Is there a way in which all religions are similarly wrong?

[SalixIncendium]

Many seem to discourage critical analysis of their claims or doctrines. They value faith over rationality.

This is true. But many =/= all.

 

[SalixIncendium]

praxis

Just when I thought I new all the words.

Thanks for making me look up a new one.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

This is true. But many =/= all.

The problem for my cultural upbring in the philosophical culture of objective rationality, because that is what we are playing, is that in effect it is God without God but the claim that humans can do it.
They don't understand that reason is a limited human behavior just like any other human behavior and they are as fundamentalistic and dogmatic about it, as some religious people are about God.

 

[Nimos]

So, my own answer to myself is this: all religions, in my view, are wrong in the same way, in that they insist on belief over reason. And that will never solve the problems we face now, or will face in the future.

It is true that some people believe that all answers will ultimately be resolved or are connected to their view of God if we are talking about the fundamentalist. But in general, I think one will misunderstand the idea behind religion and why people believe in them if one is to compare religion's ability to solve physical problems with that of science. The majority of religious people, at least as far as I see it, do understand that scriptures or religious teachings are not science which is meant to deal with the natural world.

Sure, some believe that praying in certain cases can help or impact the physical world, but still I think this should be understood as something separate and not as an alternative to science.

What I think religion gives people whether one believes in it as being true or false, is hope, guidance, purpose, community and order. I can understand why some people would find the idea of a world without a God to seem chaotic and somewhat dangerous because if there is no higher power everything goes.

As an atheist and being custom to such a worldview, the religious one obviously seems irrelevant and as false "security" but for a lot of people I think it gives them something, beyond science and simple problem solving and on a more personal level.

 

[danieldemol]

Did religion fill the oceans with plastic, and the soil and air with toxins, or did we achieve that through the use of science and reason?

solving any problem always reveals the next weakest link. Should we give up solving problems just because another issue will raise its head? Of course increasing life expectancy will lead to overproduction of life which in turn contributes to overproduction of waste, but that too is a problem for science and reason to solve in my view.

Did scripture give us weapons the destructive power of which are 1000x greater than those that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or did science and reason do that?

Or did God give humans the ability to create such weapons? If you are going to introduce God into the equation God has some serious questions to answer for in my view.

And what on earth is the point of getting to the moon or Mars, if in so doing we turn a natural paradise into an ash-heap?

Who is turning the moon and Mars into an ash heap? Does making things up help your cause?

In my opinion.

 

[Colt]

Yes, I think that is true. Every religion gives preference to belief over reason. The Bible claims, within it's own pages, to be revealed truth -- as does the Qu'ran, not to mention Baha'u'llah or the Guru Granth Sahib.

So I'll ask a question: how many human ills have been resolved or ameliorated through scriptural text, compared to how many have been resolved or ameliorated through reason, science and rational inquiry? Is religion curing people of cancer, or is it chemotherapy and surgery? Does Scripture tell you how to get to the moon, or clean up your oceans, or get the CO2 out of the air so we can keep breathing, or is it science that is doing that?

So, my own answer to myself is this: all religions, in my view, are wrong in the same way, in that they insist on belief over reason. And that will never solve the problems we face now, or will face in the future.

Religion was the ethical and moral fabric of cultural evolution around the world long before science began its observation of material reality. The atheist contribution is to blight the spiritual experience of the religionists. IMOP


"Both optimism and pessimism are concept reactions in a mind conscious of values as well as of facts.


"Religion is not grounded in the facts of science the obligations of society, the assumptions of philosophy, or the implied duties of morality. Religion is an independent realm of human response to life situations and is unfailingly exhibited at all stages of human development which are postmoral. Religion may permeate all four levels of the realization of values and the enjoyment of universe fellowship: the physical or material level of self-preservation; the social or emotional level of fellowship; the moral or duty level of reason; the spiritual level of the consciousness of universe fellowship through divine worship." UB 1955

 

[RestlessSoul]

solving any problem always reveals the next weakest link. Should we give up solving problems just because another issue will raise its head? Of course increasing life expectancy will lead to overproduction of life which in turn contributes to overproduction of waste, but that too is a problem for science and reason to solve in my view.

Or did God give humans the ability to create such weapons? If you are going to introduce God into the equation God has some serious questions to answer for in my view.

Who is turning the moon and Mars into an ash heap? Does making things up help your cause?

In my opinion.

