Religion

[boxy]

http://www.mapsofwar.com/images/Religion.swf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just wanted somewhere to put this really.

ps. religion sucks... quote me.

[IQ popping]

Do you not recognise anything at all good for humanity that religion has brought, even in humanities infancy?

Or does your hatred of religion blind you to reality?

PS...Im not religious at all

[Hoppy hopping]

Religion can be a vehicle to carry metaphoric or allegorical messages, so potentially has a value.
But those who take the myths seriously are a menace to everyone else and potentially all life itself. So for the most part, religion, its doctrines, dogmas and practice are evil and should be relegated to the bookshelf between mythology and philosophy.

Psuedo religions are problematic too. For example vegetarianism and veganism with its 'ban meat eating agenda' is IMO a threat to the food chain.

While scooting 'round the net I spotted veg nazis and vegan fundamentalists proselytising for their anti-meat superstition while responding to a question about whether vegetarians or vegans are better?

I replied "No difference really. But if you're going to eat vegetarian or vegan, it's best to remove the face metal and dread locks before cooking them".

[IQ popping]

With any appeal to the basis of human need, you will get those that use that human need for there own ends...I don't think that historically religion has been one to do this...but I do think that politics has hijacked religion to deliver the results that they desire

I think that environmentalism and the green movement is doing to atheists exactly what the catholic church did to birth control

[Outlaw Yogi]

With any appeal to the basis of human need, you will get those that use that human need for there own ends...I don't think that historically religion has been one to do this...

You must be kidding. Religion of all varieties has always and still does exactly that .. preys upon the human need for companionship and moral support. Then once devotees are beholden to the organisation, the leaders/elders/preachers manipulate and emotionally blackmail said devotees for their own personal gain, or just to ego trip off the influence they have over others. Makes no difference if they're an animist witch doctor or supreme holy man of an organised religion, the behaviour and motives are identical.

... but I do think that politics has hijacked religion to deliver the results that they desire

Of course. Has always been that way. Like it or not, religion is political. In its nature and practice. That's why we have orgs like the Hindu nationalist VJP and its militant wing the RSS, and locally the Lib/Nat MP manned Lyons Forum. The list is almost endless.

I think that environmentalism and the green movement is doing to atheists exactly what the catholic church did to birth control

Might surprise you to learn the Greens party is choc fulla Christians and has a smattering of ex Catholic Buddhists. I was forever having to apologise for or justify remarks I'd made about Christians and/or religious characters in general.

[Outlaw Yogi]

Typo correction ...

That's why we have orgs like the Hindu nationalist VJP and its militant wing the RSS,

... should have read BJP ...

The B being for Bharata. Sanskrit term meaning 'land/country/nation'.

[Poof patrol]

Relijun iz der dux nutz

The attacks began after Iraq’s Interior Ministry described emos as devil worshippers.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/queensland/a/- ... o-fashion/

[boxy]

Do you not recognise anything at all good for humanity that religion has brought, even in humanities infancy?

Or does your hatred of religion blind you to reality?

PS...Im not religious at all

Well, it does make people feel good about their prejudices.

That's something.

[boxy]

Now, seriously?

Religion has contributed to humanities rise. It has been used to control and to organise the rabble. Those who just follow orders, because the authority figure tells them to.

It's time the rabble grew up, and actually started thinking about the things they are told to believe. Education, being taught to think things through, and be able to justify your philosophising in a more robust way than just saying "God told Fred, and Fred told me, so it's the undeniable truth!".

[mantra]

You must be kidding. Religion of all varieties has always and still does exactly that .. preys upon the human need for companionship and moral support. Then once devotees are beholden to the organisation, the leaders/elders/preachers manipulate and emotionally blackmail said devotees for their own personal gain, or just to ego trip off the influence they have over others. Makes no difference if they're an animist witch doctor or supreme holy man of an organised religion, the behaviour and motives are identical.

That has been my experience with the religious and religions. I haven't seen anything very positive, although I know some organisation do good work - although not enough. They have a tax free status, are allowed profitable businesses with no accountability and in some cases - for example the Exclusive Bretheren, they don't vote nor concede to our IR laws - yet they still hold out their hand for government funding for their schools and subsidies to run their profitable businesses.

The Catholic Church or course has a higher status than the EB, but it's run along similar lines. They have many independent companies which aren't audited, but still demand their share of government revenue.