I agree with you that Religion has spread alot of negative policies onto people, but that's the problem with anything that's involved in Politics and that's the main thing that would help Religion is to get it out of Politics because the loonies at the top will want any country to become a nation of said Religion.

Basically you take the political power away from Religion and you'd probably see it be alot more positive to everyone once the initial backlash from the Religious groups stopped.

its not god spreading love and care though, it's you.

By that I mean why does anyone need god to spread love and peace and care and whatnot. Just being a decent human being is enough

So ... a religious person channels their belief into something positive and that's completely independent of their religion, but when others use it to spread hatred the religion is completely responsible?

But they do in the name of their god. Specifically state they are doing in the name of their god. A make believe god that doesn't exist.

I know what I mean

Suppose that makes one

Anyway

Two at least.

A make believe god? .....

I agree. Doing 'good deeds' with the intention of receiving some kind of 'higher reward' is simply looking after one's own interests. It has nothing to do with being a caring person.

The decent human beings you speak of genuinely care with no thought of reward in some imagined after-life. There is a big difference.

:clap1:

There's also a misconception that if you are not part of a recognised religion you are an atheist :/

Money is man made. :nono:

Here for this though. Sounds amazing. :love:

Well isn't it then?

Religion itself doesn't cause wars or hatred....People use their interpretation as reason to commit heinous acts. "God" or whatever deity people believe in become an excuse. Most people who believe in religion do so for the right reasons but there are exceptions in all religions who will use it to justify their own actions. Religion brings peace and comfort to many.

A religious belief is simply an idea, a thought, an opinion. It isn't something that can be measured or proven. It never will be and therefore has no right to any kind of special consideration . It only exists in some people's minds. It certainly has no right to be considered untouchable, undebateable or beyond criticism.

Yes it gives people comfort but when it is used as a way to control people or gives people reason to hate others who don't believe in the same - it becomes dangerous and more trouble than it's worth in my opinion.

:clap1: :clap1: :clap1:

I couldn't have put it better myself.

:clap2: :clap2:

And by the same token, disproven. Not believing in it is all fine and well, actively lambasting and mocking people for believing in it (and using that to make unfair aspersions on their character) is something else entirely and nothing more than small-minded bigotry, something that people ironically like to exclusively blame religion for.

I think the same can be said for some anti-religious sentiments.

I don't hate religious people. I just judge their intelligence.

Annie's avatar is a prime example. Devout Christians believe God made the Earth in 7 days. He didn't. It literally took millions of years to make the earth and a few million more years before there were the tiniest specks of life on it.

The gross thing about it is, I was taught that in school at a really young age. I was lead to believe that a magic man in the sky made the world I lived on. In a week. Its damaging.

I think people only mock it because of how many abuse it. People use religion in many negative ways whilst at the same time trying to wave some kind of flag of moral superiority.

Many want special considerations because of their beliefs and many don't just quietly believe in what they believe - they want to shove it down everyone else's throats - hence it becomes problematic for others. Why should everyone simply respect what goes on in the minds of others when they have their own different thoughts.

Those that make a big song and dance about it are the least real in my opinion.

Isn't what a make believe god? ... There is only one.