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Tangerine Sheri
Does Religon contribute to the betterment of mankind or does it make it worse and Why??? Namaste sheri


Is religion hindering forward movement or is it propeling forward progress and why???
iaapac
Sheri, let me be the first. Religion was never intended to help or harm humanity. It was formed only because without it we would have no meaning to our existence or hope of anything after it had ended.
Celumnaz
Religion, like any tool, can be useful, or harmful.

The ideology behind religion, is another matter, that I believe is beneficial.
aquatus1
I believe that religion arose from the necessity that people had to understand the world around them. I sometimes wonder if religion would have ever begun if primitive man had understood the science of meteorology.

Because of that, I believe that religion was a benefit to mankind in the past. In today's modern world, however, I believe that religion is obsolete. It still does what it did in the past, however there are better solutions today. In the same way that Newtonian Physics was replaced Einsteinian Physics, because it was a better way to understand physics, so has religion run its course.
Piney

Religion, if it is personal, gives you moral values like a culture does. Now were people, such as natives of America or Africa who had their culture ripped away and destroyed values were saved by religion. But to see people who have no religion or culture have no values. Now I am not talking about sub-culture which are cultures that form out of lack of such because sub-cultures have no moral values attached. As for organized religion, I am totaly against it. It is too easily manipulated for personal gain. But personal religion such as my nanticoke belief or the belief of the Quakers without it there are no moral values............
theoric
and what are moral values other than a tool for the control of the individual for the benefit of society?

religion, for the history of society, acted as a very slow changing, stablizing entity that bound the peoples together with a common ground. this function is necessary within society for it to survive. we are now entering into the dawn of a new social order where religion will fall away and be these binding/stablizing functions will be fulfilled by logic and knowledge rather than superstition and fear.

it begs the question though of "if man is a spiritual animal, what will take religion's place?" the answers may very well lie in our distant past: a return to an understanding of man-the-animal with nature.

in either case, society has passed into the era of quicker change at the stabilizing level (due to our ability to now discover, understand, and adapt compared to being locked into superstition) while maturing aspects of the mundane are allowing for a slowing of change at a more imediate level.
manapa99
I think this is an interesting question.....
I think that as a social tool in the past religion has been a great help to humanity, but I also think it has been a very horrible thing for humanity also.
I think religion evolved from mans need to understand thing they didn't know, it was necessary for early societies cultures.

Some cultures have religions that are extremely different than most western religions, and I feel that they would have happened no matter what, it was socially necessary

I also feel that because of all the differences in religions in early man there was a much greater cultural divide and that harmed humans on a much larger social scale.

I think though for me one of the greatest quotes I’ve ever heard was from an ancient Greek philosopher, I can't remember which one sorry but he said I think it was, "what if the god were not real, how much easier life would be if we just accepted that there was no one else controlling us."

I really agree with this because I feel so much more free and accepting of all the things in life because I know that I am the one in control of my actions and that there is no one to blame for the things that happen to me but me, and I think if all humans came to the realizations that I have there would be much less arguing and fighting in the world then there is now.
Religion has had it's place in our history but it is time for us to move on I think because it is no longer necessary and it harms us now much more then anything else in the natural world.

Sorry for the rambling this question just really got me going lol


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Tangerine Sheri
QUOTE(manapa99 @ Aug 12 2005, 02:38 PM)
I think this is an interesting question.....
I think that as a social tool in the past religion has been a great help to humanity, but I also think it has been a very horrible thing for humanity also.
I think religion evolved from mans need to understand thing they didn't know, it was necessary for early societies cultures.

Some cultures have religions that are extremely different than most western religions, and I feel that they would have happened no matter what, it was socially necessary

I also feel that because of all the differences in religions in early man there was a much greater cultural divide and that harmed humans on a much larger social scale.

I think though for me one of the greatest quotes I’ve ever heard was from an ancient Greek philosopher, I can't remember which one sorry but he said I think it was, "what if the god were not real, how much easier life would be if we just accepted that there was no one else controlling us."

