Religion and (in)tolerance...
By MJay101
@MJay101 (710)
December 9, 2009 4:10am CST
So here's a controversial question.
I've posted on a few threads in 'religion'. In one, I was pointed in the direction of a link to an article catchily entitled: 'Evolutionist Admits Godless View Of Our Origins May Be Harmful If Taught; But, Of Course, Has No Idea What To Do About This' (don't give up the day job, eh?).
http://www.theamericanview.com/index.php?id=206
The author communicates such inspirational truths as: "... because you're an unbeliever, you have no real answer as to why rape is wrong." 
But the point of the thread is to discuss:
[i]"This may surprise you, but I actually think religion has a good effect on people because it has been the way that generation after generation has passed down moral codes."
"But I'm not talking about just "religion." I'm not a religionist. I don't believe "religion" saves anybody. "Religion" is something people babble about and praise when they don't know what they are talking about. "Religion" isn't, necessarily, good or bad. It depends on whether you're talking about a true or false religion."[/i]
Question to the religious: are you quite this belligerent about your own faith? Do you hold on to the one ultimate answer to the one ultimate question, or are you willing to hear alternative viewpoints? Are atheists and agnostics the lowest of the low, or is it rival religionists?
Question to the non-religious: do you accept that your moral compass is absent, due to your lack of faith in one (or some / many / lots) of the ultimate answers to the bewildering array of ultimate questions? Or, like me, do you think this guy is a w4nker? 
But the point of the thread is to discuss:
[i]"This may surprise you, but I actually think religion has a good effect on people because it has been the way that generation after generation has passed down moral codes."
"But I'm not talking about just "religion." I'm not a religionist. I don't believe "religion" saves anybody. "Religion" is something people babble about and praise when they don't know what they are talking about. "Religion" isn't, necessarily, good or bad. It depends on whether you're talking about a true or false religion."[/i]
Question to the religious: are you quite this belligerent about your own faith? Do you hold on to the one ultimate answer to the one ultimate question, or are you willing to hear alternative viewpoints? Are atheists and agnostics the lowest of the low, or is it rival religionists?
Question to the non-religious: do you accept that your moral compass is absent, due to your lack of faith in one (or some / many / lots) of the ultimate answers to the bewildering array of ultimate questions? Or, like me, do you think this guy is a w4nker? 2 responses
@terrile (97)
• United States
10 Dec 09
When I am asked this question I respond 'When I gave up god I lost my moral compass and began raping (despite the lack of proper equipment)pilaging and murdering like a wild banshee on a bad acid trip. I cheat on my husband AND my taxes, poke my children with a sharp stick and run into old ladies with my grocery cart.' Really...what do they expect to hear? It is ridiculous to think that moral judgement comes from either the bible or religion. Browsed the bible lately? Watched any news coverage of the middle-east? Morals come from thousand of years of living in a social society. Those who behave badly are punished, shunned or eliminated. While belief in a personal god is genarally benign, religion is definately either good or bad depending on the dogma. buddhism and jainism...good (maybe not good..but not bad). Radical christianity and radical islam.... very bad. And what the hell does he mean by a true or false religion? The real problem with religion is that it clouds our judgement of what is real in the world and what we should do about it. This guy is a w4nker.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
9 Dec 09
Hi mjay, with you on the malaka bit. Just what are us godless creatures meant to be doing which is so immoral, rehetorical question ONLY. I'm sick of people pointing out that I don't really think what I think on this matter so prove it. End of. I'm an intelligent person with my own mind and don't need to follow the pack or justify myself. I'm law abiding to so. Some of the extremism on here is blinkered to say the least.
1 person likes this
@MJay101 (710)
•
10 Dec 09
Thanks for your response, thea09.
It really is quite insanely illogical to suggest that people who are not religious - or a specific brand of religious - must necessarily be lacking a moral compass.
Someone posted on another thread, suggesting that whether we declared our belief in God or not, it was nevertheless God inside us that did all the good in our lives. Of course, he has nothing to do with any of the "sin".
What utter nonsense!
(I think "blinkered" is understatement of the year, but I agree... 
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