horrors of religion

[Anti-thesisofreason]

I'll try this once again, only good is expected to come from religion and those involved. I have been told that anything that involves humans risks the chance of atrocities or evil doings, however religion is suppose to dictate a high level of morals, it teaches compassion, loving one's fellow humans, doing only GOOD. There is no expectation other than destruction from the Atom Bomb. No good is expected only bad, it is the humans who invented the atom bomb and put it into play that are the poison not the technology that gave us the atom bomb.

And I will also try once again, I would expect only good to come from religion if it were run by perfect, infallible beings but since it isn't I don't expect it to be all good and loving.

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, as they say.

 

[richardlowellt]

And I will also try once again, I would expect only good to come from religion if it were run by perfect, infallible beings but since it isn't I don't expect it to be all good and loving.

A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, as they say.

what a cope out, religions are run by Gods, or at lest thats what the religious tell us. god is suppose to be an all good, loving, and infallible being, people who follow this Gods teachings are suppose to be good and loving with only good coming from them. That is what is expected, no one expects evile to spring forth from religion.

 

[Storm]

For an atheist, you sure do expect a lot from God.

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

what a cope out, religions are run by Gods, or at lest thats what the religious tell us. god is suppose to be an all good, loving, and infallible being, people who follow this Gods teachings are suppose to be good and loving with only good coming from them. That is what is expected, no one expects evile to spring forth from religion.

You're hopeless. I'm through kicking this dead horse.

 

[richardlowellt]

The shoe appears to be on the other foot here - so to speak - and you don't seem to like it much.

Not sure exactly what you mean?

 

[richardlowellt]

For an atheist, you sure do expect a lot from God.

I expect nothing from something nonexistent, It's what those of religion expect.

 

[richardlowellt]

You're hopeless. I'm through kicking this dead horse.

Good people will do good things, evil people will to evil things, but to get a good person to do evil, that takes religion.

 

[EtuMalku]

Good & evil is subjective, one man's good is another man's evil.
Both good & evil are matters of intent

 

[Madhuri]

what a cope out, religions are run by Gods, or at lest thats what the religious tell us. god is suppose to be an all good, loving, and infallible being, people who follow this Gods teachings are suppose to be good and loving with only good coming from them. That is what is expected, no one expects evile to spring forth from religion.

Actually, religions are supposed to originate from Divine teachings. These teachings came about in the past and since then, imperfect human beings have manipulated and misinterpreted many such teachings. If people actually followed the instructions of personalities such as Jesus, Buddha, Krishna etc. perfectly, the world would be peaceful. But no ordinary person is capable of loving everyone, remianing detached from material results, or being perfectly in love with everything and this is why religious institutions become corrupt. Corruption is inevitable because humans are selfish creatures.

 

[Anti-thesisofreason]

Good people will do good things, evil people will to evil things, but to get a good person to do evil, that takes religion.

All it takes is one very charismatic person.

 

[ayani]

well, why worry so much about what religious people expect from a God you don't believe in?

people have been using their beliefs or impressions of reality to excuse or fuel all kinds of behaviour. generous, well-meaning yet ultimately harmful, cruel, selfish, selfless, etc.

not everyone's faith is the same, and not every religious person believes the same things about God.

I expect nothing from something nonexistent, It's what those of religion expect.

 

[Madhuri]

All it takes is one very charismatic person.

Actually at this point I think we need to define 'good' and 'evil' as even they are religious definitions. From an atheistic or existential perspective, good and bad are subjective concepts as opposed to absolute truths.

So what is a good person? Who is responsible for deciding if a 'good' person has done a 'bad' thing? It's all a matter of perspective.

 

[Madhuri]

And to add, is not a good or bad action a matter of intention from the actor? We cannot forget intention. You can intend to do good and accidentally do bad. Or a lack of understanding may lead what seems like something good to be bad for others.

 

[Storm]

I expect nothing from something nonexistent, It's what those of religion expect.

I don't know any religious folk who expect God to "run the religion."

 

[ayani]

that's an excellent point, Storm.

according to most theistic world faiths, God has in some point interacted with humanity, through a messenger, text, or by sending Himself. He has given us certain statutes, rules, guidelines, and parameters which we can chose to follow, or not.

how closely the religion reflects its ideals is up to the adherents.

 

[Riverwolf]

You would have to show me documentation of were the Emperor was ready to surrender, actually quite to opposite is true, the battle of Iwo Jima was a stalling tactic so the Japanese could better prepare for homeland defense. The troops on Iwo Jima were ordered to hold out as long as possible to allow for this homeland defense. Of the 21,000 japanese solders on Iwo only 216 were taken prisoner, the American forces lost 6,821 with 19,217 wounded in the fiercest fighting of the Pacific theater. With this many casualties taken on both side on an Island only 8 square miles, one can imagine how many casualties would have occurred had the Japanese defended their homeland as fanatical as those who defended a small island.

I can see you have never been in the military, one does not sign up "to Die" but to defend one's country, and I am angered that you would soil the sacrifice given by so many of those young soldiers. Many are killed in war who have no intention of dying, regardless of what you have been lead to believe the Atom Bomb did save hundreds of thousands on both sides.

If they are not signed up to die, then why do they do it?

"It is the foremost concern of a Warrior to keep death in mind at all times."
-Taira Shigesuke, "Bushido Shoshinshu" Beginner's Way of the Warrior (Translated by Thomas Cleary as "Code of the Samurai")

It is my firm belief that even commoners like us should accept the fact that death could come at any time, and live each moment as the last. This applies even moreso to professions which involve great danger, such as being a soldier.

And no, I have never signed up for the military; I cannot, for I am frail and underweight. (Besides, I'm not a soldier; I'm an intellectual.)

Besides, cities are civilian places. It is completely dishonorable and cowardly to attack civilians, and I call the ones who ordered the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cowards and without honor. (NOT the ones who actually delivered the bomb and flew the planes carrying them; they were just following orders.)

 

[Riverwolf]

what a cope out, religions are run by Gods, or at lest thats what the religious tell us. god is suppose to be an all good, loving, and infallible being, people who follow this Gods teachings are suppose to be good and loving with only good coming from them. That is what is expected, no one expects evile to spring forth from religion.

If someone who follows the will of God is supposed to be all-loving, doesn't that mean those who don't are not following the will of God at all, but their own?

 

[Riverwolf]

And to add, is not a good or bad action a matter of intention from the actor? We cannot forget intention. You can intend to do good and accidentally do bad. Or a lack of understanding may lead what seems like something good to be bad for others.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Intentions and methods need to work in complete harmony in order for the result to be "good."

 

[Madhuri]

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions."

Intentions and methods need to work in complete harmony in order for the result to be "good."

Where is that quote from?
I believe that there are different levels of good and bad.
a bad action with good intention is not as bad as a bad action with bad intention. Just as a good action with bad intention is not as good as a good action with good intention.

 

[Riverwolf]

Where is that quote from?
I believe that there are different levels of good and bad.
a bad action with good intention is not as bad as a bad action with bad intention. Just as a good action with bad intention is not as good as a good action with good intention.

Indeed.

And I'm not sure where the quote is actually from; I think it's just a common saying.