Would the world be a better place without religion all together? (Mormons, myth)

[Ultimatetruth]

ok ok hold on....before you pass out from enthusiasm.......
i'm an atheist as you probably know....and obviously i believe that there's a loooooooooooot of BS and bad information/logic out there in the religious community in general.....

but i wonder, given the supposed "good" that "some" religious organizations do, will world be a better place if there was no religion whatsoever?

well, the more i write, the more the answer (which i thought would/should be more complex than a loud YES), becomes evident)

- no killing over what different people's God believes
- no stoning over a girl going out with a boy
- no mormons knocking on your door
- no Tom Cruise!
- etc.

i think i may have my answer.

What do you think?

[MontanaGuy]

My answer is not a clear yes or no because I know religious people who are responsible and a positive influence in society. I don't think the question is that simple. I am an atheist but I also have a strong feeling about the freedom of thought which would include religious beliefs. From my point of view it seems to me that any group in control of society is likely to abuse that control and a society controlled by atheists would probably abuse those who are religious. I have a problem with any group of individuals who are like minded and would like to run society according to their own rules. That would include atheists even though I am an atheist. I have always felt that the freedom to exchange ideas which is the centerpiece of democracy is an excellent idea because it allows change and allows people to grow. I can't think of any other system in which people with opposing views can actually learn from each other and be exposed to alternative points of view without feeling exploited.

[Huckleberry3911948]

well there would not be much to complain about, except other people also angry at their former churches.

[calmdude]

Originally Posted by Ultimatetruth

ok ok hold on....before you pass out from enthusiasm.......
i'm an atheist as you probably know....and obviously i believe that there's a loooooooooooot of BS and bad information/logic out there in the religious community in general.....

but i wonder, given the supposed "good" that "some" religious organizations do, will world be a better place if there was no religion whatsoever?

well, the more i write, the more the answer (which i thought would/should be more complex than a loud YES), becomes evident)

- no killing over what different people's God believes
- no stoning over a girl going out with a boy
- no mormons knocking on your door
- no Tom Cruise!
- etc.

i think i may have my answer.

What do you think?

Now we are getting closer to the mythological heaven.

[JoanD'Arc]

You should take a poll.
I have no use for religion. It is my opinion that people do learn to behave in a manner that would benefit society without it. It sticks in my craw that some religious people wonder out loud how people who don't believe their brand of religion can have moral values and act in the common good.

O, sorry, back to the question: I do believe the world would be better off without it, because too many people use it for power mongering and cause much suffering to maintain their base.

[effie g-tad]

Originally Posted by calmdude

Now we are getting closer to the mythological heaven.

you really think so, do you? (without emoticon!)

[calmdude]

Originally Posted by effie briest

you really think so, do you? (without emoticon!)

Yes - at least that will weed out a lot of the real hatred you see in the name of god. It is small, imaginary step