I really agree with this because I feel so much more free and accepting of all the things in life because I know that I am the one in control of my actions and that there is no one to blame for the things that happen to me but me, and I think if all humans came to the realizations that I have there would be much less arguing and fighting in the world then there is now.
Religion has had it's place in our history but it is time for us to move on I think because it is no longer necessary and it harms us now much more then anything else in the natural world.

Sorry for the rambling this question just really got me going lol


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Manapa99 You are not rambling that was avery original and fascinating post, I love that quote myself and I have to agree with you I believe we would be so much better off if we fully assumed responsibility with ourselfs I to have found that to be my greatest freedom, i too think religion has had its point and the point is to me that I wouldn't want to aspire to embrace the ideas of religion that I would choose to beleive myself to be alot better than religion would allow for its to limilting and rigid which I have personal experience I have discovered the person that I am responsible for and the person I choose outside of religion is someone I can be proud of, Religion has it wrong I have discovered that I am very capable of being a good person without it. Namste sheri

With all those that see a newer world without releigion as its currently defined I can't wait to see you there!!!!!
iaapac
Voltaire also said, "If there were no God, man would invent one." Who knows, probably that's exactly what happened.
Tangerine Sheri
QUOTE(iaapac @ Aug 12 2005, 02:57 PM)
Voltaire also said, "If there were no God, man would invent one."  Who knows, probably that's exactly what happened.
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Iapaac I think thats exactly what happened but he created God in his own image and likeness me personally if I am to be inspired by somethingI'd like it to be remarkable not some egotistical image who has low self esteem and is needy to boot you know what I mean?? Namaste Sheri
iaapac
What's interesting is how god has evolved. I like to think that somewhere there is a rest home for all the old gods and Zeus, Quetzalcuatl, Thor, the group from Mount Olympus and Anu are all there chatting about the good old days.
theoric
iaapac: it was necessary for gods to evolve in order to remain relevent to the evolving human. if too much of a disparity formed between the god contructs and human understanding, the construct would have ceased a long time ago. (however, man is always more interested in filling the gaps in understanding than accepting those gaps, so had that happened, something else would have been devised to explain the yet understood)
Amalgamut
what kind of topic is this anyway? even so, who cares? Gas prices will still be sky high
sleever1
QUOTE(Sheri berri @ Aug 12 2005, 08:37 PM)
Does Religon contribute to the betterment of mankind or does it make it worse and Why???  Namaste sheri


Is religion hindering forward movement or is it propeling forward progress and why???
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I believe that religion gives people hope,and that can only help mankind, Even in my own moments of doubt i always encourage others in their religion for this reason. Its sort of like youd never tell a kid their is no santa clause
Paranoid Android
I continuously ask this question and continuously get no adequate response - WHat is religion?

That said, to answer Sheri's original post, I will ignore religion as an organization because that is not religion - that is an organization (though I think you'll find most answers to this thread will revolved exactly around that idea).

Religion as the dictionary defines it as in belief in higher powers/ spiritual entities and the like, this is neither helpful nor a hindrance to society. How each individual or organization chooses to base a dogma around said belief is another thing again - there are some who will find good from this, some that will find evil in this (but what is "good" and "evil"?)

Religion as the Bible describes it: feeding the hungry, doing good to others - this can only be for the betterment of society.

Ultimately, religion and faith is something that must be worked out within the confines of one's own heart and mind and soul and life. The fruits that one produces defines whether their religion is helpful or a hindrance (as I said, this is the individual I'm talking about, not the organization).

