[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I think people who cause trouble tend to hide behind religion to try and justify themselves.

In general, I would say it does more good than harm.

What good does it do?

Do you know how much real estate the catholic church have for example (billions)?

and yet every day they preach about Jesus who taught people to give up wealth and give it to the poor?

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

What good does it do?

Do you know how much real estate the catholic church have for example (billions)?

and yet every day they preach about Jesus who taught people to give up wealth and give it to the poor?

Agreed about the financial side. Churches seem out only to get money. I remember when I was young and was dragged along to church with my grandma, twice a week she used to put 20 quid in the collection, but one week she was a bit skint so put a fiver in instead...and the ****ing glare she got was unbelievable, she was actually asked where her 'usual' contribution' was...I think thats taking the mick to be honest, a fivers still a lot more than most would put in.

Anyways, the good it does...it gives hope to those who would have nothing. I know most religions teach ignorance and intolerance, but for every homophobe born out of christianity, theres 10 little old women welcoming death rather than being scared because they think that they are going to meet god or something like that. Personally I think there is nothing at all after death but if it helps those on their deathbed, who am I to begrudge them that.

Not everyone follows the religious teachings to a tee these days anyway, I think you would be hard pushed to find someone who lived their life totally according to the bible or whatever. Everything has its good points and bad points.

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

are you saying that you dont think that the main religions cause problems in the world?

With people who use religion as an excuse for their evil deeds and ruin the reputation of the genuine everyday believer? Yes.

[Angus]

No-one has to respect Religion which is, after all, nothing but an umbrella term under which all faiths seem to have been dumped. However, one should respect the rights of other people to believe whatever the hell they want that gives meaning and structure to their lives. I would say that telling children there is NOTHING for them other than this short, miserable life, at the end of which there is a black and empty oblivion, irrespective of whether they have been good or evil human beings, is just as illogical and without factual evidence as would be indoctrinating them into any particular religion.

Why not just afford people the courtesy and respect of allowing them to decide for themselves what they wish to believe in? - I daresay most of the belief systems of those on this forum wouldn't stand up to empirical scrutiny.

[Stu]

People are free to believe what they want but under no circumstances are my obligated to respect it.

It's a persons choice if they want to respect a belief system or not. I hate the current trend that because something is a belief it is therefore sacred and bound to automatic respect.

**** right off. Mormons are knobs.

[Vicky.]

While saying all this though, I must admit that I still just shut the door on the jehovas witnesses when they come round

[Crimson Dynamo]

God told that guy to behead that woman

and if you think "that was not god" then lets see your proof

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

God told that guy to behead that woman

and if you think "that was not god" then lets see your proof

What on earth are you on about now...

So...some crazy guy says god told him to do something. And this means all religion is bad why?

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

What on earth are you on about now...

So...some crazy guy says god told him to do something. And this means all religion is bad why?

There is nothing stopping anyone saying god told me to do this. This is why religion is bad. People use a fictitious situation to make people do things like kill, blow them selves up, give money, feel guilt and so on.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

There is nothing stopping anyone saying god told me to do this. This is why religion is bad. People use a fictitious situation to make people do things like kill, blow them selves up, give money, feel guilt and so on.

Thats terrible reasoning

Just because a few crazy people make out that they did whatever for religion...

If there was no religion, they would just blame it on something else.

I massacred 200 people because the banana in my fridge told me to do it. Lets ban bananas.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Thats terrible reasoning

Just because a few crazy people make out that they did whatever for religion...

If there was no religion, they would just blame it on something else.

I massacred 200 people because the banana in my fridge told me to do it. Lets ban bananas.

Suicide bombers, 9/11 - all religiously motivated. taliban?

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

There is nothing stopping anyone saying god told me to do this. This is why religion is bad. People use a fictitious situation to make people do things like kill, blow them selves up, give money, feel guilt and so on.

This post has summarised just how ill educated you are.

Terrorists use religion as an excuse for their selfish crimes and that automatically makes anyone who believes in a God bad?

I say "a God" because everyone believes in different things. Even within specific religions not everyone is the same.

The screams of a mentally unstable madman who beheaded a woman in a supermarket is hardly symbolic of everyone is it?

This is worse than the complaints that Ronnie's baby swap in Eastenders was trying to represent all mothers who lost children to cot death.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by 08marsh

This post has summarised just how ill educated you are.

Terrorists use religion as an excuse for their selfish crimes and that automatically makes anyone who believes in a God bad?

I say "a God" because everyone believes in different things. Even within specific religions not everyone is the same.

The screams of a mentally unstable madman who beheaded a woman in a supermarket is hardly symbolic of everyone is it.

This is worse than the complaints that Ronnie's baby swap in Eastenders was trying to represent all mothers who lost children to cot death.

