary enough', he replied."
Like President Bush, Karl Rove is prone to use the "F---" word regularly in his daily speech.
Before you defend Karl Rove as a Christian, remember that, at the urging of President Bush, Rove arranged for a Hindu religious ceremony to be performed in the White House. Further, Rove participated in this pagan religious service.
"I just wish I could understand why someone could hold such animosity toward a system that never caused that person any kind of ill."
Perhaps the "negative compulsion" is a direct result of the pompous masses of religious people who sneer and scoff at other religions and consider the followers of other religions to be heathens that are doomed for not following what is "obvious" to the correct religion that "they" practice.
It's rather easy for the religious snobs to turn thier nose up to other religions, but when comparing most religions you will find that almost all of them have the following:
1. A fat book full of moral based passages
2. A God contained in that book that does not allow one to worship other gods or, how dare they even merely think of the existence of another god.
3. A great place to go for the followers of the religion when they die.
4. A bad, usually fiery place to go for the people who were just unlucky enough to be born into another religion or who have legitimate doubt about the vague, incredible claims of that religion.
I consider myself to be an agnostic. I have just as much (or little) reason to be a Christian as I would of being a Muslim, or any other religion for that matter, given the common practices that religions share.......there is little evidence on this planet which supports proof of one religion over another.....I choose to base my beliefs in rationalism, and tend to believe that extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof.
I know a number of religious people who laugh at the thought of even considering the chance of life in other parts of the galaxy, yet they dress up to go to church to hear about water into wine, people turning to stone, and people walking around three days after they died. People walk on water everyday, I guess I just keep missing it happen.
As far as that "system that has never caused that person any ill."......well, that would be ignoring all the religious based conflicts that have killed or maimed people, and caused general grief along with depleting financial sources that could have been used for better purposes. That system has caused plenty of ill to both the living and the dead, whether you choose to see that or not.
Perhaps the "negative compulsion" is a direct result of the pompous masses of religious people who sneer and scoff at other religions and consider the followers of other religions to be heathens that are doomed for not following what is "obvious" to the correct religion that "they" practice.
It's rather easy for the religious snobs to turn thier nose up to other religions, but when comparing most religions you will find that almost all of them have the following:
1. A fat book full of moral based passages
2. A God contained in that book that does not allow one to worship other gods or, how dare they even merely think of the existence of another god.
3. A great place to go for the followers of the religion when they die.
4. A bad, usually fiery place to go for the people who were just unlucky enough to be born into another religion or who have legitimate doubt about the vague, incredible claims of that religion.
I consider myself to be an agnostic. I have just as much (or little) reason to be a Christian as I would of being a Muslim, or any other religion for that matter, given the common practices that religions share.......there is little evidence on this planet which supports proof of one religion over another.....I choose to base my beliefs in rationalism, and tend to believe that extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof.
I know a number of religious people who laugh at the thought of even considering the chance of life in other parts of the galaxy, yet they dress up to go to church to hear about water into wine, people turning to stone, and people walking around three days after they died. People walk on water everyday, I guess I just keep missing it happen.
As far as that "system that has never caused that person any ill."......well, that would be ignoring all the religious based conflicts that have killed or maimed people, and caused general grief along with depleting financial sources that could have been used for better purposes. That system has caused plenty of ill to both the living and the dead, whether you choose to see that or not.
Religion is used as a crutch / excuse: without it problems would still be there-- and worse perhaps, because those who fear divine retribution would no longer contain themselves. There would then need to be some type of scientific belief / hypothesis that there will be an afterlife w/ consequences....What, no afterlife? Hhmmm, may as well as enjoy the ride-- hide your mothers & wives 'cause here i come! Bend over before yo' new daddy!
100% certainty
The main problem is the 100% certainty aspect of the zealots. Just as in betting there is no such thing as a "lock" bet, no-one can say for sure whether they will be going to Heaven, Nirvanna, Allah, the great big Ayrian master race area in the sky or anything else like that.
People with no doubts about such uncertain matters are the problem and not the solution. They are capable of saying that if you are not for me then you are against me. The next step is exclusionist policy. The final step is extermination policy.
The only thing you know for sure about powerful folk 100% confident they are right is that a lot of other folk will suffer for it.
The main problem is the 100% certainty aspect of the zealots. Just as in betting there is no such thing as a "lock" bet, no-one can say for sure whether they will be going to Heaven, Nirvanna, Allah, the great big Ayrian master race area in the sky or anything else like that.
People with no doubts about such uncertain matters are the problem and not the solution. They are capable of saying that if you are not for me then you are against me. The next step is exclusionist policy. The final step is extermination policy.
The only thing you know for sure about powerful folk 100% confident they are right is that a lot of other folk will suffer for it.
I don't care which magic tooth fairy in the sky people want to form cults for so they can do some lemming rituals once a week for. However, when they start influencing our government it's time to start taxing the sheepish little fu*kers (no offense to the Welsh posters).
