SecularFuture

Aradia
WHEN?! When is it okay for people to believe in Dr. Seuss over Dr. Gupta?

Religion drives most people. Most people do things, or refuse to do things, because of their religions. So yes - religion does interfere.

Aradia

Irrelevant. It's certainly ok for people to believe in a non-existent god, however, if that belief helps them through life with a minimum of emotional suffering.

I disagree. Most people do things, or refuse to do things, because of what *other people* tell them (pastors, priests, other followers, whatever). Of course, now we get back to that whole critical thinking thing. If people could think more critically, they could distinguish between the crap that a lot of "religious" people spew and the Real Thing(tm). They could distinguish between the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of Paul. They could distinguish between the idiocy of literal interpretation (coughgenesiscough) and that of metaphorical interpretation. And yet, religion itself could still exist... in a better form than it often does now.

Kassiana

For others of us, like me, who were raised in agnostic/atheist households, we believe because we rather like believing and see no reason to give up the beliefs we like. My beliefs do not ask of me that I reject scientific explanations, they do not require me to bash those of other religions and religious viewpoints (e.g. atheism), and they rather entertain me in various harmless ways, much like others are entertained by working on cars or swimming.

I am amused that the only reasons you can think of for theists to hold theistic beliefs are negative. I don't hold my beliefs in hope of an afterlife, as I don't care if one exists or not. I don't hold my beliefs out of fear that I'll be alone if I don't hold them. Certainly there are theists who do, but I think your beliefs that most/all of us must hold our beliefs out of fear are partly rooted in your own prejudices.

SecularFuture

Aradia
BULLSHIT! If critical thinking is more efficient than magical thinking, magical thinking should be put into a garbage can, or only used when writing novels (like the Christian bible).

Take a good look at the big picture. Would science, medicine, and technology --- the three things we need in order to develp and survive --- benefit more from magical thinking or critical thinking? We DO NOT NEED magical thinking.

Aradia

[QUOTE]Originally posted by SecularFuture
[B] Aradia

BULLSHIT! If critical thinking is more efficient than magical thinking, magical thinking should be put into a garbage can, or only used when writing novels (like the Christian bible).
[QUOTE][B]

Calm down. Animosity solves nothing.

Muscle cars are more efficient than sports cars.
Sports cars are more efficient than muscle cars.

When you understand that, you'll be one step closer to understanding my point of view.

But can science, medicine, and technology assuage emotional suffering for all people? No. If we hate our lives, there's no point in developing or surviving. If I can paraphrase:

Science, medicine, and technology gives us the means to live. Art, beauty, love... religion... give us reasons to live.

SecularFuture

Aradia
I have one word for you. - Psychology. And yes, psychology is a science.

What’s my excuse? I’m a HARD CORD ATHEIST and I have meaning to my life. Why? Because I am equipped enough to give meaning to, and to make a place for my life. I don't need mythology to keep myself in check, and neither does the rest of humankind.

Aradia

You misspelled psychotherapy. You won't win any points if you don't know the difference. And psychotherapy is an even softer science than psychology. Psychotherapy cannot help all people with emotional suffering.

You are not all people. There is no One True Path(tm).

SecularFuture

Aradia
But it’s still a science.

The most efficient solutions should be the primary solutions. When a religion says it's “okay to make shit up”, that is when it becomes dangerous, in the way or real solutions, and in the way of the more efficient concept of critical thinking.

I like your name by the way. Which nationality is it?

Hubble head

Don't be too amused. You're assuming you know me so I'll respond in kind - But first, to repeat what I said "there are hundreds of reasons people believe in religion." Some reasons are not as bad as others. The cherry picking xians who enjoy the social aspects of being with their neighbors and friends are probably the most harmless believers while the David Koresh's or Andrea Yates' are the vilest.

Back to my reciprocation -My guess is that you are now a xian because someone you met along the way escorted you into it and you liked them so much you went along for the fellowship initially and then got sucked in. Once you decided to completely believe in "Skydaddy and Son" you felt an overwhelming sense of emotion come out and then relief. You attributed this to JAY-sus.

In reality its what we all feel when we think we have understood the universe and our paths through it. Its that much more euphoric if we have some nice new people in our lives to share it with too. We are curious social beings who want to live and solutions to these instinctive drives is powerful and rewarding when fulfilled -even if a part of it is not true. But our belief is attached to that euphoria and questioning it after that will only lead back to confusion and alienation as you begin a new path. If you are capable of critical thought, you might be lucky enough to return to the real world with the rest of us.

If I got some of it wrong, sorry, but you got me wrong first. Weather it was a percieved miracle, or desire to be around people or whatever, (again, 100's of reasons) you bought the snake oil.

SecularFuture

Kassiana
No amount of belief can turn something into a fact, especially when that belief is without reason or evidence.

Believing because you want to believe in something, despite the lack of reason and evidence, isn’t exactly a positive reason.