Religion is the problem

I know plenty of liberal Christians who do not hate others or scapegoat other groups. The problem is not religion - the problem is fundamentalist and/or conservative religion, such as Evangelical Christianity or Wahhabist Islam.

Many skeptics consider that all religious faith is essentially irrational, and incompatible with reason.

(Friedrich Nietzsche) defined faith as “not wanting to know what is true.”

It will not do to investigate the subject of religion too closely, as it is apt to lead to infidelity. (Abraham Lincoln)

The way to see by Faith is to shut the eye of reason. (Benjamin Franklin)

When you know a man’s religious complexion, you know what sort of books he reads when he wants some more light, and what sort of books he avoids, lest by accident he get more light than he wants. (Mark Twain)

Religious bondage shackles and debilitates the mind and unfits it for every noble enterprise, every expanded prospect. (James Madison)

Religion is not inherently bad. However, it is easily corruptible, and in the past has been used to accomplish the ends of certain groups of individuals (which is quite easily obsirved in modern times).

i feel that most religions are just set up to control people and to win arguments. no matter what you can always be right just because god or you're interpretation of your version of your holy book said so. it's a get out of jail free card that needs to be revoked

Religion is not all bad, its just ignorant people who mess up religion, and non-religion are not specifically blamed,due to other people whom agrees with them, therefore making them mislead, or misunderstood, its the entire religion of which is blamed, that is why we have such different views upon one another's religion, because ignorant behind the scences are not singled out, sure there are both bad non-religious and religious people, but in the end, we should all respect each other's religions and to separate the good from the evil...You can believe in anything you want, just remember not to take it seriously and to be respectful to other religions, and to separate the good from the evil...

I understand that "religion is not all bad" yada yada yada. Let me play devil's advocate (pun inteneded):

To see what role religion has and SHOULD have in society, we have to first ask ourselves what the benefits of religion are. (I'm going to address mainly Christianity considering it is the number one religion in America, where I live.) Faith can give people strength, religious dogma can encourage people to be "good", churches can support a sense of community for people who attend (to name a few to start.)

But we also have to ask ourselves if people could have those benefits WITHOUT religion, and in what way religion stands in the way of the pure intention. For example, faith may give people strength, but to an atheist it amounts to as much as lying to yourself to feel better. Is it "good" to encourage people to submit to a highly debatable power source for strength as opposed to turning to their colleges or skills they possess? There are certainly millions of people who remain strong in times of uncertainty without god.

Then we get to all the "good things" religious people do. Feed the hungry, help the poor, etc. Again, do we NEED religion to accomplish these things? Are there people out there who's good will is only based on fear of hell or other godly repercussions? Is morality based upon god? No, humanity chooses what is right and wrong and it changes throughout history and cultures. Not to mention that Christ would be appalled at what is being practiced today as "mainstream Christianity"!

Then we have the community, one of the reasons Obama cited for continuing in Bush's footsteps of faith based initiatives. Church is not just about god and sermons but a social activity of like-minded individuals. However, I dare say that MOST of the manipulation of 'holy scripture' is a result of church sermons and the mindset of the people running it.( I don't think I have to get started on the Catholic Church) I understand that not all churches function the same way, but even to this day Church goers are told what to think about political issues that the bible doesn't specifically address such as abortion, homosexuality, bioethics, etc. This interpretation of the biblical text is directly responsible for the continued crusade against LGBT and reproductive rights in America. This is DESTRUCTIVE to our community.

So, religions still have their place in society, and it's a big one. However, all the things religion once did for mankind- explain phenomenons, give peace of mind, teach and help people- are being filled by other institutions and philosophies today. Thus, I predict the modern interpretations of religion today will first open up to progressive and liberal concepts, then fade into 'mythology' as EVERY OTHER religion in history.

i think bad arguments like that from the blog are a bigger problem

Coming from a christian cult I understand the bullshit that is being put in the minds of young people in the chruch. They have no relization of what is really going on the world and tell people they can change things but they really need to look at themselves and what they are teaching. But remember not all people are the same and you can't force people to be something there not. That is why relgion is fucked rightnow, times have changed and religions need to take responsibility for what there doing to this world.

Let me add this about religion:

http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/ATHEISM/inquisition.html?q=ATHEISM/inquisition.html

The people is the problem.

I thought about this alot today before it was posted. I just agree and see complete ignorance all around. It's so frustrating talking to someone who just looks the other f***kin way when you discuss the corrupt corps and gov. They just play it off and say religion will save them in the end... Those people screw it up for the rest of us. Cowards... In order to beat a huge force, you need a big army of people to rise up.

Does it make it any better to say Science is the problem when it has been used for any number of actrocities like nuclear weapons, poison gases, designer virus weapons and wide scale pollution?

No because it is the way it has been applied and the stage of development that gets it hands on the products of science.

It is the same with all the things that are blamed on religion that it is the extremist fanatical fundamentalist views that are the problem.

It is not any less ignorant to take that fanatical viewpoint and apply it to atheists just because you want to try and force it onto others

I have a relationship with the Lord; I pray every evening, but don't attend services. I'm not a member anywhere. But I like to think there is a Lord up there, and I've received help more than once in my life I can't attribute to anything else. Mine is a personal relationship and doesn't necessarily follow the teachings of any particular branch of religion.

