Superstition and religion

[mawilson 2,133]

Do you mind, I am having my tea

Sorry

[Peikko 1,575]

Because once upon a time, people didn't know where babies came from -

they thought it was a "miracle" and God made it happen.

Now we know that sperm travels up the uterus into the Fallopian tubes,

fertilizing the egg and forming a zygote, which grows into a blastocyst

and eventually into a baby.

Once upon a time, people didn't know what lightning was - they saw it

come down and kill someone and concluded that it was God, or that God

threw the lightning down in order to teach someone a lesson.

Now we know that lightning is nothing but an atmospheric discharge of

electricity.

Exactly.

[Captain Oates 911]

Asking how and why is all too human. Understanding that why is irrelevant as it pertains to the existence of the universe takes practice. There is nothing surprising about human spirituality, what is surprising is that people currently reject the things we have learned about existence and the origins of ourselves, the earth and the universe in favour of explanations we thought made sense 2,000 years ago and more.

If I wasn't already financially comfortable, I am convinced I could become a billionaire preying (not praying) on the gullible people. Not saying I would because we non believers are generally more moral than than religious people as we are thinkers and don't just do as we want and then get absolution after.

I have never met an immoral non-believer although there must be plenty - but I have met plenty of nominally religious people who are criminal in their thoughts and deeds. They see no inconsistency in that.

One blew himself up in Iran today. If he had listened to me, that horrible thing would not have happened.

I am still waiting for a non religious person to blow himself up trying to impose his views on the others.

Edited December 16, 2010 by Alan the Red

[^_^ 5,021]

I am still waiting for a non religious person to blow himself up trying to impose his views on the others.

Stalin and Mao were atheists and while they didn't blow themselves up they wronged their fellow man in other ways.

[웃 910]

Stalin and Mao were atheists and while they didn't blow themselves up they wronged their fellow man in other ways.

And they liked blue hats and tried to make everyone else wear them too. And they like pizza with extra cheese, talking on the phone, and chewing bubble gum...

[Peikko 1,575]

As an explanation of the universe and our existence in it, religion is not much use, but that said there are things that religion is very, very good at. The basic moral framework, the importance placed on spiritual growth and personal responsibility (in a very real sense, not the right wing mumbo jumbo politicians spout) and compassion toward those who need help and succor. These are very real and honourable persuits and achievements of the religious that are derived from the main tenets and beliefs of the main religions.

That said, those who reject theism are also capable of understanding and very often live by a moral code that has at its heart a desire to treat every human being as an equal deserving of the same consideration and respect that we wish conferred on ourselves. That can result in the same good works, compassion and understanding that the religious are capable of.

Edited December 16, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[Captain Oates 911]

Stalin and Mao were atheists and while they didn't blow themselves up they wronged their fellow man in other ways.

Cannibals wrong other people but their motives are nothing to do with belief or non belief

Stalin and Mao were cannibals in that sense

Almost 100% of prisoners in US jails profess to be religious but religion was not the reason they did what they did

I think we need to decide whether gullibility is a form of stupidity and can coexist in otherwise brilliant people

If that is true then we have an explanation of one aspect of religious feeling that is often used to excuse its existence in this age of comparitive enlightenment

[^_^ 5,021]

Cannibals wrong other people but their motives are nothing to do with belief or non belief

Stalin and Mao were cannibals in that sense

Stalin and Mao's actions had nothing to do with their ideology, which atheism was a critical aspect of?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So show me a person who's not religious, and I'll prove to you he or she is.

That's a tall ticket. Go ahead. Prove to me that I am religious.

[Peikko 1,575]

That's a tall ticket. Go ahead. Prove to me that I am religious.

It's probably along the lines of there being no atheists in foxholes. It would be entertaining if it was something new though

[Peikko 1,575]

Stalin and Mao's actions had nothing to do with their ideology, which atheism was a critical aspect of?

Not really. While the political elites in communist countries paid lip service to the ideology of equality, the reality was that the ruling class, and consequently those who were rich were in fact the political and military elites and they did whatever they needed to to remain in power. Their actions were more on the lines of dictators than sincere believers in social justice and equality.

[^_^ 5,021]

Not really. While the political elites in communist countries paid lip service to the ideology of equality, the reality was that the ruling class, and consequently those who were rich were in fact the political and military elites and they did whatever they needed to to remain in power. Their actions were more on the lines of dictators than sincere believers in social justice and equality.

You sound like one of those people who want to rehabilitate the public image of communism.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

It's probably along the lines of there being no atheists in foxholes. It would be entertaining if it was something new though

Hey, I'm always good for a challenge. While I have severe doubts that this will happen, I promise to admit if I ended up in church on Sunday.

[Captain Oates 911]

Stalin and Mao's actions had nothing to do with their ideology, which atheism was a critical aspect of?

Correct - the absence of religion doesn't mean their actions were meant to promote absence of religion rather than all their policies which stand alone. If they had no pets then their actions could not be said to promote not having pets.

Think of the extra people who would have died if they HAD been religious

Religiosity is often an aggravating factor in genocidal actions

[chri'stina 190]

Whether people want to accept it or not, Christians and other religious folks have been persecuted for having faith in places like China in the not too distant past. I'd say China's image has changed somewhat, but I knew people who actually taped bibles to their bodies several times to smuggle them into China (in the 80's and 90's) to give to churches who were illegally meeting in basements, who really wanted bibles. It's not made up. I'd say that is an oppressive atheistic rule.

Edited December 16, 2010 by chri'stina