Religons

[Technologic]

Religion should be there for those who want it but it should never be imposed on people, used in law, as an excuse for violence or a reason to hate.

[GommeInc]

It's virtually impossible to follow the Bible to a tee, it's really only there as a guide and to illustrate. The "Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" analogy gets overwritten in the New Testament, where a Christian must be accepting and forgiven, than vile and dangerous.

I for one don't mind religion. I find it teaches people basic morals and "social laws", which there is nothing wrong with particulaly when some of the teachings illustrate these points so perfectly and clearly.

[Awfy]

It's virtually impossible to follow the Bible to a tee, it's really only there as a guide and to illustrate. The "Eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth" analogy gets overwritten in the New Testament, where a Christian must be accepting and forgiven, than vile and dangerous.

I for one don't mind religion. I find it teaches people basic morals and "social laws", which there is nothing wrong with particulaly when some of the teachings illustrate these points so perfectly and clearly.

Religion doesn't teach basic morals, they're in built into the human genetics just like they are within the ape communities. It has been religions long standing hold point that it was them who gave us morals however that is certainly not true. If anything certain religions are now holding people's morals back a couple of decades due to it's unwillingness to change with the times as quickly as it needs to. What solidifies your morals are in fact the way you interact with other human beings throughout your life time, watching how your actions affect them as humans and relating that back to your own feelings. Our level of intelligence even allows us to take them morals into other species like dogs where we can tell based on their non-human actions how we're affecting their feelings.

For the past 12 months I worked full-time then freelance with a Christian charity in the UK. Now, the majority of people who worked at this charity were all-out Christians and I think myself and about 2 other people were something other than Christian (myself being Agnostic at the time). The views of which they had about other religions and in particular homosexuals was shocking to say the least. The reason they were so shocking was because they simply relied on the bible to give them these views, that is very immoral in my view. Judging another human being based on scripture of such outdated and inaccurate form just plain wrong.

After this experience I switched entirely to Atheist as there is no reason to be that judgmental of another human being simply because your "holy" book tells you to be, or better put you think your holy book tells you to be.

If religion did build up your moral compass then most murders should be committed by Atheists/Non-Believers, which doesn't seem to be the case in any way.

[-:Undertaker:-]

Religion doesn't teach basic morals, they're in built into the human genetics just like they are within the ape communities. It has been religions long standing hold point that it was them who gave us morals however that is certainly not true. If anything certain religions are now holding people's morals back a couple of decades due to it's unwillingness to change with the times as quickly as it needs to. What solidifies your morals are in fact the way you interact with other human beings throughout your life time, watching how your actions affect them as humans and relating that back to your own feelings. Our level of intelligence even allows us to take them morals into other species like dogs where we can tell based on their non-human actions how we're affecting their feelings.

Well thats not really true - look for example at the Aztecs who sacrified humans (alive whilst cutting the heart out) based on their religion/set of morals. These things aren't built in through human genetics, and modern religion (Christianity in particular) has set what our morals are for hundreds of years - of which they still stand and gurantee the most basic things in law.

Another example would be the behaviour of African tribes towards British explorers/armed forces during the British Empire and its conquest - cannibalism and so forth. This is normal to them, but terrible to us because of our set of morals.

For the past 12 months I worked full-time then freelance with a Christian charity in the UK. Now, the majority of people who worked at this charity were all-out Christians and I think myself and about 2 other people were something other than Christian (myself being Agnostic at the time). The views of which they had about other religions and in particular homosexuals was shocking to say the least. The reason they were so shocking was because they simply relied on the bible to give them these views, that is very immoral in my view. Judging another human being based on scripture of such outdated and inaccurate form just plain wrong.

What are these 'shocking' views? did they voice a disapproval for homosexuality? if so, I don't find much shocking about that as many people (including non-religious) disapprove of homosexuality. I would understand if they were openly talking about Saudi-styled campaign against homosexuals, but what was so shocking? i'm interested to know.

