Religion is ‘the new social evil’

[iranu]

Mmmm, half priced popcorn. What's that usher? The show starts in 5 minutes. Lovely.

[awm]

Religion seems to be the sort of thing, that is used properly can be good (morality,etc.), but is kind of like communism, just never seems to work out.

[rickworden]

Everyone's faith is a personal thing. An individuals opinion is not wrong - it's their right to hold whatever view they want (however extreme that may seem to some). Intolerance of other peoples belief is the issue.

[mediaboy]

Everyone has the right to believe whatever they want.

What they lack is the capacity to invent a religion that doesn't infringe on everyone else's rights.

[IBM]

Originally Posted by JPreston

Now that most Britons hold this statement to be equivalent to a drunk-driver saying "No really, I'm a better driver after I've had a few drinks" and equally unacceptable, can we bring on the post-religion utopia please?

You do realise that that your post-religion utopia is going to be populated by the same animals who use religion as the blunt tool to achieve their own personal gains? You really honestly think that religion is the problem? More than a little naive. Sure, it helps, but it's not going to do anything to reduce the base barbarity humans are capable of.

[ShenBlade]

geez, considering the fact that religion has fuelled wars for centuries, the poll might be a 'little' late

[fuddam]

Originally Posted by ShenBlade

geez, considering the fact that religion has fuelled wars for centuries, the poll might be a 'little' late

really? have something here that shows otherwise. in fact, that only 7% (yes, read it) of wars since the beginning of recorded history have been fuelled by religion:

http://www.godandscience.org/apologe..._religion.html

[CooperXS]

Originally Posted by shadowmaster

Yet again, I can sense another religion vs evolution thread starting

One can actually mix these two ?

[ShenBlade]

hi fuddam,

that data seems quite biased written by a christian making constant quotes to the bible but the demographic war data seem interesting. Makes you wonder if religion was more often than not used as an excuse for wars back then (an incident in one of the many crusades saw the crusaders sack Greek Orthodox Constantinople instead of making their way towards the Holy Land)

Crusades, protestant versus catholic wars, Romans discriminating against the heathen barbarian tribes and christians etc. The bosnian war where greek orthodox serbs vs muslims vs croats come to mind. Any learned minds input or further info would be appretiated.

[badass]

Originally Posted by fuddam

really? have something here that shows otherwise. in fact, that only 7% (yes, read it) of wars since the beginning of recorded history have been fuelled by religion:

http://www.godandscience.org/apologe..._religion.html

Were the people that collected that data all christians? You seem to love quoting form that same source. I suspect the source your quote has used are biased at best, outright deluded at worst.
I wonder if that data was simply collected by quote mining
I'll add to that the article quoted points out the USA as the most religious country to add weight to that argument.
Is that why they have a secular government? I also find it funny that acceptance of Darwins theory of evolution is higher than that of several other countries.

[2Cold Scorpio]

Originally Posted by shadowmaster

They did vote for George Bush as their president...... TWICE!

No, the greater shame is we elected Bill Clinton twice. Bush is a blasted saint by comparison.

And the fact that religion is considered the greatest social evil tells me the Rapture may well be near. We have indeed fallen that far. You foolish kids argue against God while I go grab a good seat...For I *know* my fate is secure.

[TeePee]

Clinton was one of the best president's you've had in recent years. In Bush's presidency, we've invented a war on terror, fought in Afganistan and Iraq and paid $4.30 a gallon for gas. In Clinton's time what were we worrying about? Blowjobs in the oval office.

[fuddam]

Originally Posted by badass

Were the people that collected that data all christians? You seem to love quoting form that same source. I suspect the source your quote has used are biased at best, outright deluded at worst.

typically reactionary comment. Gets tiring, it does. Instead of looking up the text, you spout statements that in no way justify your 'objectivity', but expose the weakness of your position. Why can't you just admit that you could be wrong, eh?

I decided to look it up for you: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Encyclopedia...261869&sr=8-20

If you think you're a more authoritative source than that volume, you must be smoking some of the strong stuff.

Sigh.

[Fraz]

Originally Posted by TeePee

Clinton was one of the best president's you've had in recent years. In Bush's presidency, we've invented a war on terror, fought in Afganistan and Iraq and paid $4.30 a gallon for gas. In Clinton's time what were we worrying about? Blowjobs in the oval office.

lol - agreed.

I actually had some respect for Clinton too. For starters, he didn't have the IQ of a headless zombie, unlike George Dubbya.

[2Cold Scorpio]

Originally Posted by TeePee

Clinton was one of the best president's you've had in recent years. In Bush's presidency, we've invented a war on terror, fought in Afganistan and Iraq and paid $4.30 a gallon for gas. In Clinton's time what were we worrying about? Blowjobs in the oval office.

Clinton was a joke. Taxes were at the highest they've been in years, and for no good reason other to fund pointless social-reform programs which only help a fraction of the population. The military was downsized (which came back to hurt us at the beginning of the war in Afghanistan). Policies enacted then ended up hurting us economically ten years later. Clinton was a fool who hemorrhaged our money like it was his own.

As far as now goes: we didn't 'invent' a war on terror, we got attacked, largely because Clinton didn't take action when he was in office, despite having intel that indicated Osama was planning another attack. As for the war in Iraq, I see it as finishing the job we should have back in '91 but due to pleas from Saudi Arabia and the blasted U.N., we didn't (we had Bahgdad surrounded at the end of that conflict and could have easily finished the job once and for all way back then, but didn't. One of Bush Sr.'s few mistakes. And conflicts were abound in Clinton's tenure too; the only difference is those were truly pointless uses of our military and resources. Did we *really* need to go to all those different places to "keep the peace"? No. But we did it because we're the Good Guys and it was the Right Thing To Do. But heaven forbid we go after those who attack us or are of greater harm than good to everyone else (you know damn well Saddam should have been taken down a long time ago for all that crap he did in the late 80s and after). Gas prices? Pay attention: they didn't really start soaring until the Democrats took control of the senate in '06. It has more than doubled since, and there is no excuse. They had risen a bit before, which was uncool, but have since skyrocketed. Unacceptable.

Now, tell me why in heck I would want another Democrat in office? I'm not looking forward to doubled taxes, being attacked by terrorists again, and $6.50 for a gallon of gas...and that's exactly what would happen with Obama.

[Fraz]

So... do you actually think George W Bush is good?!

And do you really worry about being attacked by terrorists?!