Religion Is Anathema To Critical Thought and Progress in General

[Beetwasher]

It is a brick wall and a crutch. Instead of finding solutions and answers, it's much easier to say "God did it! You can't know the will of god, so DON'T ASK QUESTIONS!! Just do what we say, or what we say god says!"

Most of what is wrong w/ the world is caused by this lazy attitude. It's much easier to NOT ask questions and to be TOLD what to do without thinking about it.

Furthermore, the morality of doing something just because you are COMMANDED to do it by your god or religion is questionable, even if it's the right thing, like "Thou Shalt Not Kill". It's more ethical and morally righteous for your actions to be based on non-theistic thinking processes, IOW, you know your actions are right and proper because you've reasoned it out that way, and you behave in that manner because it's truly what you believe, not because you are afraid of being punished if you don't behave in that manner. There's more meaning to your actions if you do them of your own free will and volition as opposed to behaving a certain manner because of the threat of punishment.

[phantom power]

1. Amen!

(did I say that?)

[BurtWorm]

2. I agree with you

and find it a pain in the ass to have to walk on eggshells expressing this to a mixed audience. People naturally take it personally when you challenge their belief systems.

[lapislzi]

7. Here, here...had a knock-down-drag-out with my SO about this

Seems he's been quietly irked for years at my referring to the imaginary being as "the imaginary being." He gets equally angry when I equate a belief in said imaginary being with a belief in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. Or when I refer to the Bible as a work of fiction (actually, I call it "the book of lies," and this sends him into paroxysms).

Apparently I'm insensitive and disrespectful.

I pointed out to him that as a "person of faith" (which he claims to be), his faith should defend him, not the other way around.

We're going to have to suspend religious discussions at home for awhile.

[BurtWorm]

12. That's sad, lapislzi.

I also don't understand why, if religion is supposed to be a source of moral strength, so many religious people are such weaklings when the object of their beliefs is criticized.

[Ladyhawk]

3. Faith is not the result of fuzzy thinking; it is the cause of it.

Quote by Dan Barker

[progdonkey]

4. Why is it...

that whenever someone claims they're going to ask God to give them advice about some major decision, God always tells them to go the way the wanted to in the first place? Doesn't God ever say, "No!" to these people?

[Sin]

5. Some wierd

Form of self affermation
they were going to go one way with it so they go that way Now with Gods backing charged with the idea that god Thinks there idea is a good one they charge head long into it even if it starts to go bad.
If the idea works out it reinforces there views even more if it dosen't they they chalk it up to god was testing them by putting them through hard times this in turn reinforces there views even more. thats why God never says No.

[kayell]

10. People make gods in their own image

and they usually get what they deserve. But then they try to impose it on the rest of us.

[DinahMoeHum]

6. "Religion is for people who are afraid of going to hell. . .

...Spirituality is for people who have already been there."

(seen on a bumpersticker)



:think:

[Gelliebeans]

8. I think

people believe because they want to feel safe, by believing that a god has a hand in decisions.
These people don't have to take responsibility for themselves and they can (in their minds)lay blame to the fact that their decisions are some kind of divine plan or purpose. Insecurity and fear of the unknown plays a large part of their belief.
I however don't think all people that worship a god are irresponsible but I do believe that it aids them to fall back on a "higher power" when they don't have the answers necessary to explain, therein lies their faith.
I don't have anyone to blame for my failures or my accomplishments except me. Therefore I don't have a supreme being to intervene when disappointments happen in my life.
The flipside of this is when I do good for my fellow man or woman it is done for just that.... because it makes me feel good. I have tried to raise my child believing that the good deed is what is important, we are rewarded by the earth we live on here and now. It is a shame that non-believers are subject to such scrutiny and skeptism that believers cannot tolerate themselves. Funny how that works......

[Beetwasher]

9. I Agree

You raise an interesting point regarding the responsibility aspect.

I agree, I don't think that at all believers are irresponsible, however, I DO think that belief in a divine being can and DOES help to foster irresponsible and vile behavior. Especially if one thinks/believes that no matter what they do, if they profess their faith on their death bed then all will be forgiven.

Additionally, if there is a higher being with some "divine plan" and that means that everything that happens was MEANT to happen, it excuses ALL vile behavior as being part of god's will. It's a free pass to whatever the fuck you want, like start imperialistic wars to grab other country's resources and murder hundreds of thousands of innocents. It means Hitler was only acting according to god's plan and if on his death bed he found jesus and repented, then he's okey dokey by believers and goes to his just reward.

I would never say all believers are irresponsible, but I do think many of them are and for the reasons I stated. They understand this free pass and know that no matter what, it's all part of god's plan and in the end if the just pray hard enough they'll go to heaven anyway. Ever wonder why so many hard core criminals are such devout believers?

[Gelliebeans]

11. I've noticed that

also. An interesting thought that when these believers profess that they are "just sinners" and therefore can justify simple human behavior such as lying, cheating, or stealing by pointing out that they are merely human but continue to pass judgement by proxy on other human beings is ludicrous.
By and large most self described individual christians will follow the texts of their bible and not judge others based on their religion or lack of religion but somewhere along the way when they are backed in defense of their faith as a group they lose this message. It is almost as if a mob mentality takes over, lending to the opinion that the scare tactics is the only way the majority of organized religion is able to survive. I could be wrong and this is simply my observation from the outside looking in. The flip side to the scare tactics could also be explained by the constant need to "belong". I don't know it definetly needs further discussion and we the non-believers should continue as we have to talk about it

[Hello_Kitty]

15. I totally agree w/that

I am mystified that people actually think that religion makes them more moral. I think the opposite is true. A lot of believers seem to act like they are just a bundle of instincts and impulses with no intellect whatsoever to rein them in. They would just commit every manner of heinous crime up to and including murder without the constant intervention of their sky pilots. Pretty scary really. As an atheist, my ethics are based upon learning, experience, and carefully weighing the potential rewards and consequences of my actions on myself and the people around me. Plus, I have no "escape clause" of repentence. No do-overs for me. If I screw up I can't take it back. Ultimately, I think it makes me more ethical than most believers I know.

[Beetwasher]

16. Yup, Well Put

n/t

[BlueEyedSon]

13. "God is Santa Claus for adults."

[leftofthedial]

14. yup

primates are wired weird

[JNelson6563]

17. There's also the selfishness aspect

I have found that believers often do "the right thing" to gain points in "heaven". Sad. They also think if you don't believe in bible-god you just can't be moral.

Apparently the idea of doing things for the greater good is a foreign concept to them.

I also think many fear the concept of death as final. Is it human arrogance to be certain that we cannot possibly just become worm food in the end? No, we are special creatures who get to go be with bible-god and all our loved ones in the end.

Julie