Why are some "Religions" such an excuse for political and social stupidity?

[Labors of Hercules]

For instilling hatred and denying reality?

Is the infection so great that the only way to create a pragmatic and progressive world to disregard religion entirely and embrace something new?

Or can the "Religions of stupidity" be culled from the annals of faith, or transformed into a motivating force for stewardship rather than a platform for the ridiculous?

[Pale Blue Dot]

1. Because they're based in illogic and stupidity.

Socially accepted stupidity is still stupidity. Just ask me, who was under religion's spell for 37 years until I actually bothered to ask questions.

[HereSince1628]

2. Perhaps religions of stupidity are culled from the anals of faith

sorry someome was going to do it...

[Labors of Hercules]

6. not nice.

true,

but not nice. :evilgrin:

[Lerkfish]

3. why is political and social stupidity such and excuse for political and social stupidity?

you can blame religion, but religion has no monopoly on stupidity.

[Labors of Hercules]

7. perhaps not...

but some of them certainly are factories of it.

[Lerkfish]

12. agreed, but if you rely on the crutch that religion is the cause of human failings

then you're assigning an importance to it that must then require it to be labeled as a cause for human self-actualization.

I often find critics of religion are completely unwilling to accept both sides of that coin and realize that humanity is what it is, warts and all, and some humans are religious as an asterix.

[krabigirl]

4. I don't know, but it's like a plague IMO.

[TexasObserver]

5. Because religions give cover for all manner of racism, sexism, homophobia, and classism.

[jaksavage]

8. Just another tool

for the corrupt to wield.

[DBoon]

9. because if those beliefs were not enshrouded in sanctity

they would be revealed as too stupid and too mean for any sane person to beieve in

[Ron Green]

10. I'm recommending your OP, because I think you've asked one of the most important questions

we must consider. Religion is not going away, nor in my opinion should it, necessarily. The key is how to encourage and support churches that practice tolerance, charity, inquiry and love, and to discourage or enlighten churches that have become bound up in suspicion and judgement.

[Labors of Hercules]

20. exactly. My OP refers to Denominations as Religions unto themselves.

because in practice, that is exactly what they are.

Thanks!

[laconicsax]

11. Because we're not allowed to question belief.

Religion is the only realm where someone is allowed to justify a belief simply by saying that they believe it because they believe it. No other explanation is necessary.

People who say that marriage equality will destroy our civilization and cite previously fallen civilizations as evidence are debated and can have their influence negated.

People who say that they oppose marriage equality because of their religious beliefs are left alone and allowed to create policy based on their bigoted beliefs.

[surrealAmerican]

13. ...and that's during good times. In bad times ...

... religions are used as excuse for mass murder, war, and genocide.

[stray cat]

14. Stupidity knows no boundaries

[ROakes1019]

15. ignorance friend

When I brought up to her that her pregnant granddaughter-in-law might have gotten her Medicaid slashed, she, my right-wing Christian friend, said she had too many personal problems to worry about politics. They just take help when they need it but don't stop to think that the Democrats brought all the social programs to us. It's hard having a good friend who's so ignorant but I know she isn't all that educated and is brainwashed into the Christian viewpoint, but I didn't think I could reach her on social issues. No way: she's willfully ignorant and plans to stay that way.

[sofa king]

16. Isn't that the purpose of religion?

The fundamental problem with being human is that we have the same mission as all other life on earth, to survive and reproduce, but we also have the ability to accurately predict the future and therefore we know we will not survive, and our children are posting on the Free Republic from our basements.

Religions offer the promise of a loophole, but the arrangement is always directed toward the earthly profit of the religion in question, and the moral and ethical codes of goat-herders five thousand years gone do not always match the realities of modern life. And, people who dare to use the tools of science and logic threaten their world-view, so the religious inevitably seek to silence and ostracize those people.

[dionysus]

17. it's not a good excuse but unfortunately it's the reason some people are so backwards thinking

:(

[Leopolds Ghost]

18. I thought religion-bashing threads got put in the R-T forum n/t

[htown41]

19. not all christians are like that

what religions are you specifically referring to? I'm a Christian and a very devoted one for the most part, and yes, some of my religious beliefs can conflict with my beliefs on politics. But i think its a bit harsh to generalize just because there are gonna be certain people out there that take pride in their religion. I'm not saying extremists or even hardcore christians who are very conservative have a right to totally put down democrats just because their viewpoints may not fully match theirs (christians). And i say this because i believe there is never going to be a person running for president that will EVER give you everything you want. Its just not gonna happen. And i do believe i have a right TO disagree because of my faith. I did, however, look at the 2 candidates and i based my decision on the overall campaign they were both promoting.

i do know a lot of religious people who voted democrat.

[Overseas]

21. Because we have blurred the separation of church and state.

Religion should be a private matter, between you and your family.

Our country was founded on freedom of religion and freedom from religion.

[Splinter Cell]

22. Many Christians

Like myself, are not the assholes that try to force their views upon other folks. True Christians care about everyone and not just those that meet their standard of approval. The Jerry Falwell crowd etc, are not people that understand the true meaning of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

[Labors of Hercules]

23. I hear a lot about "not forcing views on other folks". It doesn't make much sense to me.

1) if your views are shared by enough people, they will be forced on other folks whether you want them to be or not.
2) if that is a problem, then why hold these views in the first place?

What's good for the goose should be good for the gander, if it really is GOOD.

Some views are not good for anyone, and those who promote them should stop.

Just saying. :shrug:

[htown41]

25. to clarify...

again, i totally see what youre saying, but its a generalization. not ALL christians are forcing their views on nonbelievers. You have to see this in a way that you can understand it more because this goes beyond christian people. This is how everyone is. If you buy a new game and youre in love wit it, arent you gonna spread the word and tell people they gotta buy it too??? or if you watching a good show on tv and you want other people to get in on it, tell me u not gonna be callin ya ppls and askin them to start watching it?!

i know religion is a touchy subject so its hard for people to look at a tv show and christianity in the same way. But trust me, to an extent, its the same concept. Christians are spreadin the Good Word to others because they love Jesus, and they want other people to experience His goodness. Even if some christians are comin up as mad ignorant or wuteva, in the end, many of them are jus tryna help people. And i know...a lot of them evangelize the wrong way, but u have to understand that not all christians are like that. There are proper ways to share your beliefs without comin off as rude.

[TexasObserver]

24. Because humans love to pretend God is creating their prejudices, not them.

[frickaline]

26. Because it is easier to justify hatred with a deity backing you up. /nt

[Odin2005]

27. Because there is somewhat of a taboo against criticising religious beliefs.

As the constant flame wars in the Religion/Theology sub-forum shows, many of us non-believers get called intolerant bigots when we give honest, reasonable criticism of religion.

[NorthCarolina]

28. Because it gives their followers a guiltless excuse for HATE and fuels the Ca$h flow

eom