Has religion been a boon or a bane to mankind?

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Religion was supposed to be no vices and no wickedness. "Do not sin," Jesus said.
And the Highest Religion was supposed to be listening to our Higher Consciousness, for it guides us towards the right way of things. "Listen to what the Spirit says to you."
And this way following religion or highest religion, we would walk the right way in life and reach Heaven from this Hell here called earth.
Religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism etc., are propaganda/fake, just to make money, name, fame, power using the name of God.

The trouble with something as vague and diffuse as "listen to the spirit", means ignoring reason and following your heart however black or distorted it is. It's what Hitler did, and what every child molester and murdered does. That inner voice without regard to social rules and moral advice.

But it was 'reason' to Hitler. People rationalise what they do. A decent science education and some critical thinking could have made all the difference as far as Hitler is concerned. Religion scrambles a person's ability to reason. Actually, 'moral advice' doesn't make a shit-load of difference. People are going to be who they are, and do what they are compelled to do. Does anyone seriously believe that so-called 'christians' behave any better than anyone else, just because of their warped sense of 'morality'? If anything, it makes them worse, because there are plenty of passages in the bible to justify their disgustingness. The koran is just as bad.

[Hobbes' Choice]

Religion was supposed to be no vices and no wickedness. "Do not sin," Jesus said.
And the Highest Religion was supposed to be listening to our Higher Consciousness, for it guides us towards the right way of things. "Listen to what the Spirit says to you."
And this way following religion or highest religion, we would walk the right way in life and reach Heaven from this Hell here called earth.
Religions like Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Judaism etc., are propaganda/fake, just to make money, name, fame, power using the name of God.

The trouble with something as vague and diffuse as "listen to the spirit", means ignoring reason and following your heart however black or distorted it is. It's what Hitler did, and what every child molester and murdered does. That inner voice without regard to social rules and moral advice.

But it was 'reason' to Hitler. People rationalise what they do. A decent science education and some critical thinking could have made all the difference as far as Hitler is concerned. Religion scrambles a person's ability to reason. Actually, 'moral advice' doesn't make a shit-load of difference. People are going to be who they are, and do what they are compelled to do. Does anyone seriously believe that so-called 'christians' behave any better than anyone else, just because of their warped sense of 'morality'? If anything, it makes them worse, because there are plenty of passages in the bible to justify their disgustingness. The koran is just as bad.

I think Hilter started with his gut, a visceral patriotism and racism, believing that Germans were the greatest. Facing defeat as a corporal in WW1 and then rejected as an artist, the rest is rationalisation.
Read Mein Kampft. It is a blatant emotional appeal to the most base instincts of humanity.
I think that this accounts for more of the world's behaviour than anything else.
As for Christians - when the fuck did they ever reason and even so much as read the Bible? Christians just seem to cherry pick whatever twisted version suits their most base instincts- following their spirit.
Have you ever seen a Christian turning the other cheek, or giving to the poor and homeless?

[vegetariantaxidermy]

The trouble with something as vague and diffuse as "listen to the spirit", means ignoring reason and following your heart however black or distorted it is. It's what Hitler did, and what every child molester and murdered does. That inner voice without regard to social rules and moral advice.

But it was 'reason' to Hitler. People rationalise what they do. A decent science education and some critical thinking could have made all the difference as far as Hitler is concerned. Religion scrambles a person's ability to reason. Actually, 'moral advice' doesn't make a shit-load of difference. People are going to be who they are, and do what they are compelled to do. Does anyone seriously believe that so-called 'christians' behave any better than anyone else, just because of their warped sense of 'morality'? If anything, it makes them worse, because there are plenty of passages in the bible to justify their disgustingness. The koran is just as bad.