I hope this post makes sense

Regards, PA
Kalevipoeg
If you guys would be interested in history more then you would understand that religion has only done bad... Giving some drunk a little hope is not worth the millions of murders and tortures... Because of religion a lot of mentaly handicapped people have started wars, commited suicides and terrorist acts. Take christianity for example... Millions of people pointlesly murdered just to keep christianity the highest power in the world. It isn't that bad today, but sadly they used to have enourmous power. Religion has kept science from evolving. And again christianity comes to mind. If some scientist came up with something smart and the exact opposite was written in the bible then the scientist got tortuerd, murdered, imprisoned etc... For example if Galileo Galilei (think his name was written like that) discovered that Earth moved around the Sun, not otherwise then he was put to prison for life by our good friends, the christians... Whenever someone found an explanation for a "miracle of god" he got put down or put away... Sure it was good for the ancient cultures to believe in god so they would have an explanation for the world existing, but in my humble opinion it would have been a lot more useful if they would have started inventing things and understand what world really was about... So my opinion? If there wouldn't have been any religion the world would have been and would be a better place and scientificaly more evolved.
Paranoid Android
QUOTE(Kalevipoeg @ Aug 13 2005, 03:53 PM)
If you guys would be interested in history more then you would understand that religion has only done bad... Giving some drunk a little hope is not worth the millions of murders and tortures... Because of religion a lot of mentaly handicapped people have started wars, commited suicides and terrorist acts. Take christianity for example... Millions of people pointlesly murdered just to keep christianity the highest power in the world. It isn't that bad today, but sadly they used to have enourmous power. Religion has kept science from evolving. And again christianity comes to mind. If some scientist came up with something smart and the exact opposite was written in the bible then the scientist got tortuerd, murdered, imprisoned etc... For example if Galileo Galilei (think his name was written like that) discovered that Earth moved around the Sun, not otherwise then he was put to prison for life by our good friends, the christians... Whenever someone found an explanation for a "miracle of god" he got put down or put away... Sure it was good for the ancient cultures to believe in god so they would have an explanation for the world existing, but in my humble opinion it would have been a lot more useful if they would have started inventing things and understand what world really was about... So my opinion? If there wouldn't have been any religion the world would have been and would be a better place and scientificaly more evolved.
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Case in point:

QUOTE(Paranoid Android @ Aug 13 2005, 03:40 PM)
That said, to answer Sheri's original post, I will ignore religion as an organization because that is not religion - that is an organization (]though I think you'll find most answers to this thread will revolved exactly around that idea).
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Need I say more.



ramster83
Well its difficult to be one sided on this topic. Religion has done good and bad for people- yet thats because people decide to use it as an excuse for some horrible acts. Putting that aside, i think religion just grew with the world- its not a good or bad thing. Its a personal thing. Some people find religion to make them better people and keep them 'on guard' from commiting acts of sin, while others feel religion doesnt work for them. Each to their own.
sleever1
QUOTE(Kalevipoeg @ Aug 13 2005, 06:53 AM)
If you guys would be interested in history more then you would understand that religion has only done bad... Giving some drunk a little hope is not worth the millions of murders and tortures... Because of religion a lot of mentaly handicapped people have started wars, commited suicides and terrorist acts. Take christianity for example... Millions of people pointlesly murdered just to keep christianity the highest power in the world. It isn't that bad today, but sadly they used to have enourmous power. Religion has kept science from evolving. And again christianity comes to mind. If some scientist came up with something smart and the exact opposite was written in the bible then the scientist got tortuerd, murdered, imprisoned etc... For example if Galileo Galilei (think his name was written like that) discovered that Earth moved around the Sun, not otherwise then he was put to prison for life by our good friends, the christians... Whenever someone found an explanation for a "miracle of god" he got put down or put away... Sure it was good for the ancient cultures to believe in god so they would have an explanation for the world existing, but in my humble opinion it would have been a lot more useful if they would have started inventing things and understand what world really was about... So my opinion? If there wouldn't have been any religion the world would have been and would be a better place and scientificaly more evolved.
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Drunks are not the only ones who need hope, mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers need hope that their babies, husbands parents, siblings etc, havent lived and died in vain. and, there are a lot of other religions besides the group that you seem to resent so much. Of course I dont pretend to know what the world is really about, but i figure that religious books tell us what has happened and the scientists teel us why. As for me I would like to hope that I would see my lost loved ones again though my mind tells me I will rot in the ground and nothing more
LarryOldtimer
QUOTE(iaapac @ Aug 12 2005, 12:39 PM)
Sheri, let me be the first.  Religion was never intended to help or harm humanity.  It was formed only because without it we would have no meaning to our existence or hope of anything after it had ended.
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The Jews of the Old Testament had no hope of anything after life had ended. Google "Shoel" to see what they thought happened to people, all of them, bad and good alike, after they died. The "joyful everlasting life" thingy was concocted by Christianity for the most part, and then copied (with significant revisions, more "earthly" pleasures) by Islam. And a neat con it was, promising a pleasurable Heaven for those who followed the church teachings, and everlasting Hell for those who didn't. With the Christians, it was the carrot and stick technique, but with the Jews, mostly all stick! Any blessings by God were considered by Jews to be in the here and now, and the same with any punishment by God. For the most part, Jews saw punishment, as anything bad that happened to them. Earthquakes, defeat in battle, terrible storms and the like were considered punishment by God.
101
I read in someones post about gods evolving. The matter of fact that this happens is that I don't recall the Christian God ever evolving and is this why people do not understand him. He doesn't have to evolve because he is all knowing and remains constant..
Tangerine Sheri
Kalevipoeg, you have pointed out the brutal truth of the bible in my opinion, Larry also, I wanted to add that the Catholicics came up with purgatory to counter Reincarnation Catholics were losing memberships so they devised the concept of purgatory, Business is Business.


