NationStates Jolt Archive

Just to spoil the fun for most of you[Yeah, I'm sadistic]
I'd like to arrange a special topic for all of you to discuss :D

What is your theory about religion in general?
I watched a documentary about religion, and all it's backsides, people are talking alot about how "good it is" to have something to believe in, but is that true?
In a test, it was shown that MORE than half the population of USA believe the world is less than 3000 years old.
They don't teach the kids in school about Evoulution "cause it's just a theory" but they still teach religion, particularily christianity in general though.
In another test, 10000 people in USA were asked who was the lowest ranked human, i.e "the worst". and 70% said "Atheists" instead of gays, murders, and pedophiles.

Is religion just something that clouds or view and encourages stupidity?

Just to spoil the fun for most of you[Yeah, I'm sadistic]
I'd like to arrange a special topic for all of you to discuss :D

What is your theory about religion in general?
I watched a documentary about religion, and all it's backsides, people are talking alot about how "good it is" to have something to believe in, but is that true?
In a test, it was shown that MORE than half the population of USA believe the world is less than 3000 years old.
They don't teach the kids in school about Evoulution "cause it's just a theory" but they still teach religion, particularily christianity in general though.
In another test, 10000 people in USA were asked who was the lowest ranked human, i.e "the worst". and 70% said "Atheists" instead of gays, murders, and pedophiles.

Is religion just something that clouds or view and encourages stupidity?

Kiddo, you need to go through some of the old threads. In fact, we have several reiligon ones going already. Not to put you off, and this coming from someone who just started a thread about which two member of Jolt people fall between alphabetically, but it's been done. I personally think arguing about religion is like arguing about who has the best imaginary friend, but I don't mind discussing it in an intelligent manner.

Doesn't this violate one of Rotovia's complaints? (See: Stop molesting general! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=500368))

In another test, 10000 people in USA were asked who was the lowest ranked human, i.e "the worst". and 70% said "Atheists" instead of gays, murders, and pedophiles.


Wtf thanks for lumping gays with murderers and pedophiles. People are fucking stupid. I don't know if I have any 'ranking' for people per se. I mean "If not for the grace of God there go I". A good saying that I think religious (Abrahamic) types should take to heart.

I know, but most of them are directed against islam, mine is directed against religion in general.

Doesn't this violate one of Rotovia's complaints? (See: Stop molesting general! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=500368))

I reckon that this wont be the first or the last time someone has violated Rotavia's complaint. :)

Doesn't this violate one of Rotovia's complaints? (See: Stop molesting general! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=500368))

Seen it, read it, laughed at it, if we would filter through all Rotovia's "rules" there would be like 3 topics left. top.

What is your theory about religion in general?

In general, I'd say it was an all around bad idea.

Is religion just something that clouds or view and encourages stupidity?

Mostly. Some religious folks, like Isaac Newton or Abu Ysuf Ya'qub ibn Ishaq ibn al-Sabbah al-Kindi or whatever, have used their religion as a stepping stone to study the universe and advance science.

The masses though .... *shudder*

Doesn't this violate one of Rotovia's complaints? (See: Stop molesting general! (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=500368))

I'd have to consult with the NSG Pope to clarify whether or not Rotovia is NSG King and can enforce such dictum.

Wtf thanks for lumping gays with murderers and pedophiles. People are fucking stupid. I don't know if I have any 'ranking' for people per se. I mean "If not for the grace of God there go I". A good saying that I think religious (Abrahamic) types should take to heart.

Sorry, I have nothing against gays, they were just part of the test.

Religion began because thousands of years ago people were too ignorant to understand how the planet worked. So they invented gods to explain away these things since they didn't have a clue how the processes worked. Humans fear the unknown and have to come up with an explination and so supernatural beings, deities, are used to make people feel better. Now religion persists today because we still fear the unknown and need God to be able to feel better about the future and that our lives have a higher purpose then our pathetic existence would appear to have.

What is your theory about religion in general?



My theory about religion in General is that religion gets discussed a LOT in General. But so does homosexuality, Aspberger's, Bush, Iraq, Muslims, Jews, news of the day, random odd topics, copycat questions, discussions ABOUT copycat questioning, and a lot of other stuff.

