Ok here is a poll

about banning religion

don't be caught up with "WHICH" religion, they all speak of god, good, evil etc. It doesn't matter
put your favorite religion in the empty space

if you want more options which can't be boiled down to these, say, and I'll add yours

Banning freedom? Not even the strictest of atheists and antitheists would want to do that.

we DO have a vote for yes so far from an atheist

What is the definition of "religion" being used in this poll? I'm going to assume it's "organized religion" you are referring to, as opposed to personal Faith in God/gods/higher powers (which is also "religion"). As such, my vote reflects my opinion as it relates to organized religion

any kind of belief system based on ancient scriptures , which may include public worship

I don't care how anyone looks at religion...all religion is orgainized...regardless on how others like to peg it...this is how i see it from the bigger picture

Yes, let's throw out that pesky First Amendment here in the States! We'll contradict every belief the founding parents had sooner or later anyway. Why not burn the very foundations and be done with it? Treat it all as a bandage; rip it off quickly and throw it away! Damn democracy while we're at it! Corruption is the present, anarchy the future! Burn, baby, burn!

Oh, but what becomes of anarchy? Anyone? Yes, that's right, Jimmy! Tyranny. So, you see, folks, no matter how oppressed you feel, there's always someone willing to oppress you even more.

The world's not a perfect place, NW, anyone can see as much. However, just as you're entitled to your beliefs, others are entitled to theirs. The sooner you acknowledge and respect that, the better off you'll be. Variety, it's been said, is the spice of life. I don't take my food or drink without a little flavor. Why would I accept a world as such? One day, the human race may learn to coexist peacefully, perhaps not. If this life all any of us have, shouldn't we concentrate more on getting the most we can out of it rather than worrying over every detail, no matter how trivial? There's good and bad in every lot. The problem isn't with the idea, it's with those who take the idea to extremes.

Alright, study chapters 9 & 10 over the weekend. There will be a quiz on Monday.

Class dismissed.

Ideas are one thing, beliefs another? That what you're getting at, dear?

Rufus was the man!

For those who may be lost, Rufus (the 13th Apostle) was a wise and profound thinker. He said, "...it's easy to change an idea, but beliefs..." or something to that effect. Watch Dogma, you'll understand.

For the record, even Bill and Ted admired Rufus. (speaking of Rufus) "Listen to this guy. He knows what he's talking about."
Bill and Ted were very wise men! "Be excellent to each other!" and all that good stuff. Very wise, indeed!

Who says Hollywood doesn't teach us anything?

Ideas are one thing..and beliefs are another...but heres the thing with them both conmbined DeVol

A religion is taken and put together to make ONE book...ie a bible...so from that bible comes rules...and from that, whoever takes it upon themselves to create a religion...will lay down these rules and picking and choosing what to follow most...therefore this gives them the right to say how they differ from other faiths....then they become a church....the church spreads...all of it is organized...rules = organize = people = faith = religion.....

.think about it...people follow the bible as the word of God right?? ...the bible itself is organized....each book within the bible was put together for a reason....starting from the 1st chapter - the beginning of time...right up to the NT ect...all organized that way...to get you to follow it as though you woud any novel...

If you take it upon yourself to follow God in your own little way...lil do you realize you are STILL being organized...for you make your OWN choices...get set in your own lil faithful way of prayers ect...and you still abide by what you believe are rules of God ..again that itself is organized...for you have organized your own faith to suit yourself

When you set any rule and you want to follow that rule..and others to be classed as your faith, they too must follow that rule that is believed to be handed down from God....then once you do this....its all organized


it dont matter look see how big or small your lil religious group is....the simple matter is this - the small lil group that has gathered around with you to pray to IE - Jesus...each person will still have their own personal relationship with Jesus, BUT...because they chose to gather around as a group, or meet up as one...they have all came to an agreement...that is this - they all tend to agree with how their choice in following Christ and following his fathers laws, are the CORRECT way and ONLY way....and then they may come up with an idea that makes them think that they are the truest of Christians and they are doing it the right way...all organized...

If you like I will gladly give you another example of what I mean............you advertise your school choir...pupils audition...so many get selected and then each one given songs to sing...put them all together and you have a nice lil organized choir service

The only things that are not as organized are things that are done without being thought through...IE The old tv show - Americas dumbest criminals lol

What the .. are you talking about? I'm not trying to ban religion, and I don't live in US so don't talk about politics and laws here, this is a philosophical discussion.
And I myself am religious. Why did you assume that I'm atheist for starting this discussion?

Uh huh...I understood what you were saying, hun. I was adding my two cents.



Ah! Well, as you don't live in the US, disregard the first section of my post, won't you? However, the fact is that I do live within the borders, so I will speak from my perspective and in argument of the usual barrage I've had to endure concerning religion in America. My post, my perspective. Thanks so much for understanding!

I did assume that you had given the thought of banning religion some consideration. My apologies. However did I come to that conclusion? Yet, given the options available in the poll, it's not difficult to conclude that you aren't the average, run of the mill Christian. As such, I took it that you had taken issue with a specific group or faith. Pardon me. I rant and I rave and I sometimes assume too much. The fact that I addressed you isn't anything personal, but as you were the one to make the OP, I felt obligated to address you. Sorry for the confusion. Take care!

you know, the worst thing is when you yell at someone, and then they just calm down and apologize, then you feel like a fool, that's what I'm feeling right now. lol
I get a lot of such assumptions around here, so I snap
Sorry about that.

