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A Plea for Religion (pg. 4)
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| Redd |
| quote: | Originally posted by srussell0018
Well put. Just because it's not needed doesn't mean it should be crusaded against though. Technically speaking we don't need science to advance any further than it has already either. |
The problem arises when what we no longer need is being used to oppress people, to justify murder, terrorism, to spread racism and homophobia, and the list goes on. The bad severely out weights the good religion does. The religious fanatics everywhere are clear proof of this.
Yes, religious organizations does a lot of good. But that's just good people doing good for others. It might be naive of me, but I don't think anyone should need a god to have a motive for doing good. |
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| srussell0018 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Redd
Yes, religious organizations does a lot of good. But that's just good people doing good for others. It might be naive of me, but I don't think anyone should need a god to have a motive for doing good. |
You're right, and they don't. This isn't a sound argument for the abolition of religion though. Just because something isn't needed isn't a reason to get rid of it.
People will murder, terrorize, spread racism, etc. whether religion exists or not. I think you're grossly misrepresenting the relative good that religion provides hundreds of millions of people as well. |
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| rdevito |
| quote: | Originally posted by srussell0018
Technically speaking we don't need science to advance any further than it has already either. |
Yes we need, just to keep finding answers...and we are getting closer and closer of another one ;)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...ticle-CERN.html |
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| srussell0018 |
I agree that we should use science to find these answers, and I'm glad that we are. That doesn't mean it's necessary. That is irrelevant to this discussion though.
The argument was made that religion is not needed, and therefore should not exist. This just isn't true, simply put. |
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| Redd |
| quote: | Originally posted by srussell0018
People will murder, terrorize, spread racism, etc. whether religion exists or not. I think you're grossly misrepresenting the relative good that religion provides hundreds of millions of people as well. |
I think people will do it less when they can't find justification through beliefs. The belief in a god is a much stronger force than any political idea, because it's about something way larger than life itself.
You're right about my misrepresenting, one of my flaws. I underestimate the power hope through belief has. I just have problems justifying heinous acts in the name of god with the fact that it also helps a lot of people through hard times. It's like asking would you kill 1 person to save 10. |
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| srussell0018 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Redd
I think people will do it less when they can't find justification through beliefs. The belief in a god is a much stronger force than any political idea, because it's about something way larger than life itself.
You're right about my misrepresenting, one of my flaws. I underestimate the power hope through belief has. I just have problems justifying heinous acts in the name of god with the fact that it also helps a lot of people through hard times. It's like asking would you kill 1 person to save 10. |
Again, this is not an indictment of religion, it is an indictment of people. People do bad things. Religion doesn't make them do bad things. People can justify heinous acts with any number of things. |
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| Redd |
| quote: | Originally posted by srussell0018
Again, this is not an indictment of religion, it is an indictment of people. People do bad things. Religion doesn't make them do bad things. |
I guess we disagree on that. I don't think suicide bombers would do what they do without believing what they believe. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Redd
Those 3 misconceptions doesn't cover even the tiniest part of anti-theism arguments |
Good thing I never set myself to refuting all possible arguments against theism :p
Read my post again - I just dismissed the three worst starting points because lousy debates always seem to revolve around a variation of those misconceptions. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by Redd
I guess we disagree on that. I don't think suicide bombers would do what they do without believing what they believe. |
That's true. But soldiers fighting for a nation are quite capable of doing similar things, as you probably know ;) |
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| srussell0018 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Redd
I guess we disagree on that. I don't think suicide bombers would do what they do without believing what they believe. |
Right, but it's their belief. The Quran doesn't say "hey, if you are of the Muslim faith, you should be a suicide bomber." Again, it's still an indictment of misguided individuals, and not of the religion itself. |
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| Redd |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
Good thing I never set myself to refuting all possible arguments against theism :p
Read my post again - I just dismissed the three worst starting points because lousy debates always seem to revolve around a variation of those misconceptions. |
Yeah I kind of figured that much. It was just such a big part of your post the rest was a little lost. I had to re-read the last part three times because my rage-glasses was on ;)
Ah the problem of having an opinion go mainstream. |
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