Religion, in general, has caused more problems than it has solved. Christianity is based on a work of fiction penned over 2000 years ago. It is incoherent and contradicts itself. And yet people believe that it is the literial truth. They believe in these things with no proof. This is the definition of irrationality. However, it is not just Christianity that I have issues with. All religions are problematic. Among the issues that mainstream religion (in the US as it is the most religiously conservative world power in the west.) is against are: Reproductive rights for women. Civil rights for gays and lesbians. The teaching of sex education in schools. The teaching of good science in schools (can you say Intelligent Design – a re-badging of Creationism?) Medical research that can save and enhance lives. These are the things that religion has given us in the past: The Crusades The Spanish Inquistion Pogroms Fatwas against people for offending the religion (Salmon Rushdi) Riots in the streets (with deaths) because of a series of cartoons! The blowing up of abortion clinics (and clinics that don’t perform abortion, but the person thought they did) The killing of Doctors that perform abortion Many of the current problems in the world are caused by religion: The fighting between Israel and Palestine The fighting between India and Pakistan The fighting between the Shiites and the Sunis in Iraq Suicide Bombers And in things that hit closer to home, religion gives us: The non-alcohol-carrying taxi drivers The non-pork-scanning checkout clerk The non-birth control-dispensing pharmacist The bus driver who doesn’t want to drive the bus with the ad for a magazine for gays on it The people who protest against gays at funerals Nut-bag politicians who proclaim that they are “a fool for Jeebus” (Michelle Bachman) I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any kind of a fool representing me. A President of this America who believes that he talks to God and God tells him what to do. (No, I am not making this up – Google it.) I am not advocating that we vanish all religion instantly. But people who go out and do things (good or bad) just because their preacher, mullah, bishop, bible, etc. told them to, without weighing what they are told against what they can see with their own eyes, cause much of the conflict in this world. Faith is irrational. Faith is the belief in things that you can not prove. The belief in things for which there is no evidence. Faith causes people to do irrational things. The Sucide Bomber is driven by a faith that he will end up in a better world when he dies. Is this a rational belief? Catholics believe that confession absolves them of all sins. That all will be okay as long as they tell their priest the bad things they have done and they perform their absolutions. They can sin, that’s okay, as long as they do pennance. But if they don’t do the pennance, they will burn in hell for eternity. Is this a rational belief? The bible tells us that the earth was created in 7 days. Yet science indicates that the earth is millions of years old. So religious people take many different tacks to try and explain this: There are the people who whole-heartedly believe that the earth was created in 7 days. They also believe that the earth is only around 6000 years old and that science is a lie. Fossils were planted by God as a test of our faith. Is this a rational belief? There are the people who try and explain it away by saying that each day is millions of years. This is a more rational belief, but still. There are people who try and say that Genesis is just a creation myth story, but the rest of the bible is literial truth. As a matter of fact, many religions ‘cherry pick’ the bible for what they feel is ‘Gods Law’. Is this a rational belief? Almost all religions believe that there is a big, invisible Sky Daddy who watches everything you do and judges you. Most also believe that he controls everything that happens on earth. You can pray to him to try and influence what he does, and he might listen, but mostly not. Is this a rational belief? The Jews don’t eat pork. They keep Kosher (different pans for meat and dairy.) These actions are all based on religious laws. Yet non-Jews eat pork and don’t die. We eat dairy and meat together and don’t die. Are these rational beliefs?
There is a pretty deep level of irony that some one making an anti religious thread has a name inspired by religious beliefs. So maybe try a new name and you'll get taken more seriously
Of course the antichrist would knock Christianity. That's like a Yankee fan knocking a Red Sox fan. It is the job of the antichrist to tear down...mission accomplished
To some, this is very rational. If you are going through a hard time, it's nice to think there is a higher power that can help you out. However I cannot say I believe in any of this.
Religion was originally an explantation for the unknown. It was a reason for people to believe in things, and it impacted how civilizations worked. For example, Hinduism claimed that your karma from past lives had decided why you where born into the social class you were. It was a major impact on everybody's lives. Yes, it has changed over time. I don't feel like making any statements of what I believe in, but those are just why religion became what it is today.
He created the world in 6 days, the 7th He rested. And saying nothing from the Bible is true means u probably have never read it through.
Nice text...lots of stupidities have been made in God's name...hidden other interests or profits...inquisition was the worst form of kill the visionairs or science ppl in the past...giving fear to the crowd
While we're waiting, have you accepted the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, into your heart? If not, you can today. He is the great I AM.
Nah-I think many of those problems are the result of people using these religions for their own ends. You're characterizing the idea of religion as evil, based on a few instances where it's been misused by bad people. Of course without these religious ideas, there would be nothing wrong with the actions you mentioned. The laws of nature do not care how you treat others. The moral standards that say those situations are wrong are rooted in religion.