Religion, Good or Bad?

[America Libertaria]

Picking and choosing the bible is hypocritical (1). So is interpreting some verses literally and some symbolically (2). And by that I am directing to Christians (3). Agnostics dog follow a religion, they are unsure in their beliefs. And Buddhism is the only religion that can realistically say is one of peace (4).

1) Not to anyone with an understanding of the Bible.
2) Not to anyone with an understanding of history.
3) Err...Okay? Seems like this 'criticism' would remain for Jews, Muslims, and any other religion with a holy book.
4) You point to the crusades as example of Christian wars, then ignore Buddhist ones?
You're a funny guy.

1. "Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)

2. Um... what?

3. It does. I merely said it was directed at Christians because it involved only Buddhists, Gnostics, and Christians.

4. Wars committed by nations with Buddhist majority do not follow the ideals of Buddhism. There is no Buddhist scripture that persists wars against other religions, etc.

[Occupied Deutschland]

You say this, but it appears you don't have a wide grasp of Christian relations to Old Testament Law.
To remedy this, I would advise skimming over Galatians.

"the scripture cannot be broken.” --Jesus Christ, John 10:35

"It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid." (Luke 16:17 NAB)

"Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)

I think I have a healthy understanding.

Speaking on the first one only, you (or wherever you may have gotten that quote from) are quite selectively editing out important context that changes the meaning quite drastically from what you think it is saying.

[America Libertaria]

"the scripture cannot be broken.” --Jesus Christ, John 10:35

"It is easier for Heaven and Earth to pass away than for the smallest part of the letter of the law to become invalid." (Luke 16:17 NAB)

"Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)

I think I have a healthy understanding.

You're Wrong. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Is there a special language or message that I'm missing in those verse? They're pretty clear to me.

[Neoconstantius]

The Christian religion has been utilized to enslave peoples judged as primitive or inferior based upon their lack of Christian faith. The algebraic invention by Islam, grand ships by the Chinese realm, and the weaponry of East Asia were all fabricated by the practitioners who self-imposed rule over the world.

Christianity is collapsing temporarily. It was gone in the Soviet Union, but now it has made an all powerful comeback.

The same will happen as Christianity dies off in America. The oppressors will return to oppressing the world, and whatever progress they think they have made will be reverted to moralism. Faith in the social religion has become too dependent upon religion in America.

It will end in tragedy.

Oooh, ominous.

[Espionic Province]

It isn't bad, it works for some and doesn't work for others. It isn't the opposite of science or logic. It shouldn't be involved in politics.

[Irredento]

OP, I think you made a mistake. Don't you mean good, bad, or ★E★U★P★H★O★R★I★C★?

[Menassa]

You're Wrong. You have no idea what you're talking about.

Is there a special language or message that I'm missing in those verse? They're pretty clear to me.

Yes, context....

[Sun Wukong]

It isn't bad, it works for some and doesn't work for others. It isn't the opposite of science or logic. It shouldn't be involved in politics.

Religion may not be the opposite of science. Faith however literally is.

[Melania Dunamis]

Oooh, ominous.

Indeed, it is. A religion once persecuted to the brink of extinction became the majority again.



America isnt an exceptional nation from what Ive learned.

[Sun Wukong]

The Christian religion has been utilized to enslave peoples judged as primitive or inferior based upon their lack of Christian faith. The algebraic invention by Islam, grand ships by the Chinese realm, and the weaponry of East Asia were all fabricated by the practitioners who self-imposed rule over the world.¹

Christianity is collapsing temporarily. It was gone in the Soviet Union, but now it has made an all powerful comeback.²

The same will happen as Christianity dies off in America. The oppressors will return to oppressing the world, and whatever progress they think they have made will be reverted to moralism. Faith in the social religion has become too dependent upon religion in America.³

It will end in tragedy.⁴

1. Uhh... no. The first part is right but the rest... it makes you look silly. I'm all for credit where it is due. I'm often the first person to point out technological innovations from the Islamic world (not from Islam) but your approach is over-strenuous and exaggerated. For one thing European ships weren't based on Chinese designs. At all.
2. Christianity was never gone in the Soviet Union.
3. I think you intended this to mean something but it doesn't. It's gibberish.
4. Oh the huge manatee.

[Agripa Resurgent]

Religion as a whole: Good.

Religion, like any other idea can be used to manipulate others. However, to say that it is what makes the world bad, or worse, is absurd. Look at countries that had state-sponsored atheism, or persecuted those who were religious. Does anyone here think that the Soviet Union, Mao's China or any of the other communist dictatorship's were "beacons of freedom and individual liberty?" Nada.

Also, the concept that religion holds backs science is equally unfounded. Religion preserved vast amounts of knowledge that would have been destroyed during the dark ages. It was the Islamic scholars who advanced mathematics and science in the Middle East. Religion does, however, ask that science maintain a degree of humanity, aka, don't clone humans, etc...

People have long tried to make religion the scape goat for all of the world's problems, but the least amount of investigating disproves that assertion.

[Southern Arkansas]

Religion, the most important thing in the world. Family second. Everything else not in the same ball park.

[Utceforp]

Religion as a whole: Good.