I think Hilter started with his gut, a visceral patriotism and racism, believing that Germans were the greatest. Facing defeat as a corporal in WW1 and then rejected as an artist, the rest is rationalisation.
Read Mein Kampft. It is a blatant emotional appeal to the most base instincts of humanity.
I think that this accounts for more of the world's behaviour than anything else.
As for Christians - when the fuck did they ever reason and even so much as read the Bible? Christians just seem to cherry pick whatever twisted version suits their most base instincts- following their spirit.
Have you ever seen a Christian turning the other cheek, or giving to the poor and homeless?

I agree. We are just looking at it from slightly different angles. I don't need to read Hitler's book to know the essence of what's in it. The kristians on here are excellent examples of how religion distorts or renders dormant higher brain functions like critical thinking and rationality. The only cure is a loss of superstitious belief. Some of the most intelligent non-believers are ex-religious nuts.

[Greta]

Have you ever seen a Christian turning the other cheek, or giving to the poor and homeless?

Yes, but the issue is their focus.

How often do we read of Christian leaders speaking passionately and lobbying hard on behalf of the poor, homeless and refugee? Very, very little as compared with furious campaigning and lobbying about Muslims, abortions and gays, which appear to be religious politicians' only concerns.

It's a tragedy that such powerful and wealthy institutions could squander such an opportunity to do significant good, with almost all of their lobbying power wasted on shallow cruelty towards certain vulnerable groups.

[Immanuel Can]

Have you ever seen a Christian turning the other cheek, or giving to the poor and homeless?

Yes, but the issue is their focus.

How often do we read of Christian leaders speaking passionately and lobbying hard on behalf of the poor, homeless and refugee? Very, very little as compared with furious campaigning and lobbying about Muslims, abortions and gays, which appear to be religious politicians' only concerns.

It's a tragedy that such powerful and wealthy institutions could squander such an opportunity to do significant good, with almost all of their lobbying power wasted on shallow cruelty towards certain vulnerable groups.

What are you smoking?

You have no idea...do you not know that for the most part, everything from women's rights to prison reform, from welfare to socialized medicine, from public education to charitable foundations, and from addiction relief to foreign aid has been historically led by Christians? And how could you not know that even now, the best chance for a hand up any refugee has is connecting with one of the many Christian groups and institutions that are presently attending to their needs...without drawing any funds from the public purse?

How could ANYONE not know that, unless they knew absolutely nothing about any of those things?

In contrast, I could quite understand if you found it hard to list the charitable contributions of Atheism.

Oy frickin' vey.

[Harbal]

Oy frickin' vey.

It's fucking vey, you dumb fucker. What the fuck is "frickin" supposed to fucking mean? JESUS frickin' CHRIST!

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Oy frickin' vey.

It's fucking vey, you dumb fucker. What the fuck is "frickin" supposed to fucking mean? JESUS frickin' CHRIST!

That's what kristians do when they are trying hard not to be naughty. Like 'Oh my go....sh'. Or 'Cri....key dick'. It's tragic really.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

Have you ever seen a Christian turning the other cheek, or giving to the poor and homeless?

Yes, but the issue is their focus.

How often do we read of Christian leaders speaking passionately and lobbying hard on behalf of the poor, homeless and refugee? Very, very little as compared with furious campaigning and lobbying about Muslims, abortions and gays, which appear to be religious politicians' only concerns.

It's a tragedy that such powerful and wealthy institutions could squander such an opportunity to do significant good, with almost all of their lobbying power wasted on shallow cruelty towards certain vulnerable groups.

What are you smoking?

You have no idea...do you not know that for the most part, everything from women's rights to prison reform, from welfare to socialized medicine, from public education to charitable foundations, and from addiction relief to foreign aid has been historically led by Christians? And how could you not know that even now, the best chance for a hand up any refugee has is connecting with one of the many Christian groups and institutions that are presently attending to their needs...without drawing any funds from the public purse?

How could ANYONE not know that, unless they knew absolutely nothing about any of those things?

In contrast, I could quite understand if you found it hard to list the charitable contributions of Atheism.

Oy frickin' vey.

