Does Anyone Really Think Religion is Evil?

I see some people saying religion is evil and the world would be better off without religion. Now, I know full and well of the atrocities that people of some religions have done and are still doing today, but if you look at the other side of the coin, there are a lot of religious hospitals and schools, and there are religious people just trying to make the world a better place by helping in 3rd world countries. I just would like to know some of your guys' opinions on this.

We have enough running threads about religion right now, but I'll bite.

No, religion isn't inherently evil. Most religious doctrine teach tolerance, charity and love. It's sad that they also include anger, violence and other negative aspect. Ultimately it's people who interpret religions for their own purposes.

I see some people saying religion is evil and the world would be better off without religion. Now, I know full and well of the atrocities that people of some religions have done and are still doing today, but if you look at the other side of the coin, there are a lot of religious hospitals and schools, and there are religious people just trying to make the world a better place by helping in 3rd world countries. I just would like to know some of your guys' opinions on this.

JustMe64

There are many good non-religious schools and secular organisations helping third world countries too.

I think religious schools are a dangerous idea.

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

I see some people saying religion is evil and the world would be better off without religion. Now, I know full and well of the atrocities that people of some religions have done and are still doing today, but if you look at the other side of the coin, there are a lot of religious hospitals and schools, and there are religious people just trying to make the world a better place by helping in 3rd world countries. I just would like to know some of your guys' opinions on this.

RationalAtheist

There are many good non-religious schools and secular organisations helping third world countries too.

I think religious schools are a dangerous idea.

Yeah, I know I was just mentioning the religious ones.

How come you think religious schools are a bad idea?

I would consider many of the actual texts in the Bible (old testament) evil. I don't see how anyone could say otherwise that actually knows their Bible. The new testament isn't as bad, but it makes you wonder why did god change if he is real.

id give it nuteral some religous people are good and nice while some when they find out you're and athiest and a non beleiver freak out and they make charles manson look like a saint

Yeah, I know I was just mentioning the religious ones.

How come you think religious schools are a bad idea?

JustMe64

Because they tend to teach about one type of religion exclusively - typically as a life-preference. I think they are divisive. I think people can achieve a more rounded education by going to a secular or multi-faith school.

I would consider many of the actual texts in the Bible (old testament) evil. I don't see how anyone could say otherwise that actually knows their Bible. The new testament isn't as bad, but it makes you wonder why did god change if he is real.

Pikdum

The things I would consider evil in the Old Testament were choices made by people themselves not God if I remember correctly.

any religion if truely practiced,can be evil by today's standards.

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

I see some people saying religion is evil and the world would be better off without religion. Now, I know full and well of the atrocities that people of some religions have done and are still doing today, but if you look at the other side of the coin, there are a lot of religious hospitals and schools, and there are religious people just trying to make the world a better place by helping in 3rd world countries. I just would like to know some of your guys' opinions on this.

JustMe64

There are many good non-religious schools and secular organisations helping third world countries too.

I think religious schools are a dangerous idea.

Yeah, I know I was just mentioning the religious ones.

How come you think religious schools are a bad idea?

It's brainwash. Going to a normal school gives you the option to decide what you believe in.

I would consider many of the actual texts in the Bible (old testament) evil. I don't see how anyone could say otherwise that actually knows their Bible. The new testament isn't as bad, but it makes you wonder why did god change if he is real.

Pikdum

The things I would consider evil in the Old Testament were choices made by people themselves not God if I remember correctly.

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

There are many good non-religious schools and secular organisations helping third world countries too.

I think religious schools are a dangerous idea.

Pikdum

Yeah, I know I was just mentioning the religious ones.

How come you think religious schools are a bad idea?

It's brainwash. Going to a normal school gives you the option to decide what you believe in.

Christianity and Islam are evil. But it's followers aren't always evil.

Obviously there are some good Christians and obviously there are some bad ones.

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

Yeah, I know I was just mentioning the religious ones.

How come you think religious schools are a bad idea?

RationalAtheist

Because they tend to teach about one type of religion exclusively - typically as a life-preference. I think they are divisive. I think people can achieve a more rounded education by going to a secular or multi-faith school.

I'm going to a Catholic High School right now, and I think I'm learning more about Islam, Judaism, and Christianity than I could ever learn in a public school.

The things I would consider evil in the Old Testament were choices made by people themselves not God if I remember correctly.

JustMe64

Perhaps you should read Some Mistakes of Moses, by Robert Green Ingersol - published on-line here:http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/some_mistakes_of_moses.html

God did an awful lot of smiting in the OT!

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

The things I would consider evil in the Old Testament were choices made by people themselves not God if I remember correctly.

RationalAtheist

Perhaps you should read Some Mistakes of Moses, by Robert Green Ingersol - published on-line here:http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/some_mistakes_of_moses.html

God did an awful lot of smiting in the OT!

Oh yeah, I remember that. Yeah God did do a lot of smiting back in the day but I wouldn't consider that necessarily evil.

[QUOTE="Pikdum"]

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

Yeah, I know I was just mentioning the religious ones.

How come you think religious schools are a bad idea?

nocoolnamejim

It's brainwash. Going to a normal school gives you the option to decide what you believe in.

Well that's high school, by that time I think your old enough to think for yourself. I'm talking about elementary and middle when kids look up to adults and others for answers.

I do not think religion is evil. I think it is a motivation for many acts of good and evil.

I'm going to a Catholic High School right now, and I think I'm learning more about Islam, Judaism, and Christianity than I could ever learn in a public school.