That's what I like about you and people like you....you are man enough to say - ok my bad sorry...admit you picked him up wrong and you aren't afraid to say so

Good for you

Well just because I'm a loonie, doesn't mean I'm all bad

I wouldn't ban religion except for ones that preach hatred/you know which.
I would ban them just like I would ban the KKK and neo-Nazis etc.

I also would ban religions like Scientology and like that one in Utah (young girls forced in to arranged marriages)

Anything harmful,purposely deceptive (like cults) and unethical.

I think it is preposterous to try to forbid believe... If those wanting to believe cease believing in religion they start believing in UFOs, witches and magic or leprechauns.

Besides, several states have already attempted banning, and by that destroying, religion and failed miserably.

I would like to end religion. Religion is man's attempt to reach God, and as such is as corrupt as all of man's other organizations and ideas. Religion does more to keep man away from God than any other organization in existence.

would the thought police keep you from believing?....

To each their own.

I have no problem with people believing what they will, so long as they leave me to believe what I will and do not label me with their faith.

That has always been my biggest problem with religion. I have no problem in faith and believing in god, but as you just said, religion is corrupt.

You can't ban a thought, but I voted "Yes, it is dangerous" because religious organizations are dangerous. I think they should be banned.

ban religion? come on. that's a violation of human rights and freedom of speech. 99% of religious people and groups never hurt anybody. so what they say stuff you don't agree with are people that damn sensitive. we should ban cars because they are dangerous....and knifes......and arms which could be used to choke somebody.

99% of religious groups DO hurt other people. The world is in turmoil over religious groups of all persuasions!!
IMO, ban all religious teachings in ALL state schools, ban ALL religious teachings in privately funded schools, ban all politicians saying "God is on my side", take religion out of state once and for all. The separation of state and religion appears to have been forgotten, why? Because religious zealots have found a bandwagon and a mouthpiece in Idiot G. Bush and the like.

The world doesnt need organised religion at all.... it is a farago that should be left back in the Dark Ages. Keep your "omnipotent" being to yourselves.

The one percent of religious organisations that do not interfere are the Quakers, the Shakers, Buddhists etc. who do not interfere. Other Christian groups all have agendas inimical to peaceful life, and they need to prove that they are right!!!

IMO

from dictionary.com

1 a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Religion has become a dirty word, but it used to mean spiritual belief, so that's what I'm talking about.
Ban selling scriptures, ban any kind of congregations and public expression of beliefs.

religion can be personal. We are not talking about organizations here.
I'm talking any kind of expression of faith in supernatural, and treat it like say racism.
Meaning, making it legal to sue you for expressing religious belief

They are offending the scientific community.

see, you are mad, at least you seem that way

when you are mad, something is wrong in your life...

Perhaps you would like to elucidate on that statement? There again perhaps you do not have the intellectual awareness to do so.
When you say "Mad" what exactly is your definition of that condition? You wanted a philosophical discussion, well you have it going on, where is the philosophy is calling someone "Mad"?

So, I suugest you counter my beliefs with something a little more thought out.

How should I know what's bugging you, I don't know you

The point of philosophy is to discuss. Your one-liners I suspect are to boost the number of replies you have to the OP. Counter my arguments like a mature person or do not bother to reply to them.

Why would I benefit from the number of replies?

Well, then they are wasting their time because they never have nor ever will be able to prove that they are right.

Actually, science will do the job for them

"Self-Importance" comes to mind, so where are your debating skills?

I agree with that, but unfortunatly they seem to have a very strong grip on the Powers-that-be which interrupts mankinds Social Evolution.

Can't we just ban the freaky extremist ones?

Must be self-importance then.



I have none of those

Yes, all ayatollahs to an island!

Q.E.D. Waste of time

boy, you sure know how to be polite

You mean these

Please refrain from the unhelpful barbs and quips and keep things on topic, please

mhm. It would seem to me that to ban Religion is to ban thinking.

The fact is that to do such a thing is prohibitive on the way we think. If you tell someone that they are in no way allowed to believe xyz they will believe it all the stronger. Personally I am an Aethiest but I can see that religion is a useful and interesting thing.

Banning religion would be little different then the Church persecuting heretics, or the Extremist Muslims declaring Jihad on the Infidels.

Just as an extra point I'd like to add - communist countries have tried banning religion also. Look where that ended up.

you keep reminding me to watch Hitchhikers one of these days, I'll do it tomorrow if I don't foget

I'd still like to ban it.

I think stopping most of the wars and many future ones concerning religion out weighs 'Religious Thinking'

So I have chosen yes .. It should be banned. I'll give a good reason why -

Numbers 31.71,18

"Now therefore, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every women who has known a man by sleeping with him. But all the young girls who have not known a man by sleeping with him, keep alive for yourselves"

This is a good example where Yahweh [ God ] Tells people to go slaughter people - Particularity males, then take there daughters ..

Believe it or not - Some people today would still think this is alright because their minds have been poisoned ..

That it what religion influences .

you have already brought this part up somewhere I think

Lol I like to bring this example up because I can remember it off by heart and I don't have to search through my word doc for another good one ..



I'm your average lazy Australian