Why I hate religion!

[MaineDolFan]

Nor did I. I haven't mentioned intelligence at anytime. Nor have I called anyone crazy. I'm just asking what the difference is.

Maybe none.  You very well could be right.  God knows that so many horrific things have been done on this planet equally because "the devil made me do it" and "because God commands it."  So either way, you're right, religion can (and is) be used as a scape goat.

I just think that it might be a little bit of an oversimplication.  Everyone has a conscience.  Everyone has that little voice in their head saying "is this a great idea" while you're doing something that might be against your own personal moral code.  Right?  Where does that voice originate from?  If one stance is that it is absurd that it's a higher power speaking to you than you have to admit it's equally absurd that the voice came out of nowhere.  Because ultimately if your core knew that action was wrong in the first place you wouldn't have put yourself into a position to hear "that voice."  Right?

[Buddhagirl]

I have been biting my tongue on this but I feel the need to interject.

I don't consider myself a religious person.  I am a man of science - I typically don't believe in things that can't be proven.  However, I think its important to keep an eye open to these things.

I find that speaking of "imaginary friends" and calling religious believers "mentally ill" as over the line.  If people want to practice their faith and believe in a higher power, so be it.  Maybe it helps to keep them centered.  Maybe it helps to give them a purpose to life.  Who are you to belittle them for doing so?

Belief is a choice, its not an illness.  You don't choose to be mentally ill, but you can choose to believe in God.  Let's be realistic, mental illness is OVER THE LINE in this context.

Of course, that's not to say that there aren't crazy mentally ill people that cite God (or Satan) as their reason for acting in some cases, but those aren't the people I'm referring to.  A guy who goes to church every Sunday, a guy who prays to a God of his choosing - what makes him any more "crazy" than you?  

I think some of the "I don't believe in God" people have taken a self-righteous stance and can't fathom that other people might have different beliefs.  I think its important to take a "to each his own" stance here, and stop trying to convince each other that there is or isn't a God.

Make no mistake about it. I don't care who you worship. As long as you keep it to yourself I don't care. However, what I am asking is at what point do we deem it mental illness.

If I were walking around saying that Lilith, for instance, is going to make everything all right. Started insisting that Lilith created the world, would heal me, and would take care of everything. When asked where Lilith is, I told people that they cannot see him they just have to belive I would immediately be locked up.

Please, tell me, how is the believe in god or any supereme being any different?

Maine...the little voice is me thinking. It's not put there by anyone else.

[MaineDolFan]

Maine...the little voice is me thinking. It's not put there by anyone else.

If that little voice were you thinking - you would never be in a situation that you second guessed...due to thinking it through prior to placing yourself in that situation.

Either way - that little voice is either you talking to yourself or someone else prodding you along.  Some would consider either equally crazy.  Right?

[Brian Fein]

You must be careful to separate people who are actively preaching about Lilith.  If you went to the Church of Lilith on Sundays with 300 other Lilith worshipers, and worshipped Lilith in your home in private, why is it anyone's business to lock you up?

[Buddhagirl]

You must be careful to separate people who are actively preaching about Lilith.  If you went to the Church of Lilith on Sundays with 300 other Lilith worshipers, and worshipped Lilith in your home in private, why is it anyone's business to lock you up?

So, as long as everyone else is having the same thought/delusion or worshipping the same peculiar entity it's ok? But, if it's just you it's time to be medicated? I'm still not understanding what the difference is here.

If that little voice were you thinking - you would never be in a situation that you second guessed...due to thinking it through prior to placing yourself in that situation.

Either way - that little voice is either you talking to yourself or someone else prodding you along.  Some would consider either equally crazy.  Right?

Talking to yourself consists of talking outload. If it's within the head, you're just thinking.

[Brian Fein]

No the difference is not the number of people, the difference is IN PRIVATE.

If a guy goes out on the street with a sign that says "JESUS SAVES" and starts screaming how the end is near and we must all convert to be saved, etc, I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't say "that dude's off his rocker."  But, surely I hope you can see the difference between that crazy guy, and your neighbor, husband and father, who chooses to go to church on Sunday, and is just a regular guy.

[Phishfan]

Figures. I offer a proof, and you don't even attempt to challenge it.

I challenged it by saying you proved nothing. Please look at the responses to your post. #1 I said you aren't even on topic and #2 Maine himself said you offered no proof because there is none. If you want to use long winded explanations that is fine with me (I know how lawyers like to write) but please quit passing off opinion as proof.

[bsfins]

I don't know,if he does exsist he's a cruel S.O.B. if he does....

[Sunstroke]

 

"I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours,
but I think that God's got a sick sense of humor
and when I die, I expect to find him laughing..."

[MaineDolFan]

 

"I don't want to start any blasphemous rumours,
but I think that God's got a sick sense of humor
and when I die, I expect to find him laughing..."

Depeche Mode's finest work, IMO!

[Buddhagirl]

No the difference is not the number of people, the difference is IN PRIVATE.

If a guy goes out on the street with a sign that says "JESUS SAVES" and starts screaming how the end is near and we must all convert to be saved, etc, I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't say "that dude's off his rocker."  But, surely I hope you can see the difference between that crazy guy, and your neighbor, husband and father, who chooses to go to church on Sunday, and is just a regular guy.

But, if you truly believe shouldn't you share that with others? I'm still confused as to what the criteria is here.

[Spider-Dan]

Figures. I offer a proof, and you don't even attempt to challenge it.

You didn't offer any proof at all; you made a claim and presumed it was true.

You claim that there is objective morality.  Objective means "not influenced by personal feelings, interpretations, or prejudice; based on facts; unbiased."  But you have two problems:

a) You can't prove that (for example) murder is objectively evil
b) You cannot establish factual, objective criteria for what constitutes murder

So your claim is effectively meaningless.  As in a previous thread, you make a claim that objective morality exists, yet you cannot define it; you use this claim to then "prove" the existence of a god.

In exactly the same sense, since "objective tastiness" exists, there must be a god.  This illustrates the triviality of your argument.

[Brian Fein]

But, if you truly believe shouldn't you share that with others? I'm still confused as to what the criteria is here.

EXACTLY why I said "to each his own"

Some people choose to practice tolerance and let people believe what they want without persecution.

Some people choose to enforce their beliefs onto everyone around them.

Just because I believe something doesn't mean I have to "share that with others..."

[Sunstroke]

EXACTLY why I said "to each his own"

Some people choose to practice tolerance and let people believe what they want without persecution.

Some people choose to enforce their beliefs onto everyone around them.

Just because I believe something doesn't mean I have to "share that with others..."

Since I offered the sagely verse of Depeche Mode on this subject, I thought another really good bit on religion came from George Carlin, who told us...

"Religion, at best - at BEST - is like a lift in your shoe. If you need it for a while, and it makes you walk straight and feel better - fine. But you don't need it forever, or you can become permanently disabled. Religion is like a lift in the shoe, and I say...just don't ask me to wear your shoes. And let's not go down and nail lifts onto the natives' feet."

[Buddhagirl]

EXACTLY why I said "to each his own"

Some people choose to practice tolerance and let people believe what they want without persecution.

Some people choose to enforce their beliefs onto everyone around them.

Just because I believe something doesn't mean I have to "share that with others..."

From what I remember from years of going to church, you are supposed to spread the word. No?

As stated....I myself don't care who you worship. I'm just asking when does it cross over into mental illness and who's to say what the difference is.