I personally believe that religion is important.... Hey, they teach you the opposite way of Christian beliefs in public school so there must be a conspiracy or something with that. Hey, it could happen.... Actually, I have a few friends who are Athiests and believe that when you die you rot and that's it and they smoke, drink, and at 12 have lost their virginity. Most of my church friends are the opposite. Not one of them smoke and definently haven't done anything. Religion is important as it shapes your standards and keeps you human instead of forest animals destroying the world.

Such a sensitive topic ...

In relation to religion being beneficial towards humanity, theres always its equilibrium of pro's and con's. Take Wars for example, previously someone posted that religions lead to wars. In the past, yes, people do fight for their beliefs and it goes to a large scale of a nation level. But in the modern days, wars fought are not caused by religion, in fact, it is just used as a reason for the fight. Its like beating someone up because he has something you need then using your religion as an excuse and proclaiming your self justification.

As much as a book 2000 years old can apply to us, im sure given enough understanding, the human nature does not change and if the book addresses our tendencies and our problems which have not change in the milleniums ago and the milleniums to come, why should it not be applicable to us, and why should we not teach our children. Its like culture, do you want your kids to run over coals and pierce themselves? Its not justified to do everything to cater for everyone. You do need to have a stand on your part, learning all religions for peace would never work, just because all religions dont work together, they only exist together. You can walk through more than 1 door at a time (dont give me stupid analogies please, we're talking common sense).

Religion has been integral in mankind for as long as ancient civilizations have recorded it, why is this so? Its because man have always felt that there was a higher being somewhere out there. Its very hard to prove that God exists, but it is even harder to prove that he doesn't. If a God did not exist, what was before the big bang? And how did the big bang come about? Where does probability lie in the depths of a reality that wasn't even created, how is there a chance of life springing out of no where when there isnt anywhere to spring life onto. These questions are just the tip of the iceberg, there are many debates onto topics like these, but the main question now is what is a religion to you? How do you perceive this human nature? Has modernism covered that need to seek a higher being?

A fine example why people in the past seeked Godly entities more than the present day human is because of technology (Im not blaming it for turning people into atheists). When you are a farmer and you rely on nature to bring about your livelihood, you tend to want to pray that the rain and sun are on your favor (Although they rarely listen to you). Its these needs in various aspects of life that brings people closer to their realization of God or maybe the start of their seeking.

Simply putting down the fact that Religion is bad doesnt prove anything because nothing in the world is perfect, Christianity doesnt believe its perfect, it only thinks that the Bible is. Religions do have their ways of discipline, preaching of a clean life and performing good deeds. Call it brain wash if you want, but these are related to atheists as Morals and Ethics? Lets just say you find that Religions are a load of bullcrap, and you drop your moral standards because of that, i'd think you're only living this life because you can. Even people who believe in God can have sub-moral standards, comparing to Atheists, they also have people who have high moral standards. So is it fair to say that doubting a religion would equal to doubting the moralistic teachings they provide? So if the bible says everything can be eaten do you doubt that? Come on there is some truth in EVERY religion, if you arent going to believe in the religion, dont drop your morals and ethics over it.

Bhuddism has come a long way, teaching its essence of reincarnation and karma. Although I personally dont believe in it, I dont doubt that we will get our just deserves because of what we have done. If life was just to end after I die, then theres no point living. If there wasn't any motive or purpose to live, why are we here? We aren't random per say. Its how you look at it seriously.

Does it harm anyone to even believe in something that helps you through life? Theres no point in being angry with people who believe or dont belive, we just accept it and see what we can do to affect each other positively. Who said this world has to take sides (Although everyone is taking their sides).

Truthfully, Religions do have their absurdity in their own ways, 72 virgins? Come on if you can only see their eyes, 144 wouldnt be enough. Reincarnation? Turn into a dog? Like i'd remember anyway. Jesus died on the cross? How can you prove it? But if a religion can be proved, it wouldnt be a religion. Think about it that way, if you have only 1 path to walk, how can it be by choice. Its truly when you have every direction to walk in and you choose the right one, you can then say "Hey I made the right choice". And that is what Religion preaches about, making the right choice because YOU can choose, its not Forced onto you like a chore or a job. If the whole world was bhuddist, would you be one? If you won't would you be segregated? Can you survive? Thank goodness we have freedom of choice. So what would you choose ?

