Quote: matt insley @ November 10 2008, 2:06 PM GMTTo the people who made statements about religion and politics. I totally agree with you. But I would. I think religion should be throw away entirely as I'm a bloody huge atheist.
Bloody atheists! *shakes fist*
Religion does an awful lot of good in the right hands.
Check out how many religiously orientated charities there are out there.
Also Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler amongst others were aetheist.
Quote: sootyj @ November 10 2008, 2:30 PM GMTReligion does an awful lot of good in the right hands.
Check out how many religiously orientated charities there are out there.
Also Pol Pot, Stalin, Hitler amongst others were aetheist.
That's one way of turning the tables, I'm an athiest does that mean I enjoy murdering Jews|?... Let me think... No, no I dont.
Nah, it's just a coincidence with you.
Who said Hitler enjoyed it?
It's more any belief system, or lack of it can be turned to good or evil.
Almost all of our modern social services in this country grew out of Christian charities.
But it's worth noting all the figures in the Bible who sort power over man came to a sticky end.
Religion isn't the problem it's those who misuse it.
Unfortunately they may be in the majority.
Quote: sootyj @ November 10 2008, 2:43 PM GMTWho said Hitler enjoyed it?
It's more any belief system, or lack of it can be turned to good or evil.
Almost all of our modern social services in this country grew out of Christian charities.
But it's worth noting all the figures in the Bible who sort power over man came to a sticky end.
Religion isn't the problem it's those who misuse it.
Unfortunately they may be in the majority.
I see where you're coming from Sooty - Even Athiests have there extremes unfortunatly.
But it's just keeping them in balance and as you said unfortunatly a lot of religions tend to have the majority of the complete nutters.
I think the American Evangelical brigade is a much more political than religious organisation.
Quote: sootyj @ November 10 2008, 2:47 PM GMTI think the American Evangelical brigade is a much more political than religious organisation.
Aren't some going to uni and finding there way into government just so they have more power?
That's a scary thought.
They literally go from sperm cell to university graduation with out ever hearing a differing view.
Other than in learning why they are wrong.
That's terrifying.
If they ever got real power....
Quote: sootyj @ November 10 2008, 2:43 PM GMTWho said Hitler enjoyed it?
It's more any belief system, or lack of it can be turned to good or evil.
Almost all of our modern social services in this country grew out of Christian charities.
But it's worth noting all the figures in the Bible who sort power over man came to a sticky end.
Religion isn't the problem it's those who misuse it.
Unfortunately they may be in the majority.
I tend to disagree that religion isn't a problem. If man never thought up the idea of an almighty creator I think we'd still have a charitable side. I think it's a safe viewpoint to chalk up charity to religion.
I'm not sure societies that do away with God entirely are rarely kind and fair.
You run the risk of tarring every one with the same brush.
And good religion tends to make people fairer and more generous.
Quote: sootyj @ November 10 2008, 2:43 PM GMTReligion isn't the problem it's those who misuse it.
Quote: matt insley @ November 10 2008, 3:06 PM GMTI tend to disagree that religion isn't a problem.
There's nothing wrong with allowing people to have a belief system. Unless that belief system is communism, obviously.
The problem is when a belief system, be it religious, political or social, is used to persecute others. Man should reach out to others, not force his opinions or way of life upon them.
Quote: Aaron @ November 10 2008, 5:09 PM GMT
There's nothing wrong with allowing people to have a belief system. Unless that belief system is communism, obviously.
The problem is when a belief system, be it religious, political or social, is used to persecute others. Man should reach out to others, not force his opinions or way of life upon them.
On the contrary, I'm all for communism. Especially if I was the one in charge. 
But in all serious-nous. Religion is, in theory, useful. Religion is, in practice and in fact, useLESS. I mean, believe in God is just a bit silly.
The problem Matt is your saying exactly the same things about religion that the fanatics you hate so much say about alternate life styles.
And no religion is not useless. Irrational maybe.
In Turkey and Iraq the Islamic brotherhood is the voice of moderate revoloution.
Against violent anti religious dictatorships.
A belief in something greater than one's self, that one has a purpose beyond one's own life.
That can be powerful.
