Right Wing Extremists are More of a Threat than "Al Qaeda"

[Warham]

I would argue that the good the Christianity and other organized religions have done has far outweighed the bad. Many, many, many people need to feel that there is something greater than themselves in order to be productive humans in any capacity, even if they don't practice religion on a daily or weekly basic. Just the thought in the back of their head is enough. If that thought is removed, or if you believe you are just part of some cosmic soup and there is no ultimate meaning to life, what's the point? If you believe there's some kind of higher power or force at work in the universe that has some kind of plan, then there may be some meaning to this existence.

I'm not saying which is right, I'm saying that I believe religion is necessary for most humans.

[ELVIS]

So was I, (parochial school, whole deal) and that's the problem with that vociferous 90% (regardless of denomination)...they don't know WTF they're talking about, cherry-pick a few verses and twist it to fit their personal bigotry. Not to mention if you really read the bible, a lot of it is pretty heinous... Not saying there's not kernels of good in it in places, but to suggest it's a scientific manual, or that it somehow is relevant in a rational, logic-based non-biblical debate, or can be used as a valid objection in the discussion about people-who may not necessarily subscribe to it-'s rights, etc? Preposterous. Same goes for the Quran, the book of Mormom, whatever. I'm tired of the false sense of entitlement most religious types exhibit that somehow their beliefs should trump fact, logic reason, anyone's rights, etc.


In short, religion (whatever flavor) isn't necessary for people to behave "morally", and furthermore organized religion is responsible for a larger percentage of what's WRONG in the world.

What a cop-out...

You shouldn't go through your entire life with those blinders on...

God won't bite you...

[Zing!]

I'm not saying which is right, I'm saying that I believe religion is necessary for most humans.

Do you mean faith is necessary for most humans, or organized religion is necessary for most humans? If you mean faith I could see your point. It can be a powerful and ambiguous tool that can give extra meaning to the human existence without direct belief in one Bronze-Age Bogeyman or another.

If you really meant religion is necessary, then I say: yotabanashi.

Which is a cool word I learned from my good buddy Cato.

[jhale667]

I'm not saying which is right, I'm saying that I believe religion is necessary for most humans.

I will. That it should be is problematic, and shows we've got a ways to go as a society. Needing something like that to justify your existence is a flaw.


And speaking of that false certitude I mentioned...

What a cop-out...

You shouldn't go through your entire life with those blinders on...

God won't bite you...

You can (and do) tell yourself that until you're blue in the face, but the fact remains you're the one with the blinders on, dude. And something that doesn't exist (or couldn't be bothered with you if it did) can't "bite" you.

[Seshmeister]

I actually find athiests to be even more ignorant than agnostics or theists.

So you think 93% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences are ignorant.

[ELVIS]

So you think 93% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences are ignorant.

Of course, why not ??

Everyone is ignorant of something...

[jhale667]

Of course, why not ??

Because it makes you a buffoon.

Everyone is ignorant of something...

Some more than others...

[Warham]

So you think 93% of the members of the National Academy of Sciences are ignorant.

Science does not explain everything that there is to reality.

[Nickdfresh]

Science does not explain everything that there is to reality.

Dude, we should like totally fire up a bong!

[Warham]

Dude, we should like totally fire up a bong!

Is there a thumbs up on here?

[Northern Girl]

Is there a thumbs up on here?

[Seshmeister]

Science does not explain everything that there is to reality.

No but it's a fuck of a lot better at explaining things than the childish superstitions of clueless Iron Age goat herders.

[Warham]

No but it's a fuck of a lot better at explaining things than the childish superstitions of clueless Iron Age goat herders.

I'm not sure they were "childish". How the hell were people then supposed to know the world had been around for 4 billion years?

[jhale667]

Science does not explain everything that there is to reality.

Neither does shrugging your shoulders and saying "God did it".

[FORD]

I'm not sure they were "childish". How the hell were people then supposed to know the world had been around for 4 billion years?

But that's the whole problem with fundagelicals who insist that every word of the Bible is meant to be taken literally. They ignore the context that those words were written between 2000 - 4000 years ago by people who had little or no concept of anything scientific.

You can't really judge those people who didn't know better. But now that we do know better (i.e the earth NOT being the center of the universe. Or flat, for that matter), then you can't logically say that a book which claims it IS can be taken literally.