[arista]

"Madonna certainly found a few"


No that Old Bint found Money Greedy Cults.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Smithy

Yeah, it does

I'm not religious, but if it gives people hope/faith w/e, I don't see the harm

If only it were that simple........Yes it does give people hope etc it enables them to self delude and be content......

However religion also helps many many to self delude and creat horrendous rules and and pontless rituals.......Self delusion turns to serious mental disorders which lead many to do inhuman things and control other peoples lives........

It may be good for some but it creates hell on earth for many........Sadly religion is far far from being harmless.......

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by bananarama

If only it were that simple........Yes it does give people hope etc it enables them to self delude and be content......

However religion also helps many many to self delude and creat horrendous rules and and pontless rituals.......Self delusion turns to serious mental disorders which lead many to do inhuman things and control other peoples lives........

It may be good for some but it creates hell on earth for many........Sadly religion is far far from being harmless.......

That then justifies that it does a little good, although it's pretty much the same for the majority. It isn't portrayed like that by the media, who make it look like the opposite.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by Smithy

That then justifies that it does a little good, although it's pretty much the same for the majority. It isn't portrayed like that by the media, who make it look like the opposite.

millions die in Africa as a direct result of religious objections to contraception and abortion. Thats just for starters...

[BB_Eye]

I think pretty much every major religion has its good points apart from Christianity.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

I think pretty much every major religion has its good points apart from Christianity.

All the mono ones are pretty much the same, why single out Christianity?

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Zippy

millions die in Africa as a direct result of religious objections to contraception and abortion. Thats just for starters...

or due to the fact they have poor education of contraception and can't afford an abortion

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by InOne

All the mono ones are pretty much the same, why single out Christianity?

The Islamic world inherited the philosophical and scientific sophistication of the ancient Greeks and Romans and brought many benefits to the world as a result. Medieval Europe was a laughing stock compared to the Arab world for this reason and destroyed far more than it created. The European Renaissance that came later owes more to Homer, Pythagoras and Plato than it does to Jesus or St. Paul.

I also admire the fact that Islam has a far more practical goal than that of Christianity. To make politics inseperable from the teachings of the prophet Muhammad where Christianity emphasises the salvation of the soul. Something completely abstract and unattainable. In this sense, there is more truth to Islam.

Judaism clings to similar values as Christianity, but it never went so far as to universally prescribe them and as such, never became missionary. They had a bloodline to maintain and it is perhaps as a result of this that the Jewish people have accomplished so much and survived persecution to the extent that they did.

Make no mistake though, I find paganism (particularly the Greek pagans) and animism preferable to all three.

[InOne]

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

The Islamic world inherited the philosophical and scientific sophistication of the ancient Greeks and Romans and brought many benefits to the world as a result. Medieval Europe was a laughing stock compared to the Arab world for this reason and destroyed far more than it created. The European Renaissance that came later owes more to Homer, Pythagoras and Plato than it does to Jesus or St. Paul.

I also admire the fact that Islam has a far more practical goal than that of Christianity. To make politics inseperable from the teachings of the prophet Muhammad where Christianity emphasises the salvation of the soul. Something completely abstract and unattainable. In this sense, there is more truth to Islam.

Judaism clings to similar values as Christianity, but it never went so far as to universally prescribe them and as such, never became missionary. They had a bloodline to maintain and it is perhaps as a result of this that the Jewish people have accomplished so much and survived persecution to the extent that they did.

Make no mistake though, I find paganism (particularly the Greek pagans) and animism preferable to all three.

Well the Islamic world still has the blasphemy law, which sort of lets it down big time. Especially in this day and age

[Angus]

It is precisely because Islam is inextricably entwined with political ideology that its followers are so intolerant of other faiths, beliefs and lifestyles, and do not accept any criticism whatsoever. If ever there was a totalitarian religion, Islam is it.

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by Smithy

That then justifies that it does a little good, although it's pretty much the same for the majority. It isn't portrayed like that by the media, who make it look like the opposite.

If something only does a little good and at the price of having a deluded mind......Then a little good does not justify it's existance.......

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by bananarama

If something only does a little good and at the price of having a deluded mind......Then a little good does not justify it's existance.......

Lucky the question is "Does religion do any good at all?" then and not "Is religion's existence justified?"

[bananarama]

Originally Posted by angus58

It is precisely because Islam is inextricably entwined with political ideology that its followers are so intolerant of other faiths, beliefs and lifestyles, and do not accept any criticism whatsoever. If ever there was a totalitarian religion, Islam is it.

Indeed and for the reasons you state a very dangerous religion.......Even in its so called moderate form.....it is an extreme mental delusion that is brainwashed into each new generation perpetuating taught madness......