Should Religion be banned?

[ThisShouldMakeSense]

In view of recent developments in the world and the crisis facing the Muslim religion in particular, do you think that religion should be banned?
Do you think that it can be controlled?

Of course people’s thoughts and beliefs cannot be controlled, but do you think there will come the time when the governments of this world will get together say, ‘You know what? The one thing, the one thing that is causing the most problems and the most fear, is religion. So what we ought to do is control it, or ban it.’

Would the world be a better place with one religious belief system or none at all?

 

[BucephalusBB]

Nah, human kind will make something else up to fight about. borders, football, skincolor... you pick..

 

[Scuba Pete]

Religion is not the problem. They would find OTHER reasons to kill each other in the absense of religion.

 

[mormonman]

In view of recent developments in the world and the crisis facing the Muslim religion in particular, do you think that religion should be banned?
Do you think that it can be controlled?

Of course people’s thoughts and beliefs cannot be controlled, but do you think there will come the time when the governments of this world will get together say, ‘You know what? The one thing, the one thing that is causing the most problems and the most fear, is religion. So what we ought to do is control it, or ban it.’

Would the world be a better place with one religious belief system or none at all?

Of course not. I don't know much about the Muslim religion, but I don't think it tells them to blow themselves up. There is a minority in that religion that use it to commit hanous acts. W/o religion in general...I don't even want to think what could happen.

 

[ThisShouldMakeSense]

I was just watching the news and it's as if the world has gone mad over those drawings! how long will they go on protesting? how far will they go?

 

[BucephalusBB]

I was just watching the news and it's as if the world has gone mad over those drawings! how long will they go on protesting? how far will they go?

Too far, just like with most protests..

 

[St0ne]

No, there are reasonable and peaceful religions out there.

 

[Mike182]

simply, no, i do not think that will solve anything

my religion and spirituality is the most important thing to me, i would give up my right to live before i gave up my right to believe

 

[ThisShouldMakeSense]

No, there are reasonable and peaceful religions out there.

One would say that Islam is a peaceful religion, yet there are so many Muslims who are currently involved in these riots. So should all the potentially dangerous ones be controlled? Not possible is it really? So must the rest of the world live in constant fear of upsetting an other religion and walk on eggshells or should the offended religion be more mature about it and turn the other cheek as it were. In the Bible, God says that vengeance belongs to him. Not sure what the Koran says it, but wouldn't it be better if they left that to God, rather take things into their own hands?

 

[James the Persian]

One would say that Islam is a peaceful religion, yet there are so many Muslims who are currently involved in these riots. So should all the potentially dangerous ones be controlled? Not possible is it really? So must the rest of the world live in constant fear of upsetting an other religion and walk on eggshells or should the offended religion be more mature about it and turn the other cheek as it were. In the Bible, God says that vengeance belongs to him. Not sure what the Koran says it, but wouldn't it be better if they left that to God, rather take things into their own hands?

You can't offend a religion, only a person who follows a religion. This really is the weak point in your whole string of posts. You seem unable to distinguish between the teachings of a religion and the actions of its followers. We certainly should be coming down hard on those who use their religion (or anything else) as an excuse for violence etc. but banning religions is nonsense. It's not religion that is dangerous but any ideology (just look at communism for an atheist ideology equally abused) that is fervently held to by fanatics willing to use it as an excuse for their evil actions. The common factor here is the fanatics committing the violent acts not the religiosity or otherwise of the ideology they adhere to.

James

 

[Green Gaia]

Well I should hope not! What else then would we talk about all day!

 

[St0ne]

yeah i think if it is understood properly islam is a mostly peaceful religion. i just posted a new thread about it though.

 

[Darkdale]

Nah, human kind will make something else up to fight about. borders, football, skincolor... you pick..

Philosophy & Politcs. You can't ban ideas.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I think religion is not to blame, its the people who sometimes lead a division of it. I'll admit I have to keep reminding myself Islam isn't causing the deaths, its the corrupt leaders that have brainwashed thier followers. Just like The Crusades weren't caused by Christianity, it was caused by curropted, greedy leaders. People can easily twist something others hold dear, and use it to thier advantage to further thier own agendas.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Even if you could ban Religion, which I doubt.
There is no way to ban Faith.

Terry_________________________
Blessed are the merciful, mercy shall be shown unto them.

 

[linwood]

In view of recent developments in the world and the crisis facing the Muslim religion in particular, do you think that religion should be banned?
Do you think that it can be controlled?

I don`t think religion should be banned.
It would be hypocritical of those who uphold freedom of belief to do so.

It can be controlled but it can only be controlled from within.

Critical thinking needs to be held up in as laudable a way as religious belief is now and one or the other will eventually lose ground.
Thats how it should be addressed

Would the world be a better place with one religious belief system or none at all?

In order to have only "one" belief systme the systme itself would have to oppress other beliefs which is unacceptable.

Yes, I believe the world would be a far better place with no religious belief resting upon ancient fairy tales.

 

[Smoke]

In view of recent developments in the world and the crisis facing the Muslim religion in particular, do you think that religion should be banned?

No. First, I think coercion is the wrong way to go about things. Second, I don't think anybody has ever been very successful at banning any religion unless he was prepared to slaughter all the believers wholesale. When you close churches and imprison clergy, you just make heroes of them. It's not just barbaric, it's counter-productive as well.

On the other hand, I do think religious organizations should pay property taxes and corporate income taxes unless they can show that a substantial portion of their income -- 15%, maybe -- is spent on projects that benefit the community in some objective way. By that I don't mean passing out tracts or setting up daycare centers for members of the congregation, I mean literacy programs, feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, job skills training, and other such projects for the benefit of people other than members of the congregation or people who attend services. (That is, if you require people to attend religious services in order to gain shelter, it doesn't count.) Most religious organizations care deeply about the bottom line, and this would be an effective way of getting them to serve some useful purpose in society.

 

[Bangbang]

I think that OIL should be banned.

 

[Smoke]

I think that OIL should be banned.

As long as you don't mean cooking oil, I'm with you.

 

[mr.guy]

I think that OIL should be banned.

Careful!
Netdoc might see this and rise to the challenge of defending the "believers" of oil;
perhaps even if it means defending his nemesis shrub!

Anyways, one way or another, you'll eventually get your wish.