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Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:

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Originally posted by Scott King:

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Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
- Countless examples in human history of mass murder, rape, pillaging, and other atrocities committed in the name of religion. Every major religion can claim its share of inhuman acts committed in its name. Religion turns people into monsters.

- Throughout history every religious-based government, i.e. theocracy is characterized by oppression and intolerance.

- In a dark way, religion twists people, distorts their ethics and morality. For instance, people infected with the religion virus (any of its variants) will judge and demean people who aren't so infected. The infected do good not for its own sake or the sake of humanity, but to avoid eternal punishment from the Magic Man in the sky.

- Religion takes an enormous toll on human emotion and relationships. Spouses, even whole families, will divorce each other over religious differences.

- Indulging religion costs society a lot of resources, energy, and productivity. Hoping to save their souls, people give enormous amounts of money to institutions that do little more than preach the same mythos the infected have all heard from childhood. Pass the collection plate.

Overall, religion hurts humanity more than helps us.

My comments apply to all religions, not just one or two.

Debate?

You've mentioned your son's religion in some detail in this forum so I feel no hesitancy to ask you; what is it about your son you find damnable? You are disappointed in your son why? You find your son lesser because?
You've told him so?
Your son is aware of your disapproval of him?

Sorry, I don't think your boy is the problem. His religion, church, faith generally Religion globally, isn't destructive.

Saeed is Muslim so he's less than how?
DRG is Jewish so hes less than how?

Mother Theresa was Catholic, I go to Mass on Sunday and my six year old is Baptized Catholic, what's our problem?

Would you say the Dali Llama and China are/ would be better off Buddhist/ faithful or Communist?

M.E. has been cross with his sister and her religion at length, publicly here. My bet would be that M.E's sister genuinely loves him, cares about him, works physically for his well being and wishes/ prays for his every sucess.


How is it Saeed as a Muslim isn't a bomber, DRG as a Hebrew isn't what ever they malign them with, and my Catholic six year old isn't a pedophile? We all suspect Doc Lane is a good father and husband, loyal son, and most likely an ethical vet and business man. Assuming Doc Lane is Southern Baptist, he'd actually improve at any of the above if he were an atheist how?

Religion is not the problem, it's what folks do with it. Religion wasn't evil, Jim Jones was. religion wasn't evil, Dave Koresh was. How exactly do we espouse the idea that, "guns dont kill people, people kill people!" and then assert that the religious book or writings laying there on the coffee table or pulpit are responsible for mankind's failing rather than mankind being responsible for itself.

Who here admires Tumbleweeds snide atheism? Come on now, show of hands! Who here read Tumbleweeds post about and said, " yeah man! I wanna sound just like that guy!" Lofty high browed prose from the Albertan.

Roland, id think you wanna see your kid and spouse after this life. If you are not prepared and happy to say adios forever in the next twenty years or so, you may wanna consider some religion.

Who says I think my son is damnable? To be damned, someone has to be sent to hell. I don't believe in hell, except for hells people make. As an agnostic, I can't find persuasive evidence for or against God's existence.

I hold my son in high regard. He's probably the best MAN I know, and the best personification of his religion. Like his mother, a cultural but non-practicing Buddhist, he's one of the nicest people I've ever met, a kind and gentle soul.

You caught me painting with too broad a brush, for I admit religion has been a positive force in HIS life (as opposed to most).

Sure, I'd like to see them in an afterlife...if there is one. But there's no evidence for an afterlife, and wistful thinking doesn't reality make.

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Originally posted by LongDistanceOperator:
I had a text conversation with a former coworker yesterday. I mentioned that I’m an atheist; something I generally keep to myself. She was shocked. I told her that I try lead a good life and be a good person. She wanted know why. Yes, why I would be a good person without a magic sky fairy to approve. Which is why I generally keep my beliefs to myself.

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Originally posted by Scott King:

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Originally posted by Magine Enigam:

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If religion can be blamed for people's death, couldn't guns/ assault weapons be blamed for people's death?

This is a false equivalence.

Religion is a state of mind. Guns/assault weapons are tangible things, a tool.

Assault weapons such as the AR15 are not only a thing (tangible), but some people associate them with a state of mind (intangible). That's obvious in case you want to argue about that.

Religion has been the activator. Assault weapons are not the activator. They are merely tools to facilitate the fantasy, in the cases of mass shootings.

Well you know I don't want to argue with you so that takes care of that.

If an assault weapon is a tool to facilitate a fantasy, it most certainly is an activator.

Id suggest that religion as written on a tablet or in a book, religion as spoken words or heard music is no more or less dangerous than an assault weapon. Yes the Bible and other religious texts have previously recommended correction and punishment for some behaviors. I'm familiar with some examples, no I don't feel inclined to stone anyone. That the text or even religious leaders may write and say so, ( speech,) still doesn't drive me to.

The hotrod can facilitate the fantasy of manly superiority in speed, technical skill, bravery. Religion can facilitate the fantasy of manly superiority, technical skill in reading and translating and bravery in the religious pursuit or execution.

The assault rifle the same as above.

We say over and over, that pistol laying there in the table never hurt anyone, neither has a Bible.

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Originally posted by RolandtheHeadless:
I've heard that a lot from the "saved." Why would you be good if not for fear of damnation?

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Originally posted by Magine Enigam:

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If religion can be blamed for people's death, couldn't guns/ assault weapons be blamed for people's death?

This is a false equivalence.

Religion is a state of mind. Guns/assault weapons are tangible things, a tool.

Assault weapons such as the AR15 are not only a thing (tangible), but some people associate them with a state of mind (intangible). That's obvious in case you want to argue about that.

Religion has been the activator. Assault weapons are not the activator. They are merely tools to facilitate the fantasy, in the cases of mass shootings.

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Originally posted by tomahawker:
One giant moronic thread. All peoples, all cultures, around the entire world and in every corner practice religion of some sort. Ubiquitous with the human experience. Allowing mankind and this nation to flourish. It’s importance cannot be overstated. Murder greed rape corruption are endemic in the human race. Sure all that has been done and more in the name God. Surprised? Don’t be, we’ll take most any reason offered. Why not choose the one that allays our guilt the most? For those things shall be done regardless. Now picture the German and British soldiers Christmas truce in 1914. Singing songs trading cigarettes and wine, playing games and enjoying fellowship.

“Later on in the day they came towards us,” Reading described. “And our chaps went out to meet them…I shook hands with some of them, and they gave us cigarettes and cigars. We did not fire that day, and everything was so quiet it seemed like a dream.” First hand account.

If religion God or whatever you want to call it, is man made, don’t be so arrogant as to think you know better. Our civilizations are built upon the experiences and lessons of our ancestors for good reason…they survived and made it. Maybe we can too.