Oh God Not Another One!

[Bop]

Suppose there was no such thing as religion. If the religions of the world did not exist, do you think people would be without morals and values?

Are some people incapable of following a moral system if it is not written down for them?

Would the world be a better place without religion? Worse, perhaps?

OR is the issue less about morals than about an afterlife?

Help me understand why people believe in religion...

[rm']

Here Comes Another One
Monty Python

Here comes another one
Here it comes again
Here comes another one
When will it ever end?


I know whatever it is
I've not seen one before
But here comes another one
And here comes a bunch of 'em
Here comes another one
Thank God I'm not having lunch with them


I'd answer your question(s), but I felt like being witty and urbane instead.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Every Sperm is sacred...

[rm']

All Things Dull And Ugly
Monty Python

All things dull and ugly,
All creatures short and squat,
All things rude and nasty,
The Lord God made the lot.

Each little snake that poisons,
Each little wasp that stings,
He made their brutish venom.
He made their horrid wings.

All things sick and cancerous,
All evil great and small,
All things foul and dangerous,
The Lord God made them all.

Each nasty little hornet,
Each beastly little squid--
Who made the spikey urchin?
Who made the sharks? He did!

All things scabbed and ulcerous,
All pox both great and small,
Putrid, foul and gangrenous,
The Lord God made them all.

Amen.

[Orgone_Man]

Man... i don't know if i can handle another religious thread.

My take on the whole thing: Religion is a tool for a certain "evolution bracket" for the human race. Don't get me wrong here, I think that there probably is a higher power, but if you look at the big picture, religion is not divine but manmade. Only "god" is divine.

Religion has been a helpful tool for us ever since man first ate that funny looking mushroom in the woods all the way up through the ten commandments and beyond. I think it's time is about up, though. The information age will help bring about a "reasoned" morality, and not morality brought on by faith and fear.

I could expand on these thoughts, but I want to see how this thread develops before I invest more time into it.

[Widdykats]

Please Lord, Take Me Now {psst. where's the smiley with gun to it's head}

[Some1]

Suppose there was no such thing as religion. If the religions of the world did not exist, do you think people would be without morals and values?

No.

Are some people incapable of following a moral system if it is not written down for them?

No...except for the few who don't follow even the written down ones.

Would the world be a better place without religion? Worse, perhaps?

Better.

OR is the issue less about morals than about an afterlife?

Neither, it's about open-mindedness and cultural elitism...without (organized, evangelical) religion there'd be more of the first and less of the latter.

[rm']

Personally? I think we'd be far worse off if religion were never introduced to mankind. The issue isn't about morals, or an afterlife. It's about guidance.

And yes, the vast majority of people would be totally lost if they did not have their morals written out for them.

[cmountford]

Originally posted by Orgone_Man
...religion is not divine but manmade. Only "god" is divine."

I agree: "religion" is basically empty...like a set of rituals made by men (and more recently, women...so don't get pissed off at me).

If there were no religion: I would say that many people would not be able to uphold morals, but some people would. There's this one person I know who's an athiest and who has some very "unique" beliefs about what's right and what's wrong...and ways to excuse what most religions consider wrong behavior. Of course I also know there's probably some athiests who live better lives than the people who have faith in a supreme being.

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

{psst. where's the smiley with gun to it's head}

I guess I need to make one of those.


And about religion?... Ugh. I don't think you want to know what I think about religion.

[GLewellen]

for the love of god shut your mouth, you post pumping whore.

ahhh so much hate has just be alieved.

[Bop]

I think the more appropriate term is thread-pumper.

[Sandman2012]

Jesus is on the cross at the mount of skulls. He looks down and sees the disciple Paul next to Mary Magdelene in the crowd below. "Paul," he calls out. "Come here." Paul tries to make his way to his savior, but the Roman Guard pushes him back. Jesus calls out again, "Paul. Paul." This time Paul makes it to the bottom of the cross, but once again the Guard pushes him back into the crowd. With what seems to be his dying breath Jesus sighs, "Paul, please." With all his strength Paul pushes the Guard out of his way and climbs the cross.

"What is it, my Lord?"

Jesus replies, "I can see your house from here."

Originally posted by Widdykats
Please Lord, Take Me Now {psst. where's the smiley with gun to it's head}

Amen. Bang!!!!!!!!!!

The only reason religion exists is because humans fear their own mortality. They can't believe they just live 74.3 years, then exit quietly and permanantly.

[dollerspark]

Originally posted by randman


Amen. Bang!!!!!!!!!!

The only reason religion exists is because humans fear their own mortality. They can't believe they just live 74.3 years, then exit quietly and permanantly.

So sayeth the Lord, God, Amen!


I hear things like this sometimes from people. No, you do not need religion in order to have morals and values. Sure, religion usually supports those things, and also has their own set of standards, but that's nothing that can't also be acheived without religion.

I don't know. Although religion has provided many people with good things, it's also been the cause of many wars and many people have been killed over the issue.

As for why people believe, I couldn't give you a sure answer. I use to believe because that's the way I was raised. I think most people believe because of that reason, and that religion gives them comfort. They like to hear that there's and afterlife and a loving God and something bigger. They like to have things set out for them, make life a little less confusing and difficult.

