So... Christianity, but more specific.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

There is also a difference between the progress of technology and the progress of humanity.  Has humanity progressed?  In many parts of the world, perhaps, but we still have violence, suffering, hunger, and hate.  Does science seek to solve these problems?

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Science has done more to solve them than religion has. The aids crisis in Africa, "sceience" could have addressed that (through condoms) but since there is a large catholic population and they dont do birth control its become a huge problem.

 

If there is ever a cure for aids, well that you can thank science for it as you can for pretty much all the cures (even if the "science" was from observation such as herbal remedies).

[Hurlshort]

You are bandaging the wound, but religions seek to avoid the wound all together. You don't address how science is stopping violence and hatred. Those are major problems. I'm not saying science isn't important, but I am saying religion is important as well. You seem to have the opinion that religion is useless and outdated.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

You are bandaging the wound, but religions seek to avoid the wound all together.  You don't address how science is stopping violence and hatred.  Those are major problems.  I'm not saying science isn't important, but I am saying religion is important as well.  You seem to have the opinion that religion is useless and outdated.

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If religion were and employee it would have been fired a long time ago for incompetance.

 

Much of that violence and hatred is in fact a by product or a direct result of religion.

[Musopticon?]

Pfffft. Religion gives millions of peoples lives a substance. Religion gives something to grasp and hold on to when all else fails. I think it's mighty important. But then again, I'm brainwashed by dirty priests and christian values.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Pfffft. Religion gives millions of peoples lives a substance. Religion gives something to grasp and hold on to when all else fails. I think it's mighty important. But then again, I'm brainwashed by dirty priests and christian values.

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Wasnt it Marx who said "religion is the opiate of the people" ?

[Hurlshort]

Much of that violence and hatred is in fact a by product or a direct result of religion.

 

Man does this. You seem to have a lot of hostility towards any type of religion. Was something forced on you ShadowPaladin? Saying that religion is important seems like a pretty safe statement to me, as it is important to the majority of the people on Earth. That doesn't mean that you should follow in it.

[Judge Hades]

I am not an atheist myself, I just want religious people to leave me alone. I can't walk across campus or go down the street without seeing some religious nutjob preaching at me. I don't go to their church and scream at them, I leave them alone. I just wish they do the same.

 

Also there needs to be a separation of church and state. A government needs to be completely secular for it to be fair to all people it governs.I don't want to see "In God We Trust" on my currency, I don't want to hear "Under God" in my pledge, and so forth and so on.

 

I am not saying that religion doesn't serve a purpose. I am saying religion has its place and as long as it stays away from me I am willing to stay away from it and its followers. I don't want to be governed by religion nor do I want it to be eliminated. I want it, the gods that be, and their followers to leave me alone.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

Man does this.  You seem to have a lot of hostility towards any type of religion.  Was something forced on you ShadowPaladin?  Saying that religion is important seems like a pretty safe statement to me, as it is important to the majority of the people on Earth.  That doesn't mean that    you should follow in it.

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Man does it because he thinks it's a ticket to the afterlife. You know, remember the crusades ? Anyone who died there was promised a fast track to heaven. Thats what those nutty suicide bombers get promised these days too. Along with 70 virgins or something like that.

 

It was a recruiting slogan at one point during the crusades. " You may have lived for the devil, but you can die for the lord".

 

Fear is a big motivator for most people and promising them happy ever after is a powerful tool of cooercian. A great way to keep control of people who are poor is to promise them that there really crap and very short life here, will lead to a better one in the next world. Of course there isnt really any proof that such a world exists, but poor people tend to be ill educated and easy to manipulate.

 

No, nothing was forced on me, any more than it would be on a typical UK resident of my age. I opted out of Religious Studies and took half the class with me

[Judge Hades]

Wow, Shadowpaladin and I have roughly the same view on this. YAY!

[Musopticon?]

Pfffft. Religion gives millions of peoples lives a substance. Religion gives something to grasp and hold on to when all else fails. I think it's mighty important. But then again, I'm brainwashed by dirty priests and christian values.

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Wasnt it Marx who said "religion is the opiate of the people" ?

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He did. He also invented communism, so I sort of dismiss the guy.

[Judge Hades]

There is nothing wrong with communism if it is done right. There has yet been any large scale nation who has done communism correctly.

[Musopticon?]

Communism is wrong, socialism on the other hand is not.

 

Edit: Well, maybe not 'wrong', that's a bad term fo this. Not viable, would be more apt. I consider communism impossible to work.

Edited October 20, 2005 by Musopticon?

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

He did. He also invented communism, so I sort of dismiss the guy.

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I tend more towards functionalism myself.

[Judge Hades]

USSR and China are/were wrong. Communism can't really work that large of scale.

 

EDIT: That I can agree with. It is possible to work if you have less than 20 people. Millions upon millions, no it fails miserably.

Edited October 20, 2005 by Hades_One

[Musopticon?]

I do magic mushrooms myself.

[ShadowPaladin V1.0]

USSR and China are/were wrong.  Communism can't really work that large of scale.

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Exactly, you really have to know and actually give a toss about the people you are giving up your goodies for. It does work very well on a tribal level.

[Musopticon?]

The ideology in practice also kills all relations with differing nations, dries up all will to succeed and improve as all is provided, and ultimately needs a strong leadership figure to work, which in itself is against the idea of communism. Is the leader equal with his people and yet still hold power over them? Like pontifex maximus? In a nutshell; communism just doesn't work.

Edited October 20, 2005 by Musopticon?

[Judge Hades]

Only if you are a weakminded git.

[Musopticon?]

Sorry for editing, but I write stuff as it comes to my mind. Which just happens to be like a swish cheese.

[Judge Hades]

Sorry for editing, but I write stuff as it comes to my mind. Which just happens to be like a swish cheese.

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Swish cheese? Did you roll a one on your cheese log?

[Akhan225]

USSR and China are/were wrong.  Communism can't really work that large of scale.

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Exactly, you really have to know and actually give a toss about the people you are giving up your goodies for. It does work very well on a tribal level.

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Couldnt agree more. The larger the scale of people is the more difficult it is to implement. Given this knowledge it would be interesting to see what would happen if China renounced comminism.

[Musopticon?]

Fine, native english speakers. My memory is as holey as a camembert.

[Judge Hades]

Thy should renbounce their version of communism and FLEE THEIR COUNTRY! 1 billion chinese running, screaming in all directions would be fun to see.

[Judge Hades]

Fine, native english speakers. My memory is as holey as a camembert.

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HAHAHAHA!

 

[Musopticon?]

China doesn't practice commieism as such. Their trade, economy and relations(anything which fills the leading partys pockets) is very dem/cap-oriented.