[ARCHIVED DEBATE] A Civilized Debate on Religion

[Czechanada]

While I personally do not care if someone believes in a god, there are legitimate theoretical criticisms of religion to be had, such as it being an ideological state apparatus.

[Michijo]

While I personally do not care if someone believes in a god, there are legitimate theoretical criticisms of religion to be had, such as it being an ideological state apparatus.

Or an idealogical anti-state apparatus. One thing is certain, I am convinced from discussions of religion that humans are all "mentally ill" or crazy, and that even atheists are crazy, and that our tenuous hold on normality and sanity are all an illusion that we hold onto to keep the fact that we are all barking mad out of our minds. In fact, there is probably no such thing as a sentient god in the universe that has self awareness. But this is actually a side issue. The central issue of all religious discussions should be whether or not we are all barking mad.

[Libertarian California]

Religion already gets more respect than it deserves. No one has a problem talking trash about Nazism or Communism when they disagree with those ideologies, so why should we not talk trash about religions? Religions can be just as dangerous as political ideologies, and they should be subject to the same kind of criticism.

You're seriously comparing all Religion to Nazism or Communism?

On what intellectual grounds do you do that?

On the intellectual grounds that Christians and Muslims have set up theocracies just as authoritarian as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union.

[Sun Wukong]

Religion already gets more respect than it deserves. No one has a problem talking trash about Nazism or Communism when they disagree with those ideologies, so why should we not talk trash about religions? Religions can be just as dangerous as political ideologies, and they should be subject to the same kind of criticism.

You're seriously comparing all Religion to Nazism or Communism?

On what intellectual grounds do you do that?

I believe she is comparing all religion to ideologies. Which is accurate.

That's a great way of indignantly missing the point, though.

[Edlichbury]

There was no flood.

Are you a not Christian or just stupid.

The flood as described is impossible, no evidence accounts for a worldwide flood, even most Christians doubt the literalism of the flood.

[Sinal Ornit]

The amount of 'yes' in the poll is disappointing to say the least.

[Deusaeuri]

The amount of 'yes' in the poll is disappointing to say the least.

Are people not entitled to their faith?

[The Rich Port]

The amount of 'yes' in the poll is disappointing to say the least.

Are people not entitled to their faith?

No.

[Jetan]

The amount of 'yes' in the poll is disappointing to say the least.

Are people not entitled to their faith?

Someone having the right to do/think/believe/etc. something does not mean it's not dissapointing if they do.

[Tyriece]

To me, only the last 3 poll options seem reasonable. With everything considered (and I mean EVERYTHING) I have no idea of there is any such thing as gods, maybe there is maybe there is not, how ever in this moment right now that we all live in, it really does not matter. Think about it, what would change? You sure would look at life different if we had an answer we all agreed on, but that's about it.

Facts, my dear friend Tyriece. There is only one correct answer.

I know, and I picked it.

[Tyriece]

The amount of 'yes' in the poll is disappointing to say the least.

Ha, if you think that's bad look at the number that picked they don't know.

[European Socialist Republic]

While I personally do not care if someone believes in a god, there are legitimate theoretical criticisms of religion to be had, such as it being an ideological state apparatus.

Weren't you Ayatollah Khomeini about a month ago?

[Monkeykind]

The amount of 'yes' in the poll is disappointing to say the least.

Ha, if you think that's bad look at the number that picked they don't know.

8%?!
That's just...
I don't even know what to say...

[Rapidblaze]

does God exist? personally, perhaps one might.
whether it means i should worship or perform rituals for one, no because a God doesn't necessarily mean good or evil, but just a creator.

[Conscentia]

While I personally do not care if someone believes in a god, there are legitimate theoretical criticisms of religion to be had, such as it being an ideological state apparatus.

Weren't you Ayatollah Khomeini about a month ago?

He was a Devil's Advocate.

[Sun Wukong]

does God exist? personally, perhaps one might.
whether it means i should worship or perform rituals for one, no because a God doesn't necessarily mean good or evil, but just a creator.

Besides which, no God deserving of worship would require it.

[Conscentia]

To me, only the last 3 poll options seem reasonable. With everything considered (and I mean EVERYTHING) I have no idea of there is any such thing as gods, maybe there is maybe there is not, how ever in this moment right now that we all live in, it really does not matter. Think about it, what would change? You sure would look at life different if we had an answer we all agreed on, but that's about it.

A lot of "gods" tends to give the humans commandments to live by.

[Chaunceys]

To me, only the last 3 poll options seem reasonable. With everything considered (and I mean EVERYTHING) I have no idea of there is any such thing as gods, maybe there is maybe there is not, how ever in this moment right now that we all live in, it really does not matter. Think about it, what would change? You sure would look at life different if we had an answer we all agreed on, but that's about it.

A lot of "gods" tends to give the humans commandments to live by.

Yep

[Vissegaard]

Besides which, no God deserving of worship would require it.

Why? I think he loves to give his enormous ego a massage. And IMO, the whole concept of "deserving" something is downright wrong. God is many things, but definitely not a moralist, who neeeds to justify his or someone else´s deeds. After all, I consider him amoral and careless about "justice", which has no meaning in his omniscientific, eg. holistic perception of reality.

[Jetan]

Weren't you Ayatollah Khomeini about a month ago?

He was a Devil's Advocate.

Or that's his story anyway.

[Conscentia]

Besides which, no God deserving of worship would require it.

Why? I think he loves to give his enormous ego a massage.

Sun Wukong does not consider a "God" with an enormous ego to be deserving of worship.

And IMO, the whole concept of "deserving" something is downright wrong. God is many things, but definitely not a moralist, who neeeds to justify his or someone else´s deeds. After all, I consider him amoral and careless about "justice", which has no meaning in his omniscientific, eg. holistic perception of reality.

What?

[Big Jim P]

To me, only the last 3 poll options seem reasonable. With everything considered (and I mean EVERYTHING) I have no idea of there is any such thing as gods, maybe there is maybe there is not, how ever in this moment right now that we all live in, it really does not matter. Think about it, what would change? You sure would look at life different if we had an answer we all agreed on, but that's about it.

A lot of "gods" tends to give the humans commandments to live by.

Which, by some remarkable coincidence, supports the priesthoods and enslaves the common man.

[Vissegaard]

Why? I think he loves to give his enormous ego a massage.

Sun Wukong does not consider a "God" with an enormous ego to be deserving of worship.

And IMO, the whole concept of "deserving" something is downright wrong. God is many things, but definitely not a moralist, who neeeds to justify his or someone else´s deeds. After all, I consider him amoral and careless about "justice", which has no meaning in his omniscientific, eg. holistic perception of reality.

What?

I say that God is an amoral guy, who has no problem with being the nastiest being of the universe. Or with being most kind. We cannnot understand his ways...

[Tyriece]

Btw which god are we talking about? That would be helpful

[Thafoo]

Does god exist?

Can you provide to me a concise definition of what "god" is, what religion the god's from, etc? Because, until then, I can't decide whether I know if such a being exists or not.