What is so wrong with religion?

Religion is just a tool, an evil tool albeit, it's not the real issue. The problem is man.

Were Religion abolished a thousand years ago, another tool would just take the place. Man wants to control, and they found that Religion is the best tool they have available. Were it not so, perhaps we would be having this discussion about another tool they came up with, like Media. Perhaps if this world goes on another thousand years, when FTL still isn't available, and Religion has died off, people will say, "If only Media was abolished 1000-2000 years ago, FTL would be possible, wars would be non-existent, think of the possibilities!"

As long as mankind is still alive, wars will be inevitable.

Why do money and religion go hand in hand, does God have a bank account?

reply to post by Lionhearte


Jesus mate, you paint a bleak picture of us humans, not saying you are wrong because yes man would probably find another control construct to work with, probably because more evolution is required. But ther must be some light at the end of the tunnel..............i hope so anyway.

reply to post by johngrissom


Religion and science are of man. Christ is of the Father. Follow Christ not religion, not science.
Then you will see God.

reply to post by randyvs

"Religion and science are of man. Christ is of the Father. Follow Christ not religion, not science.
Then you will see God."

Please elaborate.

If god made man and man made science and religion, does that not mean god had atleast some kind of hand in the creation of science and religion? Seems circular to me.

reply to post by johngrissom


Christianity has almost no restrictions?

Yeah, okay.

Go back in time and tell that to a fourteen year old version of me terrified that his "dirty" thoughts brought on by puberty would lead to being "left behind" in the Rapture followed by suffering through an eternity of hellfire. Maybe for some casual cultural Christians there are few restrictions but the way I and many others were raised there are almost fewer permitted behaviors than there are forbidden ones. We were taught that even our thoughts could be sin and lead us to Hell.

reply to post by andy06shake


Elaborate on what ?

A. Christ
B. Religion
C. Science
D. All of the above

If you choose D. I'm outta here.

reply to post by Titen-Sxull


Thats da truth mate, it kind of makes you feal dirty for exploring eh. Be it sexual or intellectual.

Dont do that, dont do this, only do that on sunday.................Anybody else think the god of organised religion is kind of a control freak. Imagine that. LoL LoL

reply to post by randyvs


Fair point, D would be a rather lengthy ordeal. I kind of ment the see god part, in what sense?

reply to post by Titen-Sxull

Go back in time and tell that to a fourteen year old version of me terrified that his "dirty" thoughts brought on by puberty would lead to being "left behind" in the Rapture followed by suffering through an eternity of hellfire.

You were raised Catholic if memory serves me. Right Titen ? Who ever taught you that ruined you.

reply to post by johngrissom

What is so wrong with religion?

Religion has a very hard time differentiating itself from spirituality. Religion is restrictive, spirituality isn't. Give us free will and then tell us we can only do some things...double standard. Hypocrisy. Arrogance and blind faith without due reason. That's the heart of the religion being discussed here.

Spirituality is simply exploration of the spirit, coming to terms with, and understanding, the world around you, both seen and unseen. Free and unrestricted, educational in all ways.

Religion doesn't allow that. Spirituality does. See the difference? "Wrong" is a bad word... "repulsive" is a better one. Wrong implies that it is absolutely not okay. Repulsive says that whether or not it's okay, we don't like it. More accurate.

Does this answer your question?

My answer is: Nothing is wrong with it.

I am not religious and believe that god is just an imaginary friend for grown-ups.

Having said that, I will now say that I think that most things in religions are good.

Human beings are mostly lazy, greedy, violent creatures. I believe that religion gives some people a moral compass to follow that they would not have otherwise.

They have to be promised a treat to do good and be promised punishment for being bad. People are generally weak willed creatures and need help through life.

People need to believe that there is something else after you die.

I believe that I am part of nature just as any rock, tree or other animal and when I die I will decompose and return to the soil. It's a natural thing. Would it be nice to be offered another life after this one is done? Maybe it would but I just don't see it that way. It's pure fantasy to help people cope with life & death.

reply to post by mwood


There are a lot of questions you can't answer without considering the existence of a higher power. In fact, if you refuse the existence of a higher power, then you have to rely on a science that says those questions are impossible, that they shouldn't have to be asked. The opportunity to ask, the reason, shouldn't be there. And yet... they happened. Math itself, the math of the universe and its birth, suggests the existence of an intelligence independent of our world.

Think about that, if you will. I'm not saying the Christian god is the right one, I'm not telling you what to believe, I'm just asking that you think about it.

reply to post by AfterInfinity

"Religion has a very hard time differentiating itself from spirituality. Religion is restrictive, spirituality isn't."

Apparently thats why the ETs wont initiate contact, technologicaly we are ready but our spiritually is retarded by organised religion.

reply to post by andy06shake


That's part of it.

reply to post by AfterInfinity


And the other part?

reply to post by Lionhearte


No tool is evil. An inanimate object or concept has no intent. It is the creature that uses it that has a good or evil intent.

Religion is not evil. It has just as much potential for healing and aid, as it does for complete chaos and wanton destruction. people sleep easier believing their loved ones have gone to a better place. Pure faith in a god has allowed people to walk again.

Perhaps some mysteries are more powerful than their answers.

reply to post by andy06shake


I am not psychic, nor do I pretend to know everything. Therefore, I can't give you a complete answer to that question. I do believe that the reluctance of ET parties to engage with our world on a more complete basis, is a little more involved, a little more complicated, than spiritual matters...similar to saying that we invaded Iraq for oil.

reply to post by AfterInfinity


"Perhaps some mysteries are more powerful than their answers."

I like that, beautiful mind!

reply to post by andy06shake


Thank Dan Brown. He's the one who imparted that little pearl to me...though not personally. And if there is one thing more important than being wise, it's knowing wisdom when you see it.