PA My meaning of religion is a organized system of beliefs that has a reward and punishment theory set into place Religion also tells you what to think it doesn't teach you HOW to think( that is not more apparent than with Muslims they can't think for themselves because there whole life everything has been answered through the Quran) Not thinking can become very dangerous and often does. Also religion requires you all think the same that there is a right and wrong way to interpret the scriptures and life, That in and itself is not possible no one can think the exact same similar but not the same it goes against everything we are naturally, Just as there is no two expressions of love that are the same >there is a saying CREATION ONLY ORIGINATES IT NEVER DUPLICATES HAVE YOU EVERY SEEN THE SNOWFLAKE NO TWO ARE ALIKE. tHERE MAY BE OTHER DEFINITIONS OF RELIGION BUT this IS WHAT i MEAN. wOULD YOU ANSWER DIFFERENTLY NOW OR THE SAME???


I think if you have certain needs that you think can't be met through the efforts of yourself you will turn to religion , I've seen Atheists turn to religion because they were lonely and even though they don't embrace the ideas of the bible they ignore the obvious and stay because they have needs Some are afraid to die so they turn to religion just in case? Some are afraid of hell, Religion appeals to those that feel they themselves are somehow lacking. Why else would you stay. I've asked many of the religious ones why they choose their religon with the exception of PA few are in it to be better people ( nothing personal to anyone else please don't be offended) Many are having needs met, True freedom comes when you realize you are sufficient unto yourself what you can't recognize in yourself you can't see in another . Namaste Sheri

One last thing I don't understand how anyone can intentionally choose a religion and not embrace the ideas heart and soul, if I'm to knowingly choose a religious path its because I live and breathe it, otherwise why choose it why settle I ask because lots of people say I don't believe everything the bible says just ignore the stuff you don't agree with yet to be a part of a religion whether you agree or not is the same as agreeing you are still sponsoring the ideas!!! Any comments on this???
etvisitor7
QUOTE(Sheri berri @ Aug 13 2005, 04:47 PM)
Kalevipoeg, you have pointed out the brutal truth of the bible in my opinion, Larry also, I wanted to add that the Catholicics came up with purgatory to counter Reincarnation Catholics were losing memberships so they devised the concept of purgatory, Business is Business.


