Organized Religion seems harmful

[Anonymous]

I also believe that God is love.

I also believe that organized religion is harmful. It too often perpetuates negative attitudes towards women and sex.

If we stuck to the New Testament, and everything Jesus *actually* said to do/not do, and if we weren't hypocrites about it, I'd be thrilled.

[Anonymous]

I am a member of a Christian church (Episcopal) that teaches our children about other religions, which also are valid ways of living.

John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

Agree - and there no reason why being encouraged or forced to believe in fantastical stories adds to the social benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

Your contention. Just because you can't imagine anybody else getting spiritual benefit from religion, or a model for how to live life, doesn't mean oth DS don't get those benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

OK so maybe it's "wishful thinking" at best. I agree, it can and is harmful. But I think this only further supports the contention that real benefit from religion is the tribal / social aspect to it.

Your contention. Just because you can't imagine anybody else getting spiritual benefit from religion, or a model for how to live life, doesn't mean oth DS don't get those benefits.

I can imagine people getting a "spiritual" benefit from religion and can also imagine that people who are not spiritual or can't bring themselves to believe the supernatural stories associated with religion still can get the same tribal/social benefits.

Many unitarians are open atheists, for instance, and liberal CHristian churches don't require the same kind of belief that fundamentalists do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

No Deal -- talk about hate-filled!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a member of a Christian church (Episcopal) that teaches our children about other religions, which also are valid ways of living.

John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

Hey look! Satan chimed in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

I wish we had a deal where people kept their politics out of other peoples wallets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am a Catholic. I believe that God is love. That's my faith in a nutshell. I respect other religions (or no religions)
and I hope they respect mine. Going to Mass every week, sending my children to Catholic school, saying the rosary, praying (even when I don't feel like it), reading the Bible and other inspirational literature (including evangelical Christian daily readings from my sister-in-law), listening to Catholic radio- encourages me to be a better, kinder person.
My faith and the church aren't perfect, because of the human component, but I can't deny the basic premise-
God is love.

Wow. This is truly one of the best expressions about why "being spiritual" isn't the same as supporting an actual community. Thank you.

What do you mean PP? What isn't the same? Catholics don't really believe God is Love. I mean they believe that God is the source of love, but they believe much more. "God is love" is actually more of a "being spiritual" stance than an organized religious stance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The shroud of Turin is the only man made item that science cannot figure out how to duplicate. And it is the image of crucified Christ.

It's still uncertain. There was a study in 2010 that questioned its authenticity.

Still, it is indeed an interesting artifact, and I'm not religious at all.

And one in 1988. I thought the shroud was famous for supposedly being Jesus's face but it was pretty much proven to be made several hundred years after. Didn't know it was famous for not being able to be replicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

Stop already with the sweeping, bigotted generalizations about all religious people. Plenty of us from all faiths want religion out of politics and think it has no place in government. You know this, of course, but acknowledging it would get in the way of you being a bigoted jacka$$.

If you stop being a bigoted jacka$$, then we religious folks won't associate all atheists with the immature, angry bigots on DCUM.

Deal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Church/temple is an institution that has the means to bring people together and maintain tradition, if done rightly. Tradition is, in my view, the reason for church to exist today. Traditions are what keeps families together. To give people who need help a place to come to, or for people who want to make friends and have a support system but don't know how to come together. It is time for people to realize that church/temple is a place of gathering/reflection which is sorely needed in this day and age of alienation. It has stopped being about the "right" God and the "right" religion for many people.

Well said. The real benefit of organized religion, in my opinion, is the social / tribal aspect of it. I think it's pretty clear the supernatural stuff is wishful thinking.

In many religions, people are taught to believe in the supernatural stuff and part of what they are taught is that you will suffer after death if you don't believe it. This can be pretty scary, especially to little kids and people are taught this when they are children. On the up side, you will live forever in heaven if you do believe it.

Not the PP who told OP to take her atheism elsewhere. But I suppose this thread is a good outlet for DCUM's two ranting atheists who want to spew their ignorant opinions. For example, there are so many errors, both factual and rhetorical, with the uneducated and bigoted last two posts.

But if you guys promise to stay here in your hate-filled little sandbox, the rest of us can have adult conversations on the other threads.

Deal?

I wish we had a deal where you kept your religion out of politics, so women didn't have men making reproductive choices for them, gays being forced to live with restrictions you don't, and the environment and animals being smothered under your backward logic. I like how you toss around around the word bigoted. It's okay to criticize your nonsense beliefs. All the young people do. In a few years, they'll be running the show. That's right none of them go to church.

Stop already with the sweeping, bigotted generalizations about all religious people. Plenty of us from all faiths want religion out of politics and think it has no place in government. You know this, of course, but acknowledging it would get in the way of you being a bigoted jacka$$.

If you stop being a bigoted jacka$$, then we religious folks won't associate all atheists with the immature, angry bigots on DCUM.

Deal?