Just to spoil the fun for most of you[Yeah, I'm sadistic]
I'd like to arrange a special topic for all of you to discuss :D

What is your theory about religion in general?
I watched a documentary about religion, and all it's backsides, people are talking alot about how "good it is" to have something to believe in, but is that true?
In a test, it was shown that MORE than half the population of USA believe the world is less than 3000 years old.
They don't teach the kids in school about Evoulution "cause it's just a theory" but they still teach religion, particularily christianity in general though.
In another test, 10000 people in USA were asked who was the lowest ranked human, i.e "the worst". and 70% said "Atheists" instead of gays, murders, and pedophiles.

Is religion just something that clouds or view and encourages stupidity?

You do realise that they are completely made up statistics don't you?

You do realise that they are completely made up statistics don't you?

I firmly believe that all statistics are made up.

I firmly believe that all statistics are made up.

Sure. Statistics show that 54% of statistics are made up. :)

What is your theory about religion in general?It's a convenient way of organizing people into something resembling a civilization. You can compare God to Hobbes' Leviathan (an authority to enforce social rules).

In a test, it was shown that MORE than half the population of USA believe the world is less than 3000 years old. Then they must not be very religious, because judeo-christian beliefs put it at 5600 years old (or there about)
Although it would hardly be the first time people have no clue about what they ought to believe and do according to their professed faith.

They don't teach the kids in school about Evoulution "cause it's just a theory" but they still teach religion, particularily christianity in general though.But not well, apparantly.

In another test, 10000 people in USA were asked who was the lowest ranked human, i.e "the worst". and 70% said "Atheists" instead of gays, murders, and pedophiles.One has to wonder about the context of the survey or 'test'. If people were given the choice of choosing between athiest, gays, murderers and pedophiles, I'd imagine most would choose the last or second last. If they have to think up an answer (i.e. they can't pick from a list, and therefore many things don't come to mind), then yes, I can imagine there are so many answers that may come mind, that athiest are the only group big enough to attract many people.
The point being, the result means absolutely nothing without the context of the question.

Is religion just something that clouds our view and encourages stupidity?It can, and it can do the opposite too. For long periods of time christianity and Islam have encouraged people to examine God's creation. For christianity that became a problem when the church adopted dogmas about science, which science later refuted. And as I understand it, Islam the focus simply shifted from world study to Koran study over time.
In any case, religion is rarely in principle against the pursuit of (worldly) knowledge. It's quite compatible from a theological point of view. After all, if the world is God's creation, than it is certainly worthy of attention; and through understanding it one would understand God better.

I think it might be better to say the religion changes the focus of view, rather than clouding it (it may considerably narrow it too though). And of course 'stupidity' is for some part in the eye of the beholder.
From a socio-evolutionary point of view, there must be some benefit to religion, otherwise why would such ideas remain alive. Atheism has been around since the ancient greeks, and it's still not the majority opinion. So apparantly religion just "breeds" better. And there is ample evidence people have a natural inclination to it.

Just to spoil the fun for most of you[Yeah, I'm sadistic]
I'd like to arrange a special topic for all of you to discuss :D

What is your theory about religion in general?
I watched a documentary about religion, and all it's backsides, people are talking alot about how "good it is" to have something to believe in, but is that true?
In a test, it was shown that MORE than half the population of USA believe the world is less than 3000 years old.
They don't teach the kids in school about Evoulution "cause it's just a theory" but they still teach religion, particularily christianity in general though.
In another test, 10000 people in USA were asked who was the lowest ranked human, i.e "the worst". and 70% said "Atheists" instead of gays, murders, and pedophiles.

Is religion just something that clouds or view and encourages stupidity?

I demand a source.

i find it interesting how nobody managed to actually answer the first OP question (or to notice it at all)...

if only i wasn't so sleepy now:(

I firmly believe that all statistics are made up.

89% of all statistics are made up on the spot see how easy it is.

i find it interesting how nobody managed to actually answer the first OP question (or to notice it at all)... Which one did i miss?