[GommeInc]

Religion doesn't teach basic morals, they're in built into the human genetics just like they are within the ape communities. It has been religions long standing hold point that it was them who gave us morals however that is certainly not true. If anything certain religions are now holding people's morals back a couple of decades due to it's unwillingness to change with the times as quickly as it needs to. What solidifies your morals are in fact the way you interact with other human beings throughout your life time, watching how your actions affect them as humans and relating that back to your own feelings. Our level of intelligence even allows us to take them morals into other species like dogs where we can tell based on their non-human actions how we're affecting their feelings.

Your point doesn't really make sense as apes are known to kill, eat and rape each other, usually because of territorial disputes. The history of man is littered with examples of human sacrifices - the Romans used to sacrifice humans as well as animals infront of temples to opese their Roman Gods... With Christianity it taught people not to do this as it's a sin to kill innocent people (particularly the New Testament, the Old Testament is a horrific mess ) So morals aren't really genetic, they're developed.

For the past 12 months I worked full-time then freelance with a Christian charity in the UK. Now, the majority of people who worked at this charity were all-out Christians and I think myself and about 2 other people were something other than Christian (myself being Agnostic at the time). The views of which they had about other religions and in particular homosexuals was shocking to say the least. The reason they were so shocking was because they simply relied on the bible to give them these views, that is very immoral in my view. Judging another human being based on scripture of such outdated and inaccurate form just plain wrong.

You do know there are different types of Christianity, and Christian? The people you experienced are just one type out of millions. You should of just quoted a few parts of the Bible, particularly the sea food sins and wearing two types of material at the same time - that ought to shut 'em up

After this experience I switched entirely to Atheist as there is no reason to be that judgmental of another human being simply because your "holy" book tells you to be, or better put you think your holy book tells you to be.

Nothing wrong with this as it's your view, but you mustn't claim that all Christians are bad. In the church I work in, they're very liberal and open to people. They do not judge people on their sexuality, gender or disability. Heck, I remember one Sunday I was working and there was a gay teenager who was attacked in the area, and they prayed for his speedy recovery and didn't make any mention of judging him on his sexuality, but judged those who attacked him. It was pretty interesting to see that, dispite the view the media and the world has on Christians being the sort of people to promote this, when it's often forgotten that many (possibly the majority in this country) are open to this.

If religion did build up your moral compass then most murders should be committed by Atheists/Non-Believers, which doesn't seem to be the case in any way.

Indeed, anyone can commit murder - religious, gay, athiest, straight, black, white, Asian etc.

[Prudesh]

I'm a catholic but not a follower/beliver person lol

[kasi]

**** religion. all of them. all they are is a civilized cult
i was born and raised catholic, then when i could think on my own, i realized how all it is is ********

[Eric]

I was born and raised as a buddhist Cuz im a chinese. And im not really believing in them. Just follow the tradition

[Zak]

I personally don't see how people can believe in the bible. If half the people took the time to look into the evidence that supports christianity to be a load of bull hicky, I'm sure they wouldn't believe.

However! The bible gives a good set of rules to live by and adhere to, and a calming feeling, that if you ever need God. He will be there. Also a lot of great stories & the feeling of acceptance. (I feel the church are less likely to judge an individual)

I am respectful of other people's views. They have the right to believe in what they want to believe, despite how strong my views are against it.

[GommeInc]

I personally don't see how people can believe in the bible. If half the people took the time to look into the evidence that supports christianity to be a load of bull hicky, I'm sure they wouldn't believe.

However! The bible gives a good set of rules to live by and adhere to, and a calming feeling, that if you ever need God. He will be there. Also a lot of great stories & the feeling of acceptance. (I feel the church are less likely to judge an individual)

I am respectful of other people's views. They have the right to believe in what they want to believe, despite how strong my views are against it.

The bit in bold is not advisable in my opinion. People end up deluding themselves with false comfort, when physical bodies like people - friends and family - are of more use. That said, the Bible and some texts that originate from Christianity are pretty interesting to read and are quite uplifting. The Giddeon Bible is one example I can think of which incorporates religious text and categorises them into type e.g. mourning, excitement, happiness etc.