Religion has without doubt been incredibly damaging to the human race. It's at the root of millions of deaths and certainly the cause of many many prejudices and narrow minded, judgemental opinions.

That said, it's unavoidable. I think human beings have always had an instinctive need to look to a higher force. Animals don't but we humans just think to damn much. Not me, Ive never felt any need for religion.

But to answer the question; I'm sure religion is very helpful to people in times of bereavement. Or in helping people come to terms with their own mortality even. Used wisely I can see that it could be very comforting in certain situations. I guess it depends on how you apply the bibles teachings to your life. You can pretty much pick and choose which bits you choose to live by and which bits you ignore. Thats more or less what religious people do anyways.

Religion gives the poor hope. That is about it.

Whilst religion has been cited as the root cause for a lot of strife and wars, there arent many religions that advocate conversion through superior firepower.

It could also be argued society wouldnt be as advanced or as civilised as it is today without religion. Most charity organisation like the Red Cross/Red Crescent, Oxfam, Salvation Army etc (generally the longer running humanitarian charities) were started off by advocates of various religions.

Mixed feelings. If people find comfort from it - great. If people think they should blow up countries for it - No

So, oil is the god of the USA?

Not up for a deep debate Terry. I was just stating what I thought

Nah I agree entirely with what you say, if people want to believe in the sun god or whatever thats up to them, so long as they dont enforce it on others, I dont really care. If it helps people cope with loss, a hard life etc let them crack on.

Good point. Also throws up the consideration for all the good work missionaries do in setting up schools in an effort to help provide at least some basic education to those less fortunate, builing & clinics, shelters etc in the most underprividged areas. So back to the original question - does religion do any good at all - yes.

And of course it also bestows power, influence and riches on those that are able to exploit it - just look at the Vatican and the far reaching political influence it wields, especially in powerful countries like the USA.

The main religion of the USA and the world is Money

I'm pretty sure you do not need to be of any religious persuasion to want to reach out and help others. So big charities would have been formed regardless. The ones you mention have just been around longer probably. But charity is certainly not owned by religion.

Wanting to help those in desperate need is a just basic human instinct I would think....and hope. Im not giving religion that one!

I haven't researched the subject but I suspect the origins of many religions is about power and control. Forcing society to behave a certain way and then outcasting those who do not conform. Thats still pretty much how it works today.

great post Zippy, I agree 100% with everything you said. Alot of the time religions forcing control over the masses by fear, telling them they'll go to hell if they don't follow the rules of the church etc

Would Ireland be a better place without christianity?

absolutely, The Catholic Church are responsible for some terrible things that happened in Ireland

Have to agree you dont need to be religious to give to charity or to start a charity. Still, I cant think of many charities that werent started by devout believers in one religion or another, even less that have been around for say over a hundred years. Thats not saying they dont exist, they do.

I would say most religions started off as an attempt to explain the meaning of life, mans place in the cosmos etc. It just happens that a subverted religion is an ideal tool to control and influence.

Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism the early Greek and Roman religions for example didnt start off about control. Though in some cases at certain times most have been corrupted or subverted to control the masses.

Its inherited. hardly anyone who is religious found religion on their own. religious parents tend to have religious children

I think Religion & Belief is harmless when it's personal but it becomes dangerous if forced on others as then it can be abused and manipulated. I'm no fan of organised religion, I prefer to have my own beliefs and leave it at that.

what are your own beliefs about magic gods?

I'll bite.

I like to believe in a god but I believe in science and evolution as well. I can't see why one side can only be right. Who's to say that God created all we know with a big bang and Evolution? If there's an afterlife then I don't believe in the idea that you have to be a devout religious person to access it, it's something I struggle with in organised religions because what if an Atheist lead a perfectly good life helping others and generally bettering the world in whichever way they could? Would they be denied Heaven (or Heaven equivelant) despite the good they achieved with their life just because they didn't believe? I don't like that. I think we've got free will to choose, not be bullied into believing out of fear. I do like the idea of a purgatory though, not so much burning-in-a-lake-of-fire purgatory but a place where you make peace with the questionable stuff you've done in the past before moving on. I don't believe in Hell full stop.

Hmm, that's the general gist of it. Not saying it's right or wrong but that's what I like to believe personally.

One side describes what we know and experience day to day, it explains it using a method that can be checked and peer reviewed using techniques that we use in all other disciplines like the law


the other side is fabricated and no one would even attempt to try and prove it otherwise


the 2 cant live together for that very reason

Interesting viewpoint LT.

Not meaning to be insulting but do you suffer from Schizophrenia or some other disorder?

none taken:hugesmile:

no i do not

but dont take his word for it, he wouldnt

Many find new religions by themselves. Madonna certainly found a few.

i would imagine the figure is like 0.5% worldwide

I dont :wink: