Religion seems to get people focused somewhere else . . .

[patrice]

or sometime else. When "God's" will rewards me for my obediance, eternal life and heaven and hell and all of that eternal bookeeping about the "holy elect" and Sinners.

Earth is just a means to their goals, to where they're going, heaven. Whatever that is, it is by definition elsewhere.

That makes some "Christians" a problem in the Here and Now, where many of the rest of "us" live.

Out of touch with "reality", everythings about an abstraction, some-time, place, else, (heaven) is the purpose of everything . . .

Instead of whatever the empirical facts as they are in their own individual nature(s) in a rainbow of Life that justifies itself in praxis.

And Peace . . . .

[TallahasseeGrannie]

1. Maybe for some, I would agree

For me personally (non-fundie Xtian) not so much. The only time I really was at all comforted by "heaven" was when I lost my beloved grandmother at age 10. I am not sure how I would have gotten through without the heaven concept. Now, my attitude is pretty much "surprise me."

I think that there are Muslim fundamentalists who have their eyes on those 72 virgins, too. I'm okay with getting 72 virgins, if they can do the wash and keep the place clean. But then I'm female so I probably won't get any. And who would want 72 virgin men?

I don't know enough real fundamentalists to know whether or not your theory is right. I don't get into deep conversations with the ones I know. And I don't watch the TV preachers. Do they spend a lot of time talking about heaven and hell?

tg

[salvorhardin]

5. self-delete

No one wants to know this. Believe me.

[beam me up scottie]

7. KNOW WHAT ???

ARGH !!! Don't do that to me !!!

I wanna know !!!

[salvorhardin]

9. It involved Engineering students

Trust me, you really don't want to know.

[beam me up scottie]

10. Okay,

I'll take your word for it. :D

[WritingIsMyReligion]

2. One of many reasons why organized religion is a prick in my neck.

Perhaps there wouldn't be so many issues if people would concentrate on today, not tomorrow. Who gives a fuck about next year when you could be doing something HERE and NOW?

Fatalism....reactivism..... PAH.

:eyes:

[sutz12]

3. It's fundamental to the cause...

Pun intended.

It's a great way to keep the unwashed masses 'happy' while they are getting screwed royally by the ones in charge. Occasionally we get a pope that seems to really believe the stuff they spew, but do you think the fundie 'leaders' here in America do? Sure, as long as they live in mansions, riding around in limos, wearing $1500 suits, all supported by donations from people who should probably save that cash for food or medicine, they believe it just fine. :sarcasm:

Religions may have done some good some times, and I'll admit that they do, but the capacity for hypocracy is unparalled and unrivalled. At least a rapacious businessman will admit he's basically out to screw you for as much as he can. Fundie religious people are telling people they will go to heaven if they submit to a little hell now......and keep sending in those checks! :puke:

[NMMNG]

4. Of course

Screw up the earth and treat others like crap now, for you will be rewarded richly in Shangri-la if you only believe.

[NAO]

6. Religion is natural thing, but it's also a tool of ultra-wealth oligarchs

Religion is a natural phenomena. It is a response of the human nervous system to it's awareness of itself and the universe.

However...all throughout history it has been crafted and channeled as a tool of the powerful to control people.

[beam me up scottie]

8. I guess I'm unnatural then.

S'kay.

I'm okie dokie with that. :D

[patrice]

11. I agree that we are born, "hard wired", to need/want truth and that can

lead eventually to wanting and behaving in ways that make the truest Truth more clear.

I think Religion takes advantage of that and really sets a bunch of people on the wrong path to that "better place" that we can earn if we just believe purely enough.

Though you do hear about "heaven" in the Nicene Creed, there is no dogma about what/where/when it is.