Religion - Pros & Cons Options

[darkphyre]

What Atheists think about religion

Atheist Criticisms of Religion

Not all atheists are hostile to religion, but many do think that religion is bad. Here are some of their reasons...

• Religion gets people to believe something untrue.
  
• Religion makes people base the way they run their lives on a falsehood.
  
• Religion stops people thinking in a rational and objective way.
  
• Religion forces people to rely on outside authority, rather than becoming self-reliant.
  
• Religion imposes irrational rules of good and bad behaviour.
  
• Religion divides people, and is a cause of conflict and war.
  
• The hierarchical structure of most religions is anti-democratic, and thus offends basic human rights.
  
• Religion doesn't give equal treatment to women and gay people, and thus offends basic human rights.
  
• Religion obstructs scientific research.
  
• Religion wastes time and money.

Religion has good bits to it.

Most atheists willingly concede there are some good things about religion, such as:

• Religious art and music
  
• Religious charities and good works
  
• Much religious wisdom and scripture
  
• Human fellowship and togetherness

I agree with just about everything on this list. What do you think?

[gigiopolis]

personally... i am AGAINST all this organized religion, mainly because i dont believe in the bible. the ancient greeks had mythology to explain why things happened, and i believe that is all the bible really is, a myth. i have nothing against the bible, its just that all these people are convinced that its true, when all it really is, is a myth created so that people can understand what is right and what is wrong. It tells how life was "created" , and how civilization came to be. It also explains that you should be punished if you are a bad person, and you will be rewarded if you do good things.

one thing about avid christians/catholics... etc. is the whole thing about gay rights. my parents are very devout christiants, and so, they think that being gay is wrong because ITS NOT IN THE BIBLE. well, love is talked about A LOT in the bible. is being in love a sin?

That's what I think too.

I think some people take religious text too literally and try to live life according to what it says. Religion really is about what it teaches, not what's written down. If you strip each religion down to the bare points, they all pretty much teach the similar things. There shouldn't be all this hatred and misunderstanding. In fact, most atheists have the morals of a pious person.

I also totally agree with your comment on gays and religion. I mean, really, where does it say "being in love with someone from the same sex is a sin" in the Bible? (Actually, correct me if I'm wrong. I'm kind of clueless when it comes details in the Bible) Honestly, people. Christianity, and all major religions alike, spread love and peace. What's so evil about love with the same sexes? Anyway, I'm getting a bit off topic, this isn't the homosexuality thread after all.

I think I've shifted my opinion on this topic now. It isn't about whether or not you're atheist or Christian, Muslim or Jewish, as long as you're a morally correct person, who cares what God you believe in? It's also important not to follow every single bit of religious text so literally. That can leave you close-minded and, well, tired.