It's the earth we are turning into an ash heap, not the moon and Mars. Does being needlessly, and in this case misguidedly insulting help your cause?

 

[Altfish]

Is there a way in which all religions are similarly wrong?​

Err, yes. There is no God (s).

 

[Audie]

If imagination and fairly tales served no purpose in life, why do they exist at all?

Oh, religions serve all kinds of purposes.

But if love is false, is it love?

 

[SalixIncendium]

Err, yes. There is no God (s).

And surely, you have evidence for this claim.

 

[SalixIncendium]

Oh, religions serve all kinds of purposes.

But if love is false, is it love?

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make. What would falsify love?

 

[Altfish]

And surely, you have evidence for this claim.

Well, I'm not 67 and I've never seen one. Never heard one or felt one either.
People tell me there are gods but they cannot prove their existence either.
So, on the balance of evidence, gods are not real

 

[SalixIncendium]

Well, I'm not 67 and I've never seen one. Never heard one or felt one either.
People tell me there are gods but they cannot prove their existence either.
So, on the balance of evidence, gods are not real

Neither side has objective evidence, therefore neither can accurately make a true claim about their existence.

Since you bring the word "real" into the mix, can you prove to me that anything in transactional reality is "real?"

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

Neither side has objective evidence, therefore neither can accurately make a true claim about their existence.

Since you bring the word "real" into the mix, can you prove to me that anything in transactional reality is "real?"

The joke about the word "real" is that it has not objective referent just like God according to the methodology of objective evidence.

 

[Kenny]

Did religion fill the oceans with plastic, and the soil and air with toxins, or did we achieve that through the use of science and reason? Did scripture give us weapons the destructive power of which are 1000x greater than those that flattened Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or did science and reason do that? And what on earth is the point of getting to the moon or Mars, if in so doing we turn a natural paradise into an ash-heap?

My answer to you is that we will never solve the problems we face right now, until we stop pointing the finger at each other, and learn to develop the best in ourselves while facing up to and mitigating the worst. My answer to myself is that we can only do this when we stop playing God, and humbly ask for His or Her help.

WOW - such wisdom!

 

[Augustus]

Is there a way in which all religions are similarly wrong?​

Err, yes. There is no God (s).

What about the religions that don't have gods?

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

What about the religions don't have gods?

Don't destroy the belief that only Western culture is the really real one.

 

[PearlSeeker]

Yes, I think that is true. Every religion gives preference to belief over reason. The Bible claims, within it's own pages, to be revealed truth -- as does the Qu'ran, not to mention Baha'u'llah or the Guru Granth Sahib.

So I'll ask a question: how many human ills have been resolved or ameliorated through scriptural text, compared to how many have been resolved or ameliorated through reason, science and rational inquiry? Is religion curing people of cancer, or is it chemotherapy and surgery? Does Scripture tell you how to get to the moon, or clean up your oceans, or get the CO2 out of the air so we can keep breathing, or is it science that is doing that?

So, my own answer to myself is this: all religions, in my view, are wrong in the same way, in that they insist on belief over reason. And that will never solve the problems we face now, or will face in the future.

The religions may be wrong but they serve a different purpose than science. They solve problems concerning peace and happiness. Even if the cure is placebo it works.

See some research how religion affects life for example:

Specifically, religiousness in U.S. youth has been associated with academic success (Elder & Conger, 2000;Regnerus, 2000;Smith & Denton, 2005), prosocial behavior and volunteerism (Donahue & Benson, 1995), and in some populations, enhanced self-esteem (Elder & Conger, 2000). Religiousness has also been associated with reduced externalizing and delinquent behavior (Benda & Corwyn, 1997;Blakeney & Blakeney, 2006;Elder & Conger, 2000;Elifson, Peterson, & Hadaway, 1983) and internalizing behavior (Smith & Denton, 2005).​

​

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272160282_Soul_Searching_The_Religious_and_Spiritual_Lives_of_American_Teenagers

 

[Altfish]

Neither side has objective evidence, therefore neither can accurately make a true claim about their existence.

Since you bring the word "real" into the mix, can you prove to me that anything in transactional reality is "real?"

So, I have to believe that Fairies, The Loch Ness Monster and Yetis exist ?
How do you prove something doesn't exist? What about Russell's teapot, does that exist?

Real, as opposed to fictional.

 

[Altfish]

What about the religions that don't have gods?

Well those are like philosophies, ways of living your life. I am presuming you mean the likes of Buddhism and Jainism