I arrived here because I was unable to decide which religion was the right one. It seems like there was at least one thing about every one of them that I just coulnd't buy into. As I got older it seems like my objections have become even more pointed. This lead me to conclude they're either all right or they're all wrong. But just because these inequites exist, doesn't speak to whether there is or isn't a Lord. The Lord didn't make religion: man made that. With my concept of just who and what the Lord is, then I think my approach to it would be perfectly acceptable to him.

What seems strange to me is the thought behind the objections that I see posted in pages like this one. Some see cause and effect and put the blame where it goes. Some see history & disagree with that. Still others look look at dogma & consider that pointless.

But what seems almost universal here, is that people throw out the baby with the bath water. The Lord isn't responsible for the actions of his self-proclaimed followers. I think the Lord exists and as such I acknowledge that. But all the controversity, and the reasoning for it, just strikes me as foolishness.

Just think about it for a second. The Lord is God. I credit him with being the creator. He made the earth; put the first humans here, and then turned us loose. Every religion we have started with one being who's followers now believe had a special relationship with God. Maybe this is true - maybe not. But true or no, it doesn't alter who God is.

It's easy for me to visualize his looking down on us either with humor or anger at what we do supposedly in his name. Probably wonders how we managed to screw ouselves up so badly in the name of trying to do good. Or laughs at us as we go through gestures devoid of meaning to him.

I think the Lord would like to be recognized for who & what he is. I don't think he really cares what flavor your religion is. That's your business. He probably thinks, they know I'm here and if they want to talk to me I'll listen. I believe he'd listen to a wino in New York, Putin in Russia or the Pope with equal attention. We're ALL his children and none of the religions have the right of it.

Every religion tells you of a personal confrontation with God after you die. If this is true, then the questions won't be were you a good Muslim or Catholic. He'll want to know if you're a good person. You. Church attendance will only be credited with the good it accomplished. An aboriginee, who's only contact in life with the Lord was through the village witch doctor, may be among the most richeous. It's a personal thing; not a religious thing.

I think athiests will be treated the same as everyone else. If I'm right that would be a political issue to the Lord, not one of faith. You're judged by what you do; not who you are or what you think.

It's perfectly cool to think about religion anyway you want. Religions only offer a path to the Lord. There are lots of paths but only one destination. The destination is what's important; not the path.

These are bullies? Ghandi, Martin luther King Jr, Bhutrus Bhutrus Gali, Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu, Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa, and these are just from contemporary history and but a small sampling.

Zealots and proselytizers on either end of the spectrum are getting boring here. I am A Gnostic Christian and I can assure you I am not part of the problem. The blanket generalizations are insulting. You make no converts with such rhetoric.

Way to stereotype...

You final sentence should read:

Be self-absorbed, be Judgemental! Be an Atheist!

Besides... how do you claim to have no religion when it's obvious you worship yourself. There's no room for a God...

An asshole is still an asshole regardless of his religion... (aimed at no one in particular, just a statement before Current Staff comes attacking me as they usually do when I comment on stories like this...)

How could anyone say that Buddhism is bad? Name one thing that Buddhism has done to wrong humanity.

Does anyone even consider Jainism or the Bahá'í Faith, or are people too wrapped up in the Western world to see outside the box of three religions?

Whoa, anything religion gets people going... I joined a religious group in college and it was enlightening... we were not closed to anyone... we took everyone in, housed and fed them...people came and went... I never remember asking anyone to give money or change their lives we just were there if they needed us...
I went on with life... can't say religion is the problem.. it's the people controling the situation. I don't have any direct connection to any organized religion but I can say helping others was always part of my life from childhood on.....never asking them to believe in anything different but to be good to others and appreciate others in their life.....

No god= whirled peas!

There are good people in all walks of life, in all levels of society, all over the world. Some of my best friends are Christians. i don't expect shit out of them, they're good people.

On the other hand it is time to wake up and fight against the fundamentalist / literalist mentality that has consumed the US in recent decades. Half the stuff in the Bible never happened, The other half wasn't written about until several years after it happened. On top of that its all been reworked and tweaked through out history to benefit different assholes agendas.

It can't be taken at a literal level, it defies me how its even possible. Take the good parts and leave the rest behind, keep learning.

That's the problem,the solution lies somewhere between nuking the south and slow, tolerant education efforts. At times, i can favor either solution.

Be understanding, be the middle ground, be an agnostic atheist.

Hippocracy, thy name be damned. I am not surprised at all. You claim to be the righteous when you are all but criticizing the beleifs that others hold dear to their hearts. If you fight evil with evil you need to consider what side you are really fighting for. Also, telling us we are ignorant is like putting out a flame with oil, you only increase our faith.

I'm coining a new term:

Fundatheist

Right on! Finally somebody has the guts the expose the truth. Religions have been doping and poisoning societies for too long, it is time for the rational to prevail. We can have great societies with right and wrong without these superstitions and irrational stories, like virgin births and other stupidities. Look at what a mess religious countries are in.