Grimly Fiendish

Humanism is covert religion and cannot be considered a practical philosophy.

Buddhism, owning no belief in an Ideal self and requiring no gods, has my approval.

Respectfully,

Grimly Fiendish.

Grimly Fiendish

Should they wish to live in an enclosed community then I would let them be. As things stand religious and superstitious belief stalks the world like an existential plague, poisoning ethics, ontology and epistemology with it's toxins of irrationality. Religious and superstitious belief enslaves our children and erodes civilisation by attacking the virtues of reason and compassion. While religious and superstitious beliefs are promoted so should they be actively opposed by those who love civilisation and are dedicated to their fellow man and the future of their children.

Respectfully,

Grimly Fiendish.

Grimly Fiendish

Religious and superstitious belief is antifreedom, antihuman and anticivilisation.

Religious and superstitious belief is cultural junk. We are best rid of it.

Respectfully,

Grimly Fiendish.

shome42

Here's the problem-- you're interchanging "religion" and "God."

I feel the same way as you about "God." If someone wants to talk to their imaginary friend because it gives them comfort, then I see nothing wrong with that.

However, God does not equal religion. Religion is the problem, and it's also superflous if you're saying that people should turn to spirituality for comfort.

The problem with religion is that 1) it always turns into some sort of a political force and 2) that political force is either being directed by ancient dogma or men who claim to be the voice of God.

How can we expect to advance as a civilization when huge chunks of voters make decisions according to their ancient holy book of choice? When leaders are controling this voting chunk by saying it's "God's will." When religion teaches people to not think?

Religion is about control, plain and simple. Religion is a tool used by leaders. Deism or some other pure, personal belief is more beneficial for people's emotional health than any religion.

Rational BAC

I think "religion" in the sense of organized dogmatic religion is in serious decline, especially among the younger generation.

People are trying to find their own individual metaphysical way.

Actually these are very good times for atheists. Tolerance of divurgent opinions is readily accepted these days as compared to yesteryear.

Harumi

Get your facts straight. I am a young woman.

Harumi

I fail to see the difference. For many of my Christian friends, God is their religion. They do not care about the dogma that the church their family goes to espouses. I fail to see the harmfulness of such a belief.

True, there are many religions out there that are about control, but to try and destroy them, and using such a term, will, in the end, only alienate more religious people and make them turn further back into religion.

I espouse understanding, tolerance, and compassion. I have no intention of destroying anything. This type of talk is precisely what makes liberals hate atheists so much. It is this type of talk that has made my liberal Christian friends look at me sideways.

I am an atheist, and that is all I am. I don't feel the need to destroy any religion. I don't want to. Do I particularly like Christianity? No. But that doesn't give me the right to try and take it away from people, just as it doesn't give Christians the right to knock on our doorsteps and shove bible quotes in our faces.

To try and destroy religion like Grimly Fiendish suggests is like a Christian trying to spread his faith by knocking on doors. I see no difference. Both assume that the other side is wrong, and I find that disrespectful.

But enough of this. I have other things to worry about, such as school, and classes. I'm dropping out of this thread.

Harumi, over and out.

Grimly Fiendish

How pleasant for you.

Respectfully,

Grimly Fiendish.

SlateGreySky

"What can cause the death of Christianity?"

What a ridiculously presumptuous and melodramatic question.

I have an equally ridiculous and melodramatic one in response: what could possibly cause the "death" of any of your own belief-forming structures (be they linguistic, cognitive, or behavioral)?

Answer my question, and you'll have the answer to yours.

andy_d

How, exactly, does making others conform to your views make them free?