A Simple Question

[nonbeliever_92]

Do you believe that the world be would be better, worse, or the same without religion?

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Do you believe that the world be would be better, worse, or the same without religion?

I know someone is going to ask you to define religion, so I might as well be the first to do it

Of course to me, the world would not exist if it wasn't for God. So can we exclude the word religion but still have God? I would love that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

Do you believe that the world be would be better, worse, or the same without religion?

All of the above.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Pretty much the same. The problems generally associated with religion are not caused by religion, but by an ignorant, fearful, and hateful mindset. Religion does seem to draw many of this mindset, but I tend to think that, even without religion, these people would be just as ignorant, fearful, and hateful. Albeit, religion does seem to be a tool particularly well suited to capitalize on, promote, and utilize these traits, but another tool would probably fill the gap if religion did not exist.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

I know someone is going to ask you to define religion, so I might as well be the first to do it

Of course to me, the world would not exist if it wasn't for God. So can we exclude the word religion but still have God? I would love that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would define religion as a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and/or governor of the universe or anything within it.
EDIT:
Religion is a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and/or governor of the universe or anything within it as well as any institutionalization of such belief.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

All of the above.

And this means...?

 

[Just_me_Mike]

I would define religion as a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and/or governor of the universe or anything within it.

Which is different than organized religion. Because you can't find two people in the same organized religion that believe in the same thing.
My answer stays the same.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

Pretty much the same. The problems generally associated with religion are not caused by religion, but by an ignorant, fearful, and hateful mindset. Religion does seem to draw many of this mindset, but I tend to think that, even without religion, these people would be just as ignorant, fearful, and hateful. Albeit, religion does seem to be a tool particularly well suited to capitalize on, promote, and utilize these traits, but another tool would probably fill the gap if religion did not exist.

I will say now that religion(s) are associated with many problems. I can agree with you Stranger in that I believe that all problems with/in humanity are caused by humans, and I will agree with you that religion is used as a tool to justify, for lack of better terms, many problems with/in humanity.

But I will also say that religion causes many problems because religion inhibits rational and reasonable thinking. (Anytime someone can believe in anything that they do not have valid evidence to suggest that their belief is more than plausible/probable, they are not thinking rationally.) Because religion causes problems, I believe that without religion, the world would be better.

This is not to say that the world would be utopia without religion, not all problematic things will disappear, but the world would be improved without it, I believe.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

Which is different than organized religion. Because you can't find two people in the same organized religion that believe in the same thing.
My answer stays the same.

how is that different than organized religion?

 

[Perfect Circle]

I would define religion as a belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and/or governor of the universe or anything within it.

Like gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force...?

 

[nonbeliever_92]

Like gravity, electromagnetism, strong nuclear force, and weak nuclear force...?

you're ignoring a part of my definition

 

[Kilgore Trout]

But I will also say that religion causes many problems because religion inhibits rational and reasonable thinking. (Anytime someone can believe in anything that they do not have valid evidence to suggest that their belief is more than plausible/probable, they are not thinking rationally.) Because religion causes problems, I believe that without religion, the world would be better.

I guess I'm of the opinion that most people are just naturally built to believe in things which do not have valid evidence. Most peoples' rational thought processes aren't being inhibited by religion - they simply don't have them to being with.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

how is that different than organized religion?

Because we whatever relationship we have with God is on an individual basis. Organization do not promote that. They do but it is like Ford's Model T scenario.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

Because we whatever relationship we have with God is on an individual basis. Organization do not promote that. They do but it is like Ford's Model T scenario.

Reread my definition, for I believe you have not fully got that a belief in any "god" fits perfectly, regardless if the god is personal or organized.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

I know someone is going to ask you to define religion, so I might as well be the first to do it

Of course to me, the world would not exist if it wasn't for God. So can we exclude the word religion but still have God? I would love that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and this does not answer my question at all.

 

[Just_me_Mike]

Reread my definition, for I believe you have not fully got that a belief in any "god" fits perfectly, regardless if the god is personal or organized.

You know this is much like saying if I throw pumpkin seeds anywhere will they grow? The odds are they won't grow anywhere but you might get a few to grow, whereas if you plant your pumpkin seeds in a fertile garden that is perfectly made for pumpkins you might have better success. No guarantees but odds might be better.

My comment might be out of place, if so I will refrain from redirecting the thread.

I relate that to the idea of "any god".

 

[nonbeliever_92]

You know this is much like saying if I throw pumpkin seeds anywhere will they grow? The odds are they won't grow anywhere but you might get a few to grow, whereas if you plant your pumpkin seeds in a fertile garden that is perfectly made for pumpkins you might have better success. No guarantees but odds might be better.

My comment might be out of place, if so I will refrain from redirecting the thread.

I relate that to the idea of "any god".

Fine, a belief in all gods fits in my defintion, and i must say that this statement is not untrue. better?

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

But I will also say that religion causes many problems because religion inhibits rational and reasonable thinking. (Anytime someone can believe in anything that they do not have valid evidence to suggest that their belief is more than plausible/probable, they are not thinking rationally.) Because religion causes problems, I believe that without religion, the world would be better.

This is not to say that the world would be utopia without religion, not all problematic things will disappear, but the world would be improved without it, I believe.

The world would still contain irrational, unreasonable people so how would ridding the world of religion improve it?

Most people really don't need excuses such as religion to be irrational or unreasonable.

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

And this means...?

Meaning I don't think that ridding the world of religion, no matter what some people think, would improve the world much if at all.

 

[nonbeliever_92]

I guess I'm of the opinion that most people are just naturally built to believe in things which do not have valid evidence. Most peoples' rational thought processes aren't being inhibited by religion - they simply don't have them to being with.

I can agree with this, but there are many theists capable of rational thought, but their minds are being clouded by religion because religion has became part of their learned behavior. This is probably due to fear.

Take this example:
Many Christians used to rationalize that slavery couldn't have been morally wrong because slavery is justified in the bible. They would cite the bible as evidence that their god allowed slavery and that slavery was permissible in society. Religion, along with many political factors back then, helped to protect people from having to give up their slaves, helped to justify it as correct. Now rascism is a human concept and caused by the beliefs of certain people and has nothing to do with religion in that there are atheists who are rascist as well as theists who do. It wasn't until recently that religious and politcal protection on slavery, in the U.S., that is, was lifted and the majority of American Christian's views of slavery changed to say that their god didn't promote slavery and all that what-not. Today, at least I would say, that the country is better with out this protection over slavery and no one can do it.

Can anyone think of any modern and recent example of this religious protection while treading onn the rights of others in America today? I can...