JustMe64

I'm not surprised that you learn about Christianity there. Are you taught that Islam, Judaism and atheism are equally valid beliefs?

Satanism is the only truly evil religion. Other than that, (This comes from a Catholic) religion is not evil.Kevlar101

[QUOTE="Kevlar101"]Satanism is the only truly evil religion. Other than that, (This comes from a Catholic) religion is not evil.almasdeathchild

Religion isn't evil, it's what people do with it that can be evil.

[QUOTE="RationalAtheist"]

[QUOTE="JustMe64"]

The things I would consider evil in the Old Testament were choices made by people themselves not God if I remember correctly.

JustMe64

Perhaps you should read Some Mistakes of Moses, by Robert Green Ingersol - published on-line here:http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/some_mistakes_of_moses.html

God did an awful lot of smiting in the OT!

Oh yeah, I remember that. Yeah God did do a lot of smiting back in the day but I wouldn't consider that necessarily evil.

Here is some of the bullsh!t that is the Bible.

[QUOTE="Kevlar101"]Satanism is the only truly evil religion. Other than that, (This comes from a Catholic) religion is not evil.almasdeathchild

Evil? No. A negative influence on the advancement of humanity? Yes. However, I would like to clarify and say I define "religion" as the organized, structured, dogmatic system of belief that people adhere to for reasons other than personal discovery and reasonable conclusion. i.e. for reasons such as "my parents and grandparents were Christian..." or "my surrounding community of friends is Muslim..." or "famous guy X was Jewish..." or "I don't know much about other religions, so I'm Hindu..." or "Buddhism seems more like a philosophy, or way of life than a religion..." or "I don't like X/Y/Z religion, so I'm choosing to be Satanist..." If you reached your religious beliefs through personal discovery of their "truth", then I really have nothing to say. If you accept religion for any other reason than your own logical conclusion that makes you a better person that contributes to society... then you sure as hell am going to hear from me.Zeviander

Well said.

[QUOTE="Zeviander"]Evil? No. A negative influence on the advancement of humanity? Yes. However, I would like to clarify and say I define "religion" as the organized, structured, dogmatic system of belief that people adhere to for reasons other than personal discovery and reasonable conclusion. i.e. for reasons such as "my parents and grandparents were Christian..." or "my surrounding community of friends is Muslim..." or "famous guy X was Jewish..." or "I don't know much about other religions, so I'm Hindu..." or "Buddhism seems more like a philosophy, or way of life than a religion..." or "I don't like X/Y/Z religion, so I'm choosing to be Satanist..." If you reached your religious beliefs through personal discovery of their "truth", then I really have nothing to say. If you accept religion for any other reason than your own logical conclusion that makes you a better person that contributes to society... then you sure as hell am going to hear from me.RationalAtheist

Well said.

[QUOTE="almasdeathchild"]

[QUOTE="Kevlar101"]Satanism is the only truly evil religion. Other than that, (This comes from a Catholic) religion is not evil.Kevlar101

Satanism is the only truly evil religion. Other than that, (This comes from a Catholic) religion is not evil.Kevlar101

Evil? No. A negative influence on the advancement of humanity? Yes. However, I would like to clarify and say I define "religion" as the organized, structured, dogmatic system of belief that people adhere to for reasons other than personal discovery and reasonable conclusion. i.e. for reasons such as "my parents and grandparents were Christian..." or "my surrounding community of friends is Muslim..." or "famous guy X was Jewish..." or "I don't know much about other religions, so I'm Hindu..." or "Buddhism seems more like a philosophy, or way of life than a religion..." or "I don't like X/Y/Z religion, so I'm choosing to be Satanist..." If you reached your religious beliefs through personal discovery of their "truth", then I really have nothing to say. If you accept religion for any other reason than your own logical conclusion that makes you a better person that contributes to society... then you sure as hell am going to hear from me.Zeviander

[QUOTE="Kevlar101"][QUOTE="almasdeathchild"]GTFO now

almasdeathchild

Rename religion as organize religion to prevent misunderstanding. Other than that spot on dude. *cheers*.alexside1

Here is some of the bullsh!t that is the Bible.

Pikdum

[QUOTE="alexside1"]Rename religion as organize religion to prevent misunderstanding. Other than that spot on dude. *cheers*.Zeviander

[QUOTE="Pikdum"]

Here is some of the bullsh!t that is the Bible.

alexside1

What about these quotes?

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/short.html

I do agree that everything you read (bible included) should be taken with a truck-load of salt and approached with skepticism too.

You'd have to be pretty dumb to think religion as a whole is evil. There might be some evil religions out there, but I don't know of any.

So the genocides done in the name of religion are just human nature, and the charitable things that are done in the name of religion are because of religion. Sounds legit.

[QUOTE="alexside1"]

[QUOTE="Pikdum"]

Here is some of the bullsh!t that is the Bible.

RationalAtheist

What about these quotes?

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/cruelty/short.html

I do agree that everything you read (bible included) should be taken with a truck-load of salt and approached with skepticism too.

"Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the Church which is at Ephesus, in Asia, deservedly most happy, being blessed in the greatness and fullness of God the Father, and predestinated before the beginning of time, that it should be always for an enduring and unchangeable glory, being united and elected through the true passion by the will of the Father, and Jesus Christ, our God: Abundant happiness through Jesus Christ, and His undefiled grace."

How evil.

All religions beside Christianity are evil in that their teachings are false. The Old Testament law was abolished when Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross for our sins. From the New Testament,Mt 22:36?[Jesus], which is the great commandment in the law?? And he said to him, ?You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets.?

I don't think Christianity is evil.