Is religion a bad thing?

[Green Ranger]

Actually after a bit of thought I think it is evil. If evil is the word for it. It is the 'opium for the masses' as one man once said, but that is only an excerpt from a very good argument. I have seen good from it, but usually it's stuff that I think would be happening without religion anyway. It seems to halt the advancement of medicine and it's usefulness. Modern religion is holding the people of the world back and needs to be shed for good to continue.

On a tangent: The corruption and evil spread by religion is human, because everything human will be corrupted. Although Religion is THE ultimate tool for control. The Leaders of the free will must bend to the leaders of the religions and do their best to not offend them lest they call the wrath of their words and people upon them. They are like a gang of children. You dare not hurt them for they will bring more hurt to you but the only defense is to flee before them.

I don't like it when you're in these moods. You make so much sense, but you sound so objective about it...the detatchment is unnerving tbh.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

I don't like it when you're in these moods. You make so much sense, but you sound so objective about it...the detatchment is unnerving tbh.

Sorry?

EDIT: I am currently debating the topic of the family planning policy of China with a Chinese man, obviously I am losing but it got me in that mood.

 

[Demiurge]

Actually after a bit of thought I think it is evil. If evil is the word for it. It is the 'opium for the masses' as one man once said, but that is only an excerpt from a very good argument. I have seen good from it, but usually it's stuff that I think would be happening without religion anyway. It seems to halt the advancement of medicine and it's usefulness. Modern religion is holding the people of the world back and needs to be shed for good to continue.

IMO, people have a natural spiritual inclination. It's not "evil" for answering people's needs. What good can happen from "shedding" religion, that is incapable of happening with it intact?

On a tangent: The corruption and evil spread by religion is human, because everything human will be corrupted. Although Religion is THE ultimate tool for control. The Leaders of the free will must bend to the leaders of the religions and do their best to not offend them lest they call the wrath of their words and people upon them. They are like a gang of children. You dare not hurt them for they will bring more hurt to you but the only defense is to flee before them.

So you're pinning the evils of humans on religion? I don't deny that many corrupt individuals use religion or cults as a means of controlling others. Many people can tell alter stories or tell terrifying tales to intimidate other people into falling in line. It's wrong and disgusting, but this is reality - it happens, but it happens because people are corrupt.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

Humans have a natural thirst for knowledge, and some will even let that thirst be.... numbed with whatever drug they can, this happy answer to life is often religion. They stop questioning things beyond what is told to them... there is a great poem I wish to reference that has to do with society looking out to see, but they do not look far or deep... This is what religion is, a drug, a quick fix for problems, a quick answer.

 

[Demiurge]

Humans have a natural thirst for knowledge, and some will even let that thirst be.... numbed with whatever drug they can, this happy answer to life is often religion. They stop questioning things beyond what is told to them... there is a great poem I wish to reference that has to do with society looking out to see, but they do not look far or deep... This is what religion is, a drug, a quick fix for problems, a quick answer.

I can see where this will go if I keep pursuing this, so I'll just drop it. I respectfully disagree with your outlook, but you are completely entitled to your own opinion and belief.

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

I can see where this will go if I keep pursuing this, so I'll just drop it. I respectfully disagree with your outlook, but you are completely entitled to your own opinion and belief.

I wasn't angry... I was pretty much very aloof. I needed to reread what I wrote :p

Please continue.

 

[Demiurge]

All right then, what do want man to achieve? You say religion is a just an outlet for people to extinguish their problems. What makes you think that an answer has to be so deep, rather than looking you dead in the eye? What if it's there, but it's just not what you want, or not what you're looking for? I'm not trying to get cryptic philosophical on you, but what answer do you think humans need?

 

[Ru the Boatswain]

All right then, what do want man to achieve?

You say religion is a just an outlet for people to extinguish their problems. What makes you think that an answer has to be so deep, rather than looking you dead in the eye?

What if it's there, but it's just not what you want, or not what you're looking for?

I'm not trying to get cryptic philosophical on you, but what answer do you think humans need?

(I had to split them up so I could get a handle on them so I'll be addressing them as such)

I think the goals are endless, we strive for a cure to every problem in humanity. We have disease, we want to know why exactly something happens, down to the greatest tiniest little piece of matter. We want to know why, and how, and possibly who, but the who is later.
_______
The answer is deep, why because if we took a look at a plant one hundred years ago, we would have though, the sun makes it grow, and good soil. Water is also vital. But we didn't know what exactly made it happen without scratching at the surface, sure we live on. But every once and a wile we'll end up wanting to know more on why. What about the sun males this plant grow? What? Someone else makes it grow? No! If someone else was doing this I wouldn't be needed.

Looking it dead in the eye is stopping on the crest of the hill and looking out at the beach far away and saying ''saw it. let's go home''
________
If It's not what I want then too ****ing bad. I can go cry to mommy, but once I see some good 'ol proof I'll begin to believe it. Maybe I'll go try and prove it myself. If I can't I think I'd probably have my doubts. I doubt a great many things.
________
I wish that was a simple answer, but it isn't and I don't know how to explain it. I need to think more on the last one.

 

[Fynar]

Do you believe that religion is inherently bad?

Please justify your answer.

I think religion helps certain people accept certain things they wouldn't be able to handle or be able to accept that we are just animals and not divine beings or something. I find that to be a thing people don't really want to let go. Death as well; like she may have died but shes in a better place now. Though I think the leaders of every single religion in the world is a manipulator. So it has its pros and cons.

 

[Jaqen H'ghar]

I think religion helps certain people accept certain things they wouldn't be able to handle or be able to accept that we are just animals and not divine beings or something. I find that to be a thing people don't really want to let go. Death as well; like she may have died but shes in a better place now. Though I think the leaders of every single religion in the world is a manipulator. So it has its pros and cons.

Religion is just part of the grieving process when it comes to death. First step is denial. You don't want to believe that when you die that's the end of it. Thus religion comes about to give you that ability to deny it.

 

[Storm]

Religion's inanimate. It can't be any more "good" or "bad" than the sky. It's the practice and the practitioners that are relevant.

Therefore, each case is individual.

I believe not, as a whole.

 

[Will]

Religions aren't. Religious institutions are. For all the reasons stated before.