Religion is false benevolence

What does singing, kneeling, praying in public, chanting something over and over and over, etc do to benefit anyone??

NONE!

The Abrahamic religions alone comprise over 4.5 billion people on the planet, that's well over 60% of the world's population!!

I've been in some of the most religious nations of the planet, seen many religious devout people but out in the streets, they are like mindless wild animals!

I'm beginning to think these evil people are only using religion to compensate for their evil acts but in reality, IT DOES NOTHING!!

So it might be possible, religion is CONTRIBUTING TO EVIL because it gives people an utterly useless means to compensate for their evil deeds!

a reply to: johndeere2020

I think you raise an interesting point.

At times, balance does seem to be a key motivator of the universe, so if religion claims to be good, then the resulting balance is obviously evil.

So yes, I would agree that in some way having religion in the world leads to evil acts, since it sets up the precedent of "Regardless how evil an act I commit, if I truly believe and repent to God before I die then I will be forgiven and let into Heaven." This mindset is an easy out justification for commiting any moral delinquncy.

Religion is a way of passing off personal responsibility to an unpprovable supernatural force.

originally posted by: johndeere2020
What does singing, kneeling, praying in public, chanting something over and over and over, etc do to benefit anyone??

NONE!

The Abrahamic religions alone comprise over 4.5 billion people on the planet, that's well over 60% of the world's population!!

I've been in some of the most religious nations of the planet, seen many religious devout people but out in the streets, they are like mindless wild animals!

I'm beginning to think these evil people are only using religion to compensate for their evil acts but in reality, IT DOES NOTHING!!

So it might be possible, religion is CONTRIBUTING TO EVIL because it gives people an utterly useless means to compensate for their evil deeds!

Seen atheists do similar at sporting events, armies and and act like wild animals.

Yes there are many hypocritical religious people, I am one.

Plenty of mindless atheists as well or you dont see them. At least atheists are not hypocritical, they dont have to subject themselves to any rules if they dont want to.

Ever been to a food bank run by a church?
Lots of evil there.

Ban all religions outside the home or church. Charge them with witchcraft lol, trying to summon a magical being. Like they used to do. Tie a rock to them, throw them in water and see if they float. If they float they are innocent. If they sink i guess they are guilty. JK

Maybe the people you observe on the street acting like "mindless wild animals" are not the same people that you see kneeling and praying? Maybe if more people kneeled and prayed, there would be fewer people acting like "mindless wild animals"?

The benefits of prayer? It's the most powerful "weapon" that exists.



a reply to: johndeere2020

You do know that we're told to pray in secret and not in the open like the hypocrites do. We're not to banter on endlessly or give God false praise. We not even supposed to repeat prayers like the heathen do. I think you radically misunderstand our faith in it's true form. There are hypocrites in every walk of life. Like the people who start a charity to steal the pennies, or the man who helps the old lady cross the street because he wants to be a hero and not out of the kindness of his heart.

We're also told that our faith would be mocked through misunderstanding and arrogance on behalf of the mocker. You shouldn't attribute this to Christians it's beyond infuriating. Do you know how it feels to see churches full of idiots? Full of people who have completely missed the gospel and are hung up so mindlessly on the needless bumblepuppy that they can't see their nose from their face.

Here's the skinny about TRUE Christianity which is NOT hypocritical. Just observe these simple principles PLEASE and you'll know a hypocrite from a believer in our LORD.

1. Humbleness, the ability to stay quiet when being either mocked or not retaliating to bait.
2.We pray IN SECRET. You will NOT see a true Christian pray his prayer, ever. They're personal to you and God.
3.Do not make a public nuisance as you're casting pearls amongst swine in that manner.
4.We don't force ourselves on you.
5.Love your brother as you wish to be loved, we abide by this and so will, without hesitation help you out WHENEVER you need it if it's within our power, every time, even lending you money, fixing things.
6.We're called pushovers by the hard of heart.
7.We love our God and will not have him mocked by acting childlike and foolish to impress our 'religious peers'.

If you see these in anyone they're probably abiding by the faith well and truly. They'll tell you all about the LORD Yeshua if you ASK them, that's it. Or if you're interested.

So can we stop with calling 'all' religious people this and that please? It's simply not true, and I'm sure any Muslim can tell you of the damage tarring all people with one brush can do. Some religious folk just aren't interested in the true tenants of their own supposed life choice. They see it as another way to expand their own selfish sphere of influence. Rest assured when they meet God they'll give account. I hope they seek repentance before that time.

As for kneeling. We're not told to kneel before God, though it does say knees will bow. It's a term of respect not utter dominance. Only a tyrant makes people face away from him whilst they engage in discourse.

