Society Worse Off With Religion

[justNancy]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

The headline would be more accurate if it read "when they THINK they have God on their side"

So true. Such a person might pray that the War in Iraq is a task from God and then pardon a turkey.

[Sweden]

Ok, just for the record, Sweden wasn't any worse of 50 years ago than it is today. We're socialistic and yet our democracy is the best working in the world (US comes 17th place), and Sweden is currently the second best country to live in (after Norway which comes first).
And just because we haven't been in a war since the 19th century, I hardly think the Vikings would look at us as "wosses".

I don't see why this is such a big topic. Isn't it obvious from all the studies that have been conducted in this area that religion and state should be separated, and as such, the state is better off without religion?
Doesn't the constitution state that religion and state should be separated? If the founding fathers were so right about so much else, then why not this?

And what about "freedom of religion" - if religion is a human right, if to believe in what you want and not being forced to believe something is a human right, then wouldn't it be a fair assumption to say that a people who is free to choose what to believe in (whether it be a God or something else, or even nothing) without any kind of moral preeches from the state, will be more civilized, peaceful and content?

And, if a governtment does not "believe" in a certain God or religion, then it does not have to "defend" its belief from "foreign, anti-xxx"- forces/regimes/countries.
Hence, no unrational decisions based on religion vs religion.

Just look at what's happened recently in Nigeria - after the election results came out (where a Christian party won most of the votes), Christian gangs and Muslim gangs took to the street and started fighting each other.
Would this have happened if it had been a non-religious party that won the election?

(Before I'm deemed anti-religion, I must add that I am a Christian, I work for the Church of Sweden, and so does most of my female relatives on my mother's side. I'm all for religion, but I'm against its involvment in politics.)

Thank you, and have a good night!

[Hate Shrubs]

I have noting against religion if:
Everybody kept their religion just to themselves. In another word: Go to your church, mosque or temple, prey, meditate, chant or whatever makes you happy. And then just go home and continue with your life without trying to impose your believes to everybody else. If you feel that your religion is benefiting you – great but don’t try to push it on me. And whatever morals you religion is teaching you don’t necessarily have to be my morals.
Definitely religion has to stay out of the government.
Another very important thing: Every religious person has to accept the fact that maybe, just maybe their religion may be wrong and one of those other religions may be right. This will make all religious people much more tolerant to other religions.

[Hate Shrubs]

As atheist I’m interested of all major religions and probably know more about them than a lot of people practicing those religions. And if I have to chose one of the 4 major religions: Christianity, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism, I think I’ll chose Buddhism as been the most peaceful and closer to a philosophy instead of religion. I never heard of any cruelty done by Buddhists ever. Of course there are a lot of cruel things has been done to the Buddhists.

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by sickofnyc

Before even reading the article I had to agree somewhat. I have often thought about how much crime has been committed in the name of religion. Take a look at Muslim extremistists. What about the Crusades and The Inquisition. All of these fanatics killed in the name of God. Religion is a dangerous tool when in the hands of ignorant people and misinterpreted to suit the needs of the believer. Religion has been used as propaganda and the hypocrites abound that preach and yet go against the Ten Commandments in the way that they live their lives. People that are dogmatic about religion are way too judgemental and infringe on the private lives of others. It also gives some an excuse to do unforgivable acts feeling that they can just pray the sin away.

But you completely ignore the principal factor: humans. Religions by themselves don't kill, it's the people who kill in its name. Also, I disagree with you that most of the killings that have taken place through the years have been because of religion. Just look at the biggest WW's, Vietnam War, at all the killings taking place in Africa each day, at our own Civil War, the Romans fighting the Greeks, the Britts, Scotland, etc. How about the Britts fighting the Zulu? I only listed a few I can remember from history books.

The truth is that most of the wars that have taken place through the years have more to do with economic power than anything else.

[texdav]

Look nat todays country then look at the 50-60's and tell me that the opwrld wasn't better offf with stronger religous values. That is the problem the secular world has zero values or morals IMO.

[albion]

Didn't Martin Luthor say "Reason is the enemy of religion" says it all.

[Marty Van Diest]

Ah Yes...the great religious leaders of the 20th century.

Pastor Josef Stalin...killled 42 million of his own people
Bishop Mao Tse Tung...killed 37 million of his own people
Evangelist Adolf Hitler...killed some 20 million people in addition to those who died in the war

Oh yeah...there is that great preacher Pol Pot who killed about 1/2 of his country men in a ten year period.

And all this in just the last 100 years.

[Huckleberry3911948]

well thats funny im doing pretty good. as to the people around me, 30 years later and minus the religion i see our streets a whole lot meaner. so that is an interesting study isn't it.
i guess you gota define worse off with religion really well huh. i guess if a pig is happy in his mud wallow yeah a nice clean pen would be a drag, i agree.