PA My meaning of religion is a  organized system of beliefs that has a reward and punishment theory set into place Religion also tells you what to think it doesn't teach you HOW to think( that is not more apparent than with Muslims they can't think for themselves because there whole life everything has been answered through the Quran) Not thinking can become very dangerous and often does. Also religion  requires you all think the same that there is a right and wrong way to interpret the scriptures and life, That in and itself is not possible no one can think the exact same similar but not the same it goes against everything we are naturally, Just as there is no two expressions of love that are the same >there is a saying CREATION ONLY ORIGINATES IT NEVER DUPLICATES HAVE YOU EVERY SEEN THE SNOWFLAKE NO TWO ARE ALIKE. tHERE MAY BE OTHER DEFINITIONS OF RELIGION BUT this IS WHAT i MEAN. wOULD YOU ANSWER DIFFERENTLY NOW OR THE SAME???


I think if you have certain needs that  you think can't be met through the efforts of yourself you will turn to religion , I've seen Atheists turn to religion because they were lonely and even though they don't embrace the ideas of the bible they ignore the obvious and stay because they have needs Some are afraid to die so they turn to religion just in case? Some are afraid of hell, Religion appeals to those that feel they themselves are somehow lacking. Why else would you stay. I've asked many of the religious ones why they choose their religon with the exception of PA few are in it to be better people ( nothing personal to anyone else please don't be offended) Many are having needs met, True freedom comes when you realize you are sufficient unto yourself what you can't recognize in yourself you can't see in another . Namaste Sheri

One last thing I don't understand how anyone can intentionally choose a religion and not embrace the ideas heart and soul, if I'm to knowingly choose a religious path its because I live and breathe it, otherwise why choose it why settle I ask because lots of people say I don't believe everything the bible says just ignore the stuff you don't agree with yet to be a part of a religion whether you agree or not is the same as agreeing you are still sponsoring the ideas!!!  Any comments on this???
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Sheri, it is so true that the Church invented purgatory so as to oppose Reincarnation. Jesus' simple Teaching was changed into a religion based on fear, in which a Judgemental God is worshipped and feared. When religion is fear-based, it goes against the noble goals of the original Teaching that fear has distorted; it then separates and divides people, rather than achieving the originally-intended unity. Fear was used by the Church to control their members.
Reincarnation threatened the Church because it gave people many more chances to evolve and progress into greater and greater perfection. People therefore did not need priests in their evolvement.
theoric
QUOTE
Jesus' simple Teaching was changed into a religion based on fear, in which a Judgemental God is worshipped and feared.


there is this book called the torah which jesus built his teachings on top of so it is not jesus teachings turned into a religion of fear, but a religion of fear extended by jesus' teachings.
Piney

The Torah is the most brutal piece of religious theology I ever tried to read. There is a copy at the Quaker meetinghouse by me and I picked it up a couple times then put it down "kill ,driveout, destroy" blink.gif
Plus my opinion is that anyone who considers themselves chosen among all of the creators children and act this way deserves to get knocked down.
On another forum they talked about the Judeo/Christian God being a Jelous God.
Well he needs to grow up. Jelousy, like revenge is for the emotionaly retarded. no.gif

lapi'che ni'tis
iaapac
QUOTE(Piney @ Aug 14 2005, 08:42 PM)
The Torah is the most brutal piece of religious theology I ever tried to read. There is a copy at the Quaker meetinghouse by me and I picked it up a couple times then put it down "kill ,driveout, destroy"  blink.gif
  Plus my opinion is that anyone who considers themselves chosen  among all of the creators children and act this way deserves to get knocked down.
  On another forum they talked about the Judeo/Christian God being a Jelous God.
Well he needs to grow up. Jelousy, like revenge is for the emotionaly retarded. no.gif