So the "madman" cannot speak to god but a local priest can?

a suicide bomber cannot speak to allah but a bloke down the local mosque can?

how?

[Stu]

Now I get it. His still a Jesus freak but by pulling off this sort of gimmickery with these **** arguments his getting us to argue for him.

You cunning fox, you.

[Stu]

That ought to be Bananarama's custom status.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Stu

That ought to be Bananarama's custom status.

Another pointless response........

[Liberty4eva]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

It kills, it lies, it deludes and it makes billions. Do we respect it or should we hound it out?

Religion does not deserve respect. Probably my biggest gripe against it is it targets children who are the most vulnerable members of society. It deserves to be mocked.

[Ithinkiloveyoutoo]

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

Religion does not deserve respect. Probably my biggest gripe against it is it targets children who are the most vulnerable members of society. It deserves to be mocked.

religion or people that present themselves as priests/pastors?

I know there's a quote in the bible " many will come in my name but not all are pure of heart" or something like that

[arista]

Originally Posted by Liberty4eva

Religion does not deserve respect. Probably my biggest gripe against it is it targets children who are the most vulnerable members of society. It deserves to be mocked.

Bang On Right.

[ElProximo]

Atheism does not deserve respect. Probably my biggest gripe against it is it targets children who are the most vulnerable members of society. It deserves to be mocked.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by ElProximo

Atheism does not deserve respect. Probably my biggest gripe against it is it targets children who are the most vulnerable members of society. It deserves to be mocked.

It does not. People who do not believe in gods dont foist this on children the same way they dont teach them they believe in dragons, invisible men, fiery winged penis's and man eating fannies.

No parent would knowingly tell a small child that there were monsters under their bed so why tell them that there is a devil under the ground?

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

No parent would knowingly tell a small child that there were monsters under their bed so why tell them that there is a devil under the ground?

You are really asking this question?

Parents do not believe there is a monster under the bed and that is why they don't tell children as much.

Parents do believe there is a prison for criminals and they most certainly do tell their children there are police, a prison and they ought to avoid committing crimes.

Parents do believe there is a 'prison' and bad warden for some 'criminals' in the afterlife,
but,
with rare exceptions they don't discuss this with children until they are nearing adults (or old enough to deal with it),
and,
very very few Churches discuss hell other than in in the context of how Jesus makes it unnecessary.

What I did here was mirror your thinking which would go something like this:

It is a kind of 'abuse' to children to never warn them there is consequences to bad behavior. That there is a devil. See I presume that. So since the Devil does exist then it is right and correct and proper I should act accordingly.

and given that the Devil does exist then you are immoral and 'abusive' to children not telling them.
Actually you 'foist' your fake belief on them. Which is really sick.

[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by ElProximo

You are really asking this question?

Parents do not believe there is a monster under the bed and that is why they don't tell children as much.

Parents do believe there is a prison for criminals and they most certainly do tell their children there are police, a prison and they ought to avoid committing crimes.

Parents do believe there is a 'prison' and bad warden for some 'criminals' in the afterlife,
but,
with rare exceptions they don't discuss this with children until they are nearing adults (or old enough to deal with it),
and,
very very few Churches discuss hell other than in in the context of how Jesus makes it unnecessary.

What I did here was mirror your thinking which would go something like this:

It is a kind of 'abuse' to children to never warn them there is consequences to bad behavior. That there is a devil. See I presume that. So since the Devil does exist then it is right and correct and proper I should act accordingly.

and given that the Devil does exist then you are immoral and 'abusive' to children not telling them.
Actually you 'foist' your fake belief on them. Which is really sick.

obviously atheists don't believe there is a devil so therefore why would they warn their children about something they don't believe in?

[ElProximo]

Originally Posted by Niamh.

obviously atheists don't believe there is a devil so therefore why would they warn their children about something they don't believe in?

Exactly. That is what I was getting at.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by ElProximo

You are really asking this question?

Parents do not believe there is a monster under the bed and that is why they don't tell children as much.

Parents do believe there is a prison for criminals and they most certainly do tell their children there are police, a prison and they ought to avoid committing crimes.

Parents do believe there is a 'prison' and bad warden for some 'criminals' in the afterlife,
but,
with rare exceptions they don't discuss this with children until they are nearing adults (or old enough to deal with it),
and,
very very few Churches discuss hell other than in in the context of how Jesus makes it unnecessary.

What I did here was mirror your thinking which would go something like this:

It is a kind of 'abuse' to children to never warn them there is consequences to bad behavior. That there is a devil. See I presume that. So since the Devil does exist then it is right and correct and proper I should act accordingly.

and given that the Devil does exist then you are immoral and 'abusive' to children not telling them.
Actually you 'foist' your fake belief on them. Which is really sick.

Can you try and make that clearer as it does not make sense?