Is religion the cause of all our problems?

[Newbie 0]

or is this a vastly simplistic way of looking at things?

I for one think if we would be a lot more close as a species if we were all singing from the same hymn sheet, if you pardon the pun, or rather, no hymn sheet at all. I know religion gives many people a sense of belonging and community etc so would one universal religion bring all those who were of not scientific mind an added closeness?

Totally hypothetical i know but any thoughts?

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[meltdown 0]

Religion is a creation of people. Therefore, people must be the cause of our problems. Or perhaps. since God created us, we ought to blame him (or her).

[mr2mk1g 10]

no - I'd put religious people much higher on the list than religion itself.

I don't think thats a purely academic distinction either... I don't think there's anything fundamentally wrong or evil about religion per se... but a great many followers of religion do have a lot to answer for... as indeed do followers of atheism. (ie they have done evil in the name of religion/non-religion.

Twist that either way you like - that organised religion/non-religion is evil or that man has twisted the word of God... as you wish...

but to answer your question... No, not in my opinion.

[AlexCrowley 0]

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or is this a vastly simplistic way of looking at things?

I think it's not broad enough in scope.

Ideas and the need to be correct, and an incomprehension that others are capable of equally valid thought are the cause of all our problems. SC is a perfect example of a human's need to have their opinion be correct. Now grow them into giant robots and give them cool weapons and you could have a decent anime.

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[Newbie 0]

But if you think religious people are the problem (and i understand the distinction) then, going back up the path, if we only had 2 options - namely, one religion and science - then even very religious people would not be such an issue, because they would all want the same thing, right? (if we assume they would not want to attack the scientific community for not adhering to the values of their religion etc, and just peacefully coexisted with those of us who do not believe in religion etc.

"Skydiving is a door"
Happythoughts

[shropshire 0]

No ... most of mine come from not having enough money and my wife spending what I have got on stuff I dont want (i.e. stuff for the house and not my hobbies..


P.S arguing about nonsense (like religion), on tinternet is just a minor diversion when we cannt go jumping .... but the weather here looks good for this weekend..Whoopeeee

Blues to everyone.

.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[pajarito 0]

No...
People are the cause of all our problems.

[chuteless 1]

I dont believe that religion is the cause of all the world's problems...they are mainly caused because many turn their back on God.

People use God like a spare tire...only when a plane is shooting off the end of the runway and bursting in flames. Once they get out...they tell God ""thanks pal, and don't bother me untilI need you again.""

To use God in such a manner is blasphemous and a slap in His Holy Face.

That is wherein the problem lies.

[Vallerina 2]

If people didn't fight over things in the name of religion, they'd just fight over it in the name of something else. It's not the cause. It's the excuse.

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[Darius11 12]

All the problems are because people are greedy and power hungry.

I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not." - Kurt Cobain

[EricTheRed 0]

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No...
People are the cause of all our problems.

Agreed.

Religions are mostly a somewhat successful attempt to moderate our animalistic nature.

It's mostly just the animals that use religion as a source of power that create the problems associated with religion.

illegible usually

[AlexCrowley 0]

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It's mostly just the animals that use religion as a source of power that create the problems associated with religion.

As opposed to the animals that rely on politics as a source of power that create problems associated with politics?

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[wmw999 2,587]

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As opposed to the animals that rely on politics as a source of power that create problems associated with politics?

Hey -- George Orwell wrote it , I believe it, that settles it

Feeling frisky today, AC?

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[shropshire 0]

Religion .vs. Politics? - There's a difference?

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[AlexCrowley 0]

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As opposed to the animals that rely on politics as a source of power that create problems associated with politics?

Hey -- George Orwell wrote it , I believe it, that settles it

Feeling frisky today, AC?

Wendy W.

Waiting for new rig, UPS suck.....wouldnt let me drive to their warehouse to pick it up ("Hey, it'll save you sending someone out tomorrow"), now they're purposefully not sending someone over til their usual time of 4pm ..........argh! WANT RIG NOW!!

In the mean time I'm going to blather incoherently like a drugged horse until my meds kick in.

Did I mention I hope that UPS shows up soon?

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[wmw999 2,587]

I feel your pain

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[AlexCrowley 0]

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I feel your pain

Wendy W.

