Monday, December 01, 2008
What a happy place
I was listening to a talk show and they had an interesting topic: What would the world be like without religion. I personally think we would be such a happier society. No one would be bullied into supporting things that make the us look like we discriminate (prop 8) there would be less wars done in the name of god there would be less idiots out there who will kill in the name of god as I said I think the world would be a better place.
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6 comments:
Of all the things you have been wrong about, you have never been more wrong.
Religion - the intrinsic belief that there is more to us than flesh, blood, and instinct, is the hallmark of the human race. It is our ability to sense and believe in a power greater than us that drives humans to be something better than being the fearful and selfish creatures that we are instinctively.
Albert Einstein, one of the most brilliant minds ever known, knew that there is something beyond science. He realized that no matter what we discover about the nature of the universe, one would always have to ask "Who did this?" and "Why?"
When you boil things down, the only commandment Jesus ever gave was to love everybody. That's it! That is Christianity in a nutshell. It also happens to be the basic message of most religions. Remember that when people accuse religions of creating hatred. Hatred comes from individuals, not religion.
Americanism is a religion. It is the embodiment of an ideal that people who are free can form a better society. Very few live up to the ideal but as long as we have the ideal, most of us try to live up to it. That's the basis of most religions.
I know you will want to argue that people use religion for evil deeds. People will commit atrocities in the name of religion. These individuals have evil in them and use religion as a crutch to justify their behavior. Religion didn't put the evil there. These individuals would be just as evil if religion did not exist.
Have you ever considered what good religion does? It offers terminally ill people hope beyond hope - even occasionally cures them. It inspires people to see goodness when everything around them appears ugly. Religions feed and provide medicine for starving masses. For some families, the time spent in church on Sunday is the most time the family spends together all week.
A world without religion would not be a "happy place". We'd still have war, poverty, and cruelty. We'd also have nothing spiritual to deal with it. We'd be asking outselves why we even bother being alive.
I got a question: How many horrible things, including most recently in Mumbai, have been done in the name of the higher power? YOu talk about an ability to sense and believe in a higher power how many horrible things have been done in that name? How do you know there is a higher power I can't prove there is or isn't and I'm not blinded by that belief. I believe the world would be a safer, happier place and if there is a god why would god allow something like 9/11 to happen? It wasn't anyone who was killed time to die it certainly wasn't the people who I knew who were killed time to die so tell me why should I be forced to accept there is a higher power when there is absolutely no proof there is?
Erik, I already addressed your first two questions.
Erik: "How many horrible things, including most recently in Mumbai, have been done in the name of the higher power?"
Robert: "I know you will want to argue that people use religion for evil deeds. People will commit atrocities in the name of religion. These individuals have evil in them and use religion as a crutch to justify their behavior. Religion didn't put the evil there. These individuals would be just as evil if religion did not exist."
Erik: "How do you know there is a higher power I can't prove there is or isn't..."
Robert: "Albert Einstein, one of the most brilliant minds ever known, knew that there is something beyond science. He realized that no matter what we discover about the nature of the universe, one would always have to ask 'Who did this?' and 'Why?'"
The rest of your question is basically the often repeated phrase "Why do good things happen to good people?" No one can say they know what God's true nature or intentions are. I can only give my own explanation:
Life is a series of tests. We are tested every day. How we act upon these tests reveals who we are. It also gives us opportunity to be better prepared fot the next test, whatever that may be. That's spiritual growth. When a tragedy such as 9/11 or even the single death of a child occurs. It is not a tragedy for the one(s) who have fallen. It is a tragedy for those left behind. They are being tested. Does the tragedy cause them to lose faith? Does the tragedy cause them to hate? Or does it strengthen their faith and give them understanding that death and loss is part of life?
People who ultimately accept tragedy positively become stronger for it but it is not easy. Having faith is supposed to be hard.
And I ask you how can you be a part of a religion that looked the other way when their priests were (and I'm sure continue) molesting children? Who it took a lot (according to my impression of what you said) for them to allow you to marry the woman you love if there was no religion that wouldn't matter would it? And again what you are saying about tests is what I already said was the phony line which is it was their time. You can quote Einstein all you want but yet again can you tell me how much harm has been done in the name of religion?
And Robert thanks for sticking with the point for a change and not going with the typical smear like you always do.
"And I ask you how can you be a part of a religion that looked the other way when their priests were (and I'm sure continue) molesting children?"
First of all, I am not Roman Catholic so I am not part of that religion. Secondly, now you are playing the "guilt by association" game. Molesting children is not part of the Catholic doctrine. Most catholics know their priests are trustworthy. Most catholics and priests have done nothing wrong regarding this. It seems like you want to proclaim them all guilty.
Since you call yourself a jew, how can you support that religion considering that sect has similar issues?
Long list of Jewish Child Molestor Rabbis gets no media coverage and Jewish homosexual pedophiles are undisturbed.
And Erik, once again I ask you when I don't stick to the point. I always do! Show me an example. Unless you do, your accusations are unfounded, ridiculous, and pointless.
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