Well duh! Most PEOPLE in those countries were nominally christian. It's only recently that people have dared to be open about their non-belief. Whether or not those people were 'christian' has nothing to do with the price of fish. And kristian 'charities' are just giant, money gobbling corporations. What they fork out is a drop in the ocean compared to what they keep.

[Harbal]

That's what kristians do when they are trying hard not to be naughty. Like 'Oh my go....sh'. Or 'Cri....key dick'. It's tragic really.

Yes it's fine to persecute gays and belittle anyone who doesn't share their odd beliefs but heaven forbid you should curse and swear.

[vegetariantaxidermy]

That's what kristians do when they are trying hard not to be naughty. Like 'Oh my go....sh'. Or 'Cri....key dick'. It's tragic really.

Yes it's fine to persecute gays and belittle anyone who doesn't share their odd beliefs but heaven forbid you should curse and swear.

Of course. It gives them the chance to take the 'moral' high ground when those who don't share their hates 'cuss' without the silly disguises.

[Harbal]

Of course. It gives them the chance to take the 'moral' high ground when those who don't share their hates 'cuss' without the silly disguises.

Somebody needs to tell that Immanuel Can what a bastard he is, I hate the fact that he doesn't seem to know.

[Greta]

Have you ever seen a Christian turning the other cheek, or giving to the poor and homeless?

Yes, but the issue is their focus.

How often do we read of Christian leaders speaking passionately and lobbying hard on behalf of the poor, homeless and refugee? Very, very little as compared with furious campaigning and lobbying about Muslims, abortions and gays, which appear to be religious politicians' only concerns.

It's a tragedy that such powerful and wealthy institutions could squander such an opportunity to do significant good, with almost all of their lobbying power wasted on shallow cruelty towards certain vulnerable groups.

What are you smoking?

You have no idea...do you not know that for the most part, everything from women's rights to prison reform, from welfare to socialized medicine, from public education to charitable foundations, and from addiction relief to foreign aid has been historically led by Christians? And how could you not know that even now, the best chance for a hand up any refugee has is connecting with one of the many Christian groups and institutions that are presently attending to their needs...without drawing any funds from the public purse?

The aggression of your tone reveals insecurity and, based on your collection of mistakes and ill will above, well may you feel insecure in your position.

Firstly, I referred to "religious politicians", not religions per se. Religious politicians and lobbyists speak copiously about Muslims, abortions and gays but a rare few speak out with equivalent passion for the plight of the poor and homeless. Many ostensibly religious politicians are amongst the most harsh and unforgiving to the vulnerable.

I suspect that churches would not want to upset economic rationalists in government due to your other major error: "without drawing any funds from the public purse". Of course the taxpayer "contributes" via religions' tax-free status in many countries.

Religious leaders are aware that if they sufficiently displease economic rationalist governments they may risk losing all or part of their current tax free status, which is worth many millions, or more, worldwide. Governments are well aware that at least some of the millions of taxpayer dollars gifted to the churches go into lobbying against Muslims, abortions and gays.

It makes more sense to withdraw religions' tax-free status. Instead their charitable activities could be assisted via government grants as currently occurs with secular NGOs. There could be accountability and targets to ensure that the money isn't being frittered away on reproductive lobbying or other activities that should be entirely privately funded.

[Immanuel Can]

The aggression of your tone...

"Aggression"? More like gobsmacked disbelief.

[Harbal]

More like gobsmacked disbelief.

Disbelief is fine, it's just that yours is in the wrong place.

[A_Seagull]

Picking up on a point made earlier.. perhaps to some degree religion is inevitable given the nature of humanity.

Religion can offer comfort over the realisation of mortality. It can also offer guidance for those who seek guidance. Both of which could be considered to be beneficial.

On the flip side of that, religions tend to take the possible or perhaps the probable and claim that they are true or inevitable. This can result in an oversimplification of the facts and a distortion of the way a person views the world.