  lapi'che ni'tis
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And what about the Old Testament? Kill, drive out, destroy . . . .
Piney
QUOTE(iaapac @ Aug 14 2005, 07:21 PM)
QUOTE(Piney @ Aug 14 2005, 08:42 PM)
The Torah is the most brutal piece of religious theology I ever tried to read. There is a copy at the Quaker meetinghouse by me and I picked it up a couple times then put it down "kill ,driveout, destroy"  blink.gif
  Plus my opinion is that anyone who considers themselves chosen  among all of the creators children and act this way deserves to get knocked down.
  On another forum they talked about the Judeo/Christian God being a Jelous God.
Well he needs to grow up. Jelousy, like revenge is for the emotionaly retarded. no.gif

  lapi'che ni'tis
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And what about the Old Testament? Kill, drive out, destroy . . . .
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That is the Torah it is just missing parts........... blink.gif
Tangerine Sheri
Something worse than the Quran i thought the Quran was the worst bible I've read but I haven't read the Torah. Namaste sheri
maryjo1975
Personally, I think "religion" is one of the worst things to every happen.

All it has really done is divide people.

How MANY different religions are there in the world? And how many of them are basically the same but with a few small differences? But people are willing to fight to their death for their few differences.

They are willing to lock out anyone who isnt exactly like they are.

Hey, I have been in church since before I was born. I have been in at least two different religions and have been exposed to a couple more. And from everything I have seen, the world would be a lot better place is religion was outlawed.

I believe in God and Jesus and all that stuff. But I do NOT believe in religion.

I tell people I am a Christian who doesnt believe in religion. LOL!
Piney
QUOTE(Sheri berri @ Aug 15 2005, 06:36 PM)
Something worse than the Quran i thought the Quran was the worst bible I've read but I haven't read the Torah. Namaste sheri
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Other than a reference to Jihad, which can be interpreted as a spiritual war, I thought it was gentle compared to the full Old Testament blink.gif and I agree with maryjo the only legal religion should be personal and organized religion with leaders should be outlawed w00t.gif
Tangerine Sheri
excellent post maryjo
and piney, I too feel the way religion is currently set up we would fare alot better without it, ther are actually Jobs now that provide emotionalsupport for those transitioning out of religion the shock they suffer when they finally realize that they have believed a lie is alot to take in all at once I actually know of someone who leads a support group. Namaste Sheri
AnuKabal
religion makes mankind worse because it allows people to hate others because of it and raises dangerous people.
Paranoid Android
With all due respect Anukabel, hate is something that people will do regardless of religion. It's unfortunate that people some people will hate. Politically motivated hate, racially motivated hate, culture/class related hate. Hate will still be here whether religion is or not.

And yes, some religious extremists use hate to violent ends. But religion in general I feel is absolutely essential. How many people have hit rock bottom and dragged themselves up because of some God or deity? For good or ill, religion is an essential part of life.

Well, that's what I think.