This post has been edited by idle: Oct 10 2006, 04:21 AM

My opinion is that religion spawned from human nature and his extreme desire of ethernal life. This is a simple trap set by one's own mind beacouse when it get's really tough out there in "real world" you can always comfort your self about this beeing just a simple test before heaven.
Religion also sets human guilt about doing bad things or not doing anything at all.

Confuison set by the religion. (Christianity i think)

"At the beginning there was a word!"

Imagine that all of human knowlege is transported through time! Well, basicly that is what is happening with DNA (or gene code, i'm not a scientist).
So how did that word begin...

"Don't eat from the apple tree"

Think of human's before 20 000 years (or whatever the age is).

Now think of a cuple that wandered around, doing whatever they did. Behind seven seas seven trees and seven hills they saw a tree with some fruit on it. When they took it something changed and they realized that nothing is what it seems like it is. In their insanity they tried to tell their friends their experience with an apple tree. Only those who were worthy survived. They learned the secret, and decided that they should never tell anyone about this magic tree. They all went in different directions knowing that one day they will all meet again... They called them selfes Holy Ghosts

That is what i like about religion. In any one you can find millions of different interpretation of a same thing. In the end it doesn't matter do you belive or not, all it matters is that you had fun when you had your chance.

P.S. The truth is out there

Okay, relating to what Sinari said: Just because they're atheists doesn't mean they don't have morals. These are personal decisions. Just because an ancient book tells some people what to do and how they can attain whatever through THEIR FAITH doesn't mean it applies to everyone, nor should it. At our very core, we are all individual creatures with our own morals, etc. Morals are influenced by environment, chiefly. Religion is simply there to bolster morals by offering consequences. If you do this, you get this. If you don't do this, this happens. I have several friends who are atheists who are better people than myself. And on another note, I have Christian friends who are anything but angels. You cannot assign people to stereotypes based on their religion/lack thereof.

And concerning Idle: I believe in reincarnation in a more fundamental sense. It's the Circle of Life rather than samsara

Religion simply exists to explain what we don't know or can't understand. Creation, death, life after death, up until things that are out of the ordinary. Just because they're weird doesn't make them miracles, but again, that's up to whoever to decide.

I dont see how matak can selectively quote sentences from the bible and start talking about unsubstantiated claims about holy ghosts eating apples on hills and also talking about DNA @_@ Its just intruiging how some people who fail to understand dont want to =)

i think you got my idea a bit wrong.

what is there to understand?

we all have been given life to our disposal. in this life we can only guess about afterlife, and the choice about it is personal.
my quotes are just my view, and my idea of how did everything begin. Of course that everybody can "see" different conclusions in them beacouse that is the point.
now we could discuss this topic real much, and after all neither of us could prove that he is right.

oh, and discussing relligion is best when drunk near some camping fire

This post has been edited by matak: Oct 12 2006, 01:36 PM

I just want to start of by saying that i am a follower of religion - Buddhism, and as one poster seemed to believe that anyone that follows religion is weak well let me assure you that this is not the case with me. I've lost my girlfriend in a motorcylce accident, and my mother, and so many friends and family in my life time already, and I've lived to achieve some pretty worthy things already, and I've never so much as buckled.
I believe religion not to be a 'fall back' point for support, but the human urge to discover and explore. When you embark on a religious quest you are infact exploring yourself, your soul, the darkest depths of your personality and your wildest dreams. That can't be compared to. Does it exsist - absoloutely. Does it just exsist in your mind? Well - who knows. All I do know is that there is a lot that can be gained from religion, and it's not just a post to fall back onto when your feeling weak, it is a way forwards. Sean.

Hi, Neighbour...Lol, that was cheesy!
Go on to http://www.islam-guide.com/ to find out about the scientific evidence for the truth of Islam!