Religion, like any other idea can be used to manipulate others. However, to say that it is what makes the world bad, or worse, is absurd. Look at countries that had state-sponsored atheism, or persecuted those who were religious. Does anyone here think that the Soviet Union, Mao's China or any of the other communist dictatorship's were "beacons of freedom and individual liberty?" Nada.

Also, the concept that religion holds backs science is equally unfounded. Religion preserved vast amounts of knowledge that would have been destroyed during the dark ages. It was the Islamic scholars who advanced mathematics and science in the Middle East. Religion does, however, ask that science maintain a degree of humanity, aka, don't clone humans, etc...

People have long tried to make religion the scape goat for all of the world's problems, but the least amount of investigating disproves that assertion.

Westboro Baptist Church, the Middle East, and the fact that you think that cloning people is wrong for some reason are very good arguments for why religion holds back science.

[Sun Wukong]

Ugly.

[Empire of Narnia]

It is good. Religion gives people morals and a consistent set of beliefs. It also gives people a path to heaven.

[Utceforp]

It is good. Religion gives people morals and a consistent set of beliefs. It also gives people a path to heaven.

I'm not saying religion drives people to do evil, but given the amount of awful people who were religious, it's safe to say that religion doesn't prevent evil. And I'm gonna need some proof that Heaven exists if you're going to use it in an argument.

[Tribea]

If it where not for god you would not have been born.

I prefer to thank my parents for that.

I once said that without sex, you wouldnt be born irl. At age 11. Good times...

Anyway...
Religion set of beliefs in a higher power. Im a Christian(i believe in evolution, etc.). IDGAF about your belief.

[Roski]

Yes. By any historical source. Really, not hard to search.

Compared to the fifty million killed by Stalin, and the (probably) greater number killed by Mao? No combined religious total dead comes close to matching that, methinks.

Oh, the Crusades,
The mass slaughter of Jews before and during the Bubonic Plague, accepted by the church
The current wars between religion.

Oh and Mao followed a little known village religion in China, so take of those tallys

[Sun Wukong]

It is good. Religion gives people morals and a consistent set of beliefs. It also gives people a path to heaven.

No. Religious beliefs change with the times only more slowly. Just lagging enough behind to be anti-social (though arguably serving some function as a break.)

As for a path to heaven: I found that an easy alternative is to piss off hell until the demons write heaven an angry letter and they come to collect you. I'm also told Led Zeppelin has a stairway.

[Tribea]

Religion as a whole: Good.

Religion, like any other idea can be used to manipulate others. However, to say that it is what makes the world bad, or worse, is absurd. Look at countries that had state-sponsored atheism, or persecuted those who were religious. Does anyone here think that the Soviet Union, Mao's China or any of the other communist dictatorship's were "beacons of freedom and individual liberty?" Nada.

Also, the concept that religion holds backs science is equally unfounded. Religion preserved vast amounts of knowledge that would have been destroyed during the dark ages. It was the Islamic scholars who advanced mathematics and science in the Middle East. Religion does, however, ask that science maintain a degree of humanity, aka, don't clone humans, etc...

People have long tried to make religion the scape goat for all of the world's problems, but the least amount of investigating disproves that assertion.

Westboro Baptist Church, the Middle East, and the fact that you think that cloning people is wrong for some reason are very good arguments for why religion holds back science.

WBC sucks, the ME includes some countries(Egypt, Turkey)that domt suck, and cloninf humans brings Cthulu.

[Roski]

Religion within itself is not bad.


The people who practice the religions are what make them seem bad (or good).

Based off of what I know in history, the people practicing religion have done more harm than good, but at the same time, it challenged people to think. Many people wanted to bring down the Church.

And we thank these people for most of our scientific achievements to date

[Sun Wukong]

Religion within itself is not bad.


The people who practice the religions are what make them seem bad (or good).

Based off of what I know in history, the people practicing religion have done more harm than good, but at the same time, it challenged people to think. Many people wanted to bring down the Church.

And we thank these people for most of our scientific achievements to date

So you are saying that religion advanced science... by opposing science?

[Garrisoni]

Just because a portion of people are over zealous does not make religion bad,it simply means we will always have nuts.Religion is a gateway to Good and Evil.It matters only upon how you interprate it.

[Tribea]

1) Not to anyone with an understanding of the Bible.
2) Not to anyone with an understanding of history.
3) Err...Okay? Seems like this 'criticism' would remain for Jews, Muslims, and any other religion with a holy book.
4) You point to the crusades as example of Christian wars, then ignore Buddhist ones?
You're a funny guy.

1. "Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God." (2 Peter 20-21 NAB)

2. Um... what?

3. It does. I merely said it was directed at Christians because it involved only Buddhists, Gnostics, and Christians.

4. Wars committed by nations with Buddhist majority do not follow the ideals of Buddhism. There is no Buddhist scripture that persists wars against other religions, etc.

4: Same with Christianity, Islam, etc.

[Garrisoni]

Just because a portion of people are over zealous does not make religion bad,it simply means we will always have nuts.Religion is a gateway to Good and Evil.It matters only upon how you interprate it.