[binary hero]

i agree with the majority of people who have posted so far. religion merley defines our morals (which, to some extent are instinctive, you don't kill someone...or some1...because they might later help you)

[Widdykats]

Originally posted by Sandman2012
Jesus is on the cross at the mount of skulls. He looks down and sees the disciple Paul next to Mary Magdelene in the crowd below. "Paul," he calls out. "Come here." Paul tries to make his way to his savior, but the Roman Guard pushes him back. Jesus calls out again, "Paul. Paul." This time Paul makes it to the bottom of the cross, but once again the Guard pushes him back into the crowd. With what seems to be his dying breath Jesus sighs, "Paul, please." With all his strength Paul pushes the Guard out of his way and climbs the cross.

"What is it, my Lord?"

Jesus replies, "I can see your house from here."

AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA! .I'm going to hell!

[SSJ4 Gogitta]

Originally posted by Widdykats
Please Lord, Take Me Now {psst. where's the smiley with gun to it's head}

[sandb937]

Originally posted by Boplicity
Suppose there was no such thing as religion.

I really don't want to get involved in another thread like this but, to put a twist in. I will ponder the what if's about no religion, you (general statement)ponder the what if there is such a thing as heaven and hell, and eternity?

[hgnis]

God has no religion.
PS: Why hasn't Jesus posted yet??

[Twilightseer]

1) Religion and morals are different concepts. I'm agnostic yet have morals. Even if "thou shalt not kill" wasn't written in the bible, I'd know it just the same.

2) Religion's primary aim is to cover up the general unfairness of life. Believing that some superior being is responsible for everything is a relief for some people I guess. Of course, it didn't take long for some to understand it and twist religion into the most effective way of controlling masses.

[Widdykats]

Originally posted by SSJ4_Gogitta

Not exactly what I had in mind by a whole lot. And is living
proof that inbreeding is not just morally wrong.

[hgnis]

Originally posted by Widdykats

Not exactly what I had in mind by a whole lot. And is living
proof that inbreeding is not just morally wrong.

AMEN!

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

{psst. where's the smiley with gun to it's head}

[Xerxes]

Religion can create morals and unity. A historical example would be the longevity of the Byzantine Holy Empire vs. the loose Roman Empire.

As a Taoist sage, I consider myself one step above agnostic. Thus,

"The Master observes the world
but trusts his inner vision.
He allows things to come and go.
His heart is open as the sky."

-Tao te Jing, 12.1

[rm']

Not to mention that the modern city-state would be impossible without the machinations of the Pope, and feudalism. The whole Renaissance, in fact, would have not occured were it not for Roman Catholicism.


The world would be a much worse off place without the central authority religion provides.

[Widdykats]

Originally posted by sgtfuzzbubble99

Just what we needed. A thousand thank Yous. May you be wealthy
and happy and , well you get the point!!

[Cameron221]

Originally posted by rm'
Personally? I think we'd be far worse off if religion were never introduced to mankind. The issue isn't about morals, or an afterlife. It's about guidance.

And yes, the vast majority of people would be totally lost if they did not have their morals written out for them.

I concur

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

Just what we needed. A thousand thank Yous.

Welcome.

[Xerxes]

That suicide smiley might be a canidate for the official list, seeing as we get a suicide note posted every month here.

[sgtfuzzbubble011]

[Sandman2012]

Originally posted by Xerxes
...suicide smiley...

Sounds like a lame-ass goth band.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by dollerspark
[B]

So sayeth the Lord, God, Amen!


I hear things like this sometimes from people. No, you do not need religion in order to have morals and values. Sure, religion usually supports those things, and also has their own set of standards, but that's nothing that can't also be acheived without religion.

I don't know. Although religion has provided many people with good things, it's also been the cause of many wars and many people have been killed over the issue.

As for why people believe, I couldn't give you a sure answer. I use to believe because that's the way I was raised. I think most people believe because of that reason, and that religion gives them comfort. They like to hear that there's and afterlife and a loving God and something bigger. They like to have things set out for them, make life a little less confusing and difficult. [/B
I did this in my philosophy course a few year s back : The Shamen says that water follows it's course down the mountain because it is guided by the water spirit .
The scientist proves that it is because of the differing density (i.e.:soft or hard material) of the stones and earth and by the force of gravity that causes the river to flow in the direction that it does .Ah! yes say's the shamen but it is the water spirit that allows this interaction .That is belief ,no matter what is proved ,in no way will the person not believe .
REASON? well who likes to admit there wrong or mistaken even if it were to be so obviously impossible,
another quote from the same cause was : say a person believed that a teapot was orbiting mars and science to help the person, they photgraphed sent probes even in the end sent him (this is a hypothetical scenario by the way) on a manned mission and they covered every square inch of the or bit and nothing was found.
success they thought yet the person still turned round and found an excuse ,that would be believable ,(if only slightly ),to confirm to themself that a teapot was floating aboyt mars.
that is belief or really not wanting to admit your wrong
(Excerpt's from"Open University,Humanities course,philosophy;Simonyi Professor for the publis understanding of science,Oxford ,England)
smeggle