Regards, PA
?truth?
very few of the horrible atrosities in history have been comited by religion. but by governments useing religion. and if it had not been religion it would have been somthing else. war is part of humanity as long as there are people who dont agree, there will be wars. even peace actavists get angery a fight. war is just biger fights. the human race is evil.
Tangerine Sheri
QUOTE(?truth? @ Aug 18 2005, 09:38 PM)
very few of the horrible atrosities in history have been comited by religion. but by governments useing religion. and if it had not been religion it would have been somthing else. war is part of humanity as long as there are people who dont agree, there will be wars. even peace actavists get angery a fight. war is just biger fights. the human race is evil.
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Pa and truth most of the horrible atrocities have been because of religon this makes it way into every post its always the same !!!!!!!
whole countries have been reduced to rubble by bible propaganda that is so ignorant and false that one should wonder how anyone could be gullible enough to beleive otherwise because lots of people beleive in the same religon sharing a commonality does not establish that something is fact or truth history demonstrates that vey clearly, heaven is within and is revealed by awareness The world and the things of it are merely an appearence Its drama is artificial and a distorted sense of perception It only leads one to think the world is large and powerful and permanent and that you are small unworthy and and weak. Its not the truth the religons are of the world merely Constructs of man. Namaste sheri
?truth?
if religion is the construct of man (which i agree some are and others a pervesions of the "Truth", and i admit freely large parts of Christianity are pervesions) than it is man to blame for the ills of the world not religion. thats the same thig as saying guns kill people. no, its people that are the problem.
Tangerine Sheri
QUOTE(?truth? @ Aug 18 2005, 10:16 PM)
if religion is the construct of man (which i agree some are and others a pervesions of the "Truth", and i admit freely large parts of Christianity are pervesions) than it is man to blame for the ills of the world not religion. thats the same thig as saying guns kill people. no, its people that are the problem.
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Some would say that because Man created religion for reasons of finacial gain power and control truth I think beleiefs create behavior in otherwords your beleiefs form the basis of who you think you are which will dtermine your behavior. and if you are taught to beleieve or live in a world that says using a gun is not only okay but the best solution to a difference yes you would pull the trigger at what point do we take responsibility for our beleifs systems I say pretty darn soon beecause things ain't getting any better and waht do you think ?? by the way its nice to have a conversation with a christian who is not threatened by my beelifs Namaste sheri
?truth?
the religious that kill are not in the majority, and could be joined with exterme comunists whos religion of atheism which inspired there hate. but is that a religion if no belief in God is part. it is not the so called invention of religion but the way the people chose to live it out. that is to blame
?truth?
and there is no reason to be threatened by a beleife unless you start to be convenced that your belief is wrong, but then its no longer threatening because your old belif is wrong anyway?
StalingradK
And that is why religions number one enemy is acceptance :/
mako
QUOTE
very few of the horrible atrosities in history have been comited by religion

?truth?, might I bring to mind the death of Hypatia, the crusades both against the Muslims and against the Cathars (another group of Christians), the burning of suspected heretics, the burning of witches, the enslavement of the Africans by whites, the theft of the Native Americans lands and way of life, the Holocaust (Hitler was Christian and had the support of the Catholic Church), the ethnic cleansing of the Balkans, the assassinations and bombings by anti-abortionists, the terrorization of the Afro-Americans by Christian based organizations such as the Klan and Neo Nazis, and the current killings of non-Christians by African Christians.
QUOTE
than it is man to blame for the ills of the world not religion

Christian men and women were only following the example set by them in the OT…You need to read the bible and become familiar with the blood-thirsty god that resides there. His example has been followed by generations of Christians as a guide to the treatment of non Christians.
QUOTE
the religious that kill are not in the majority

Ahem, the two religions that have the bloodiest records are Christianity and Islam. Together, these two blood-soaked children of Abraham account for over 1/3 of the worlds population. I would say that the religions that kill ARE in the majority.
QUOTE
and there is no reason to be threatened by a belief unless you start to be convinced that your belief is wrong, but then its no longer threatening because your old belief is wrong anyway?

This may be the explanation for why Christianity is so blood-soaked…its adherents realize subconsciously that it is a false belief and lash out at those they perceive having a better belief system. yes.gif
LarryOldtimer
QUOTE(Sheri berri @ Aug 15 2005, 03:36 PM)
Something worse than the Quran i thought the Quran was the worst bible I've read but I haven't read the Torah. Namaste sheri
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The Torah is merely the Jewish name for the first five books of the Old Testamant: B’reishis (Genesis), Shemos (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bamidbar (Numbers), amd Devarim (Deuteronomy). original.gif
LarryOldtimer
The largest difference between the Bible and the Q'uran is that the Bible (Old Testament) has many stories where the Hebrews were commanded by God to kill others . . . and these others no longer exist as peoples or groups. The Q'uran, however, specifically says for its followers to kill those who do indeed exist in modern times . . . and while the New Testament says it is a duty of Christians to "witness" that Jesus is the Son of God, the Q'uran says that it is a religious duty for its followers to make the world submit to Allah, by whatever means necessary. Big difference.
Tangerine Sheri
Thankyou Larry : tongue.gif no grin2.gif :
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