Matthew 23:1-39

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so practice and observe whatever they tell you—but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, ...

a reply to: johndeere2020

I don't think prayer is ever being heard by any divine being.

Still, I think it would be inaccurate to say religious people never benefit from it. Even if it's just a placebo.

The benefits are terrestrial, but they're potentially there.

Depends on the circumstances. Im sure prayer serves as a means of coping with a stressful and hostile world. I wouldn't deem that problematic unless it's hindering ones ability to 'face the music' so to speak.

a reply to: borntowatch

At least atheists are not hypocritical, they dont have to subject themselves to any rules if they dont want to.

We subject ourselves to the many rules of the societies we live in. Just as I am sure you do. If we didn't want to follow them we'd likely be imprisoned just as you would be for violating them. You're right though in that we don't have additional ones like you do through religious dogma.

It almost seems you're making a subtle insinuation atheists don't believe in rules, and if they had it their way they'd be rid of them all. Are you? Or was I jumping the gun.

a reply to: FlyersFan

Praying and singing hurts nothing. So why the anger towards it??

Lately I tend to agree with OP. I think some people use religion as an excuse to not have to actually do anything.

Let us pray, we'll pray for you, you are in my prayers. Like hello, how about lending an actual hand, in stead of 'dumping it in Gods lap' and walking away?

Yup a single pair of hands at work accomplishes more than a billion clasped in prayer.

But everyone wants a batphone type secure link to the master and ruler of the universe, just incase some s**** goes down....

originally posted by: Lucid Lunacy
a reply to: borntowatch

At least atheists are not hypocritical, they dont have to subject themselves to any rules if they dont want to.

We subject ourselves to the many rules of the societies we live in. Just as I am sure you do. If we didn't want to follow them we'd likely be imprisoned just as you would be for violating them. You're right though in that we don't have additional ones like you do through religious dogma.

It almost seems you're making a subtle insinuation atheists don't believe in rules, and if they had it their way they'd be rid of them all. Are you? Or was I jumping the gun.

No not jumping the gun, just seems that some are insinuating that religious people are evil when its not religious people are evil its all people are evil.
Religious agnostic or atheist, there are bad people in all things. I dont understand all the us and them all the hate mongering

a reply to: borntowatch

Seen atheists do similar at sporting events, armies and and act like wild animals.

I absolutely agree with you!

There's a primal need to stomp and pound, and dance, to scream and sing and pray. It a human condition that can turn to into a brutal melee or a beautiful work of art!

originally posted by: Prezbo369
Yup a single pair of hands at work accomplishes more than a billion clasped in prayer.

But everyone wants a batphone type secure link to the master and ruler of the universe, just incase some s**** goes down....

Interestingly enough. The bible actually agrees with you...
James 2

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

a reply to: FlyersFan

How do you know? We can't see what goes on metaphysically with that kind of energy. We can see what it does psychologically and how uplifting it is for people. Praying and singing hurts nothing. So why the anger towards it??

I have to agree with FF on this one. I don't see prayer and singing as necessarily useless. Also, the Abrahamic faiths are not the only ones who use prayer, chanting, and singing. Most faiths do actually.

originally posted by: puzzlesphere
a reply to: johndeere2020



I think you raise an interesting point.



At times, balance does seem to be a key motivator of the universe, so if religion claims to be good, then the resulting balance is obviously evil.



So yes, I would agree that in some way having religion in the world leads to evil acts, since it sets up the precedent of "Regardless how evil an act I commit, if I truly believe and repent to God before I die then I will be forgiven and let into Heaven." This mindset is an easy out justification for commiting any moral delinquncy.



Religion is a way of passing off personal responsibility to an unpprovable supernatural force.

Yes i think science is the tool that evil uses to devise more effective killing methods through the years while pointing toward religion as the source of the killing.

originally posted by: deadeyedick

originally posted by: puzzlesphere
a reply to: johndeere2020



I think you raise an interesting point.



At times, balance does seem to be a key motivator of the universe, so if religion claims to be good, then the resulting balance is obviously evil.



So yes, I would agree that in some way having religion in the world leads to evil acts, since it sets up the precedent of "Regardless how evil an act I commit, if I truly believe and repent to God before I die then I will be forgiven and let into Heaven." This mindset is an easy out justification for commiting any moral delinquncy.



Religion is a way of passing off personal responsibility to an unpprovable supernatural force.

Yes i think science is the tool that evil uses to devise more effective killing methods through the years while pointing toward religion as the source of the killing.

I think that humans are just ignorant assholes.
It's an inherent trait of the species.

a reply to: Eunuchorn

next time post something debatable

even the definition of ignorrant is lost on most

the fix for them was forseen and is part of my username