Is Religion A Mental Illness?

[Jerusalem and Damascus]

Funny thing about the Aztec religion -- despite all the blood and pomp, the Aztec faith was surprisingly strict, possibly even surpassing Abrahamic religions, with strictures against alcohol and certain behaviours and none of the payoff, either. When you went to Aztec Heaven... Well, you had to walk through a forest of flag poles for several years while they whacked you repeatedly, and when you got past that you went to a dark and gloomy place that was no fun at all.

.....That sounds absolutely miserable.

And now you know why Aztec warfare was more about capturing the enemy army than killing them.

[Al-Harakut al-Islami]

Good evening, NSG, just thought I'd pop in and--
*sees thread*
--you people scare me sometimes.

I, for one, do not believe that religion is irrational. However, if you do, you cannot argue that simply believing in an opposing point of view makes you mentally unstable.
Difference of opinion is part of the human condition. What honest Capitalist would seriously argue that all intellectually-convinced Marxists are mentally unstable, or vice versa?
Naturally, you believe that the other side is incorrect. Hell, you can believe that the other side is irrational. However, you will not be taken seriously if you argue that every thinking person has to see things your way, or else is not a thinking person.

[NERVUN]

Except that's not even close to what I said.

As I noted, Americans don't make up the majority of religious, or even Christians, on the planet. So while 40% of Americans may believe something, that doesn't exactly translate into the majority of theists, or Christians, believe something.

Even if we are Americans.

Well, I don't know much about the other near-300 countries on this planet's rates of creationists. I assumed that the size of the US and it's extremely high amounts of Technology could say a little something, not be a supreme truth on religion. If it bothers you that much then take it up with your local congressman and see if he cares.

This is a debate board, if you make a silly argument, you will get called out on it.

Welcome to NSG.

[Norstal]

Good evening, NSG, just thought I'd pop in and--
*sees thread*
--you people scare me sometimes.

I, for one, do not believe that religion is irrational. However, if you do, you cannot argue that simply believing in an opposing point of view makes you mentally unstable.
Difference of opinion is part of the human condition. What honest Capitalist would seriously argue that all intellectually-convinced Marxists are mentally unstable, or vice versa?
Naturally, you believe that the other side is incorrect. Hell, you can believe that the other side is irrational. However, you will not be taken seriously if you argue that every thinking person has to see things your way, or else is not a thinking person.

Mental illness != irrationality. People really need to stop equating the two. This is the very reason why the OP made this thread.

[Anti-Obamaland]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

[Wikkiwallana]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

On what basis?

[Bottle]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

On what basis?

Guessing he's just working up to a suicide by mod, given his other thread lock.

[The Cummunist State]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

I agree. Not believing religion exists is a me--oh, you meant not believing the claims of one. yeah no, neither religion nor Atheism are mental illnesses.

[The Left-Libertarian Hippies]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

Which religion? 0.o

[Norstal]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

U mad bro?

[Evraim]

.....That sounds absolutely miserable.

And now you know why Aztec warfare was more about capturing the enemy army than killing them.

The Aztec religion is very interesting. The afterlife was supposed to be neutral if I'm not mistaken. It was based on naturally occuring underground systems of tunnels and that sort of thing. I thought it was considered an honor to be sacrificed to the Aztec deities. After all, blood kept the sun going and put off the inevitable apocalypse.

[Anti-Obamaland]

Not believing in religion is mental illness.

On what basis?

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

[The Left-Libertarian Hippies]

On what basis?

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

It was just because your post was redundant...not because anyone was attacking your views.

[The Cummunist State]

On what basis?

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

Physics =/= forums

[Frisbeeteria]

On what basis?

Guessing he's just working up to a suicide by mod, given his other thread lock.

He's allowed his opinion, and this is the obvious thread for that argument since the various copycat threads have been locked. Nobody is looking at forcing Anti-Obamaland into a suicide-by-mod.

[Samuraikoku]

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

I still don't see how that is related to mental illness.

[Anti-Obamaland]

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

It was just because your post was redundant...not because anyone was attacking your views.

Show me where there is another thread about what I posted....I am waiting.

[Tlaceceyaya]

On what basis?

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

Because the atheists usually make threads first. Two threads on similar topics aren't usually necessary.

[Evraim]

On what basis?

Guessing he's just working up to a suicide by mod, given his other thread lock.

It isn't really any more suicidal than the introductory post, is it?

Of course, it is wrong...

[Wikkiwallana]

On what basis?

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement.

Doesn't answer my question.

We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

Maybe because the OP made it clear that his opinion was just that, an opinion, yet you keep trying to state these things as fact? Maybe because he offered meat, even if just a scrap of it, and you are passing out bland generalities and insults?

[Samuraikoku]

Show me where there is another thread about what I posted....I am waiting.

Show me how "they locked my thread" is an argument to say "atheism is a mental illness".

[Norstal]

For every action there is a reaction or antithesis of a statement. We have a humongous thread bashing religion, yet when anything supporting religion or detracting of atheism pops up BOOM lock down.

I still don't see how that is related to mental illness.

He mad.

Everyone just ignore them and they'll go away.

[Wikkiwallana]

It was just because your post was redundant...not because anyone was attacking your views.

Show me where there is another thread about what I posted....I am waiting.

Thread? You're posting in it.

[Milennias]

Did the same guy who made the one about atheism being a mental illness also create this thread?

[Samuraikoku]

I still don't see how that is related to mental illness.

He mad.

Everyone just ignore them and they'll go away.

He's ignoring me.

Well, two can play that game. *shifty look*