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Is religion bad for society?「Yes or No」
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:36 amby Sanghyeok
Religion is one of the most influential parts of our society today: it impacts our morals, our beliefs, our actions, and who we associate with or refuse to associate with. It has changed how nations rise and fall, how science is developed, and religious institutions have also been responsible for some of the most impactful changes in history. However, there are also many people who oppose religion. While those arguing religion has had a net positive talk about morality such as compassion, empathy, giving people strength, and teaching people to be kind. They also note religion helps people accept the unknown and the failures of the world. Meanwhile, those against religion bring up its long oppression of certain groups, its existence as a root of conflict, accept injustice, and has too great an influence on government. They also say religion can lead to people failing to ask critical questions, too rigid, and can prevent progress of humanity.
Therefore, I wanted to ask you the question: is religion good, bad, or neither for human society? I believe that religion itself is mostly neutral since it has many positive and negative aspects, but that religious institutions have the potential to be negative just like any other hierarchy. But that is just my opinion, and you are free to discuss below.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:39 amby Atheris
Religion isn't good or bad. The ideas themselves have no bearing. What can be classified as "good or bad" for society, depending on your viewpoint, is institutionalized religion.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:39 amby Sanghyeok
Atheris wrote:Religion isn't good or bad. The ideas themselves have no bearing. What can be classified as "good or bad" for society, depending on your viewpoint, is
institutionalized religion.
I think we agree there. But then, what do you think about institutional religion?
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:39 amby Langenia
I am simply voicing my opinion, not criticizing the views of others. Being fervently Catholic, I see that religion provides a light in my life that guides me, provides me with morals, assures me of what comes after death, etc. Religion, to me, is a necessity in my life, and I see it like this for all society.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:40 amby Baloo Kingdom
Langenia wrote:I am simply voicing my opinion, not criticizing the views of others. Being fervently Catholic, I see that religion provides a light in my life that guides me, provides me with morals, assures me of what comes after death, etc. Religion, to me, is a necessity in my life, and I see it like this for all society.
I agree, I use religion as my set of morals, and so I would say that religion would be good for society, at least regarding me.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:41 amby Atheris
Sanghyeok wrote:Atheris wrote:Religion isn't good or bad. The ideas themselves have no bearing. What can be classified as "good or bad" for society, depending on your viewpoint, is
institutionalized religion.
I think we agree there. But then, what do you think about institutional religion?
I'm personally not a huge fan of institutional religion, myself, but it all comes down to its leaders. The Catholic Church, for example, I have very mixed views on; in some cases, it's genuinely helpful to the world as a whole. In other cases, though, it's corrupt to the core and pretty detrimental. I'm very religious myself, but as a whole I don't see the good in heavily institutional religion.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:41 amby Sanghyeok
Langenia wrote:I am simply voicing my opinion, not criticizing the views of others. Being fervently Catholic, I see that religion provides a light in my life that guides me, provides me with morals, assures me of what comes after death, etc. Religion, to me, is a necessity in my life, and I see it like this for all society.
But, would you consider religion's morals to be either positive or negative? What if two people cannot agree on the same morals, for example.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:42 amby Xykonero
Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear, conflict and intolerance, and yet they expect us to be tolerant towards them. Not a chance in my book.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:42 amby Atheris
Sanghyeok wrote:Langenia wrote:I am simply voicing my opinion, not criticizing the views of others. Being fervently Catholic, I see that religion provides a light in my life that guides me, provides me with morals, assures me of what comes after death, etc. Religion, to me, is a necessity in my life, and I see it like this for all society.
But, would you consider religion's morals to be either positive or negative? What if two people cannot agree on the same morals, for example.
I think the morals of religion in general is ultimately positive.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:42 amby Barlyy
Even though I am an atheist, I don't think it negatively impacts society. That is as long as it doesn't intervene with the government.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:42 amby Baloo Kingdom
Xykonero wrote:Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear and conflict.
I don't know how to reply to this
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:43 amby Langenia
Baloo Kingdom wrote:Xykonero wrote:Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear and conflict.
I don't know how to reply to this
Same.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:43 amby Phaenix
Religion is neither good nor bad. Its worshippers are what truly matters. For example, in the town my dad grew up in, there were two main churches. Both Baptist. The preacher at one was all fire and brimstone, and actually called his followers to beat the ever loving shit out of the local Muslims. The other had a preacher who helped bring the community together, regardless of belief. Granted, he kept trying to convert people, but at least he didn't persecute them.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:44 amby Atheris
Barlyy wrote:Even though I am an atheist, I don't think it negatively impacts society. That is as long as it doesn't intervene with the government.
Same here, as someone who's pretty fevrently religious.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:44 amby Sanghyeok
Xykonero wrote:Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear and conflict.
While we may share some ideas in other areas, I cannot agree with that.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:45 amby Barlyy
Xykonero wrote:Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear and conflict.
I don't think I can agree with that.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:45 amby Vazkin
I mean, as a Catholic, it is pretty obvious to me how religion has had major influences on society. This is mostly notable in what we consider moral by todays standards. I think that there is always room to improve but for the most part I don't think religion has been bad. It has its bad side but we are working everyday to get rid of that and to focus on the good.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:46 amby Sanghyeok
Vazkin wrote:I mean, as a Catholic, it is pretty obvious to me how religion has had major influences on society. This is mostly notable in what we consider moral by todays standards. I think that there is always room to improve but for the most part I don't think religion has been bad. It has its bad side but we are working everyday to get rid of that and to focus on the good.
I see many people are bringing their own religion as an example. If I may, I want everyone to consider how they see not their own religions only, but also other religions.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:47 amby Disgraces
No. What's bad is people trying to force their religion on others. And atheist redditors.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:47 amby Phaenix
Xykonero wrote:Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear and conflict.
Any arguments for your cause? I think you're absolutely wrong, but try and convince me.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:47 amby Sanghyeok
Disgraces wrote:No. What's bad is people trying to force their religion on others. And atheist redditors.
What's wrong with atheism?
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:48 amby Xykonero
Xykonero wrote:Religion is disgusting irrational brainwashing that causes nothing but fear, conflict and intolerance, and yet they expect
us to be tolerant towards them. Not a chance in my book.
This is a valid point though.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:48 amby Atheris
Sanghyeok wrote:Vazkin wrote:I mean, as a Catholic, it is pretty obvious to me how religion has had major influences on society. This is mostly notable in what we consider moral by todays standards. I think that there is always room to improve but for the most part I don't think religion has been bad. It has its bad side but we are working everyday to get rid of that and to focus on the good.
I see many people are bringing their own religion as an example. If I may, I want everyone to consider how they see not their own religions only, but also other religions.
I'm a Lutheran Protestant. My point of view? "As long as you believe in the Father, I don't really care. If you don't believe in the Father, I hope you eventually do, but I won't force it on you".
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:48 amby Phaenix
Sanghyeok wrote:Disgraces wrote:No. What's bad is people trying to force their religion on others. And atheist redditors.
What's wrong with atheism?
Atheist Redditors are incredibly toxic. They're nothing like atheists you meet in real life.
Posted:
Wed Oct 21, 2020 11:49 amby Disgraces
Sanghyeok wrote:Disgraces wrote:No. What's bad is people trying to force their religion on others. And atheist redditors.
What's wrong with atheism?
Phaenix wrote:Sanghyeok wrote:What's wrong with atheism?
Atheist Redditors are incredibly toxic. They're nothing like atheists you meet in real life.