The nice thing about these automated voice recognition phone attentdents is that you can swear at them a lot. Of course, I then discovered that the girl who provided the voice for the attendent also works on the call center.............oops ;)

TV's got them images, TV's got them all, nothing's shocking.

[philh 0]

I think if there were no religion there would probably still be problems, crime, war even. However religion is a big part of our current problems. if you want to recruit people to kill and be killed you are more likely to be able to do it if you tell them that they have a guaranteed place in an after life if they do your dastardly deed.
If someone believes in god then they are likely to do as god tells them. The story of Abraham killing his own son to be obedient to god has a very clear message to the faithful do anything, no matter hwo cruel it seems, if god orders it. When people are brought up with such an attitude is it any wonder they commit attrocities? All someone has to do is believe that nuts like Osama Bin Laden speak for god and they will go off and kill overiding there normal qualms. I read a book recently about a Mormon fundamentalist who killed an innocent women and her child because he believed the orders came from god. When you have such a belief you dont question. Bringing people up to question and not automatically follow the orders of an invisible being will not end hate and war but it may well reduce it. Also I was in the museum of medieval torture in Prague. Who carried out such ghastly crimes against innocent poeple? Christaisn who belived the poeple were destined for eternal torture anyway. When you have such a belief its understandable why one might not object to finite torture. Its the belief thats the problem.

Religious war: A fight between two armies as o who has the best imaginary friend.

[bodypilot90 0]

no, it's greed, lust and control. what method they use does not matter.

[gravitysucks 0]

Is it? I don't believe so, at least not directly. Religion, any religion, seeks to find the truth. Most of us would agree that there is such a thing as truth. So one could say that it is not relgion which causes our problems, but the discovery that what we desire to be the truth may not in fact be the case. Then we get problems by trying to make the supposed truths of our religions agree with what we hold to be the truths our lives This is where our personal prejudices, desires, and inherent selfishness clash and result in a disortion and perversion of religion. I know there are things which my religion teaches to be truth which I tend to ignor esimply because they do not jive with my lifestyle. And of course, simply thinking of claiming to know truth does not mean that one does. I believe there are very few people in the Earth who succeed in coming close to finding absolute truth, usually monastics who shut out all other parts of life in their quest. Anyways, just my two cents. A little vague and philosophical but hopefully coherent and relevant.

[WrongWay 0]

In my opinion, yes. Not necessarily for "all" of our problems, but for the wars of the world, absolutely.

Instead of a universal made-up religion, I think we would be far better off adopting a "religion" of science and fact.

Wrong Way
D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451
The wiser wolf prevails.

[philh 0]

If greed and lust was such a strong moive in todays troubles. how do you explain the phenemenon of suicide bombers? I think you weould find their motivation difficult to explain without religion.

the idea that religions try and seek truth is quite frankly laughable. Religions seeik to install dogma, that usually have no bearing on the truth. if they were interested in truth they would be doing what science does, continually testing and refining their body of knowledge against data. Ive not ehard of a religion doing that.

[kelpdiver 2]

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If greed and lust was such a strong moive in todays troubles. how do you explain the phenemenon of suicide bombers? I think you weould find their motivation difficult to explain without religion.

the idea that religions try and seek truth is quite frankly laughable. Religions seeik to install dogma, that usually have no bearing on the truth. if they were interested in truth they would be doing what science does, continually testing and refining their body of knowledge against data. Ive not ehard of a religion doing that.

I think it's notable that the suicide bombers of late aren't leaders, but rather brainwashed peasants being used. In the Muslum world, I believe religion is being used to protect the system whereby a few benefit greatly at the expense of everyone else. To maintain that, the West must be demonized.

[kelpdiver 2]

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or is this a vastly simplistic way of looking at things?

I for one think if we would be a lot more close as a species if we were all singing from the same hymn sheet,

The Catholic Church was pretty much the only sheet in Europe for a long stretch. And it got more than a bit corrupt, and Protestants sects started branching off. The king of England formed his own just so he could get a divorce.

Religion isn't the problem, human desire is. It nearly impossible for us to live in a wonderful, socialistic utopia because there aren't enough of the best foods, biggest houses, prettiest girls to go around.

[Zep 0]

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If people didn't fight over things in the name of religion, they'd just fight over it in the name of something else. It's not the cause. It's the excuse.

You hit the nail right on the head,

If we were all Buddist maybe the fighting would stop,

Gone fishing