Religion: Pass or Fail? part 1

[koan]

There are many shades of gray in the question of what religion has or has not contributed to the world. In this poll, I'm asking for a general opinion and details can be raised in subsequent questions. After voting, list your shade of gray and when the poll closes in 2 weeks, the secondary questions can kick in.

If I sound very militant about the process it's because I am trying to

hard to answer. nowadays i am questioning my beliefs and i am in the agnostic side. since i registered forumgarden, too many things changed (not because of fg ) i'll choose the third one for now

[koan]

Almost forgot to put my own vote in. I think that the bad caused by religion is often given too much precedence over the positive. I think it would be hard to imagine a world with no reverence for the unexplained.

[Adam Zapple]

I voted Yes. I think one only has to look at history's examples of regimes that banished religion to see what the world would be like. Stalin's Soviet empire, Mao Tse Tung's China, Pol Pots Cambodia, Hitler's Nazi Germany (Hilter wasn't a Christian. He thought he was a deity. The German Faith Movement set out to change Christianity into Paganism and was opposed to Judeo-Christianity.), Kim Il Sung's North Korea are some examples. Atheistic regimes have implimented some of the most brutal, totalitarian, and murderous systems ever in the history of man. Hitler, Stalin, and Mao killed approx 60 million people. When there is no higher authority, the state becomes the ultimate ruler of and authority over man and it usually rules with a deadly hand.

I voted no. Religion has lost the influence it once had, at least in the west and without ridding itself of the deadening influence of religion the west would never be where it is now in terms of progress.

As has been discussed elsewhere certain states in the Middle East are heading for theocracy (if they are not there already) which will mean they find themselves ruled by the superstititious using superstition. They will regress to pre-mediaeval conditions. Secular states tend to be advanced states, they've thrown off the stultifying effect of religion on the state.

At some time in the future of humanity there will be no religion. Not because a dictator said so but because humanity finally reached a state of rationality. Until then we will be held back by our own supersitious fears.

[Lulu2]

What Diuretic said.

[Lizard Lips]

I voted no. I'm not an atheist by any means, but I feel that religion has been particularly destructive in the New World by keeping people poor & stupid.

[Adam Zapple]

LizLips and LuLu- you two don't get a vote.

koan, is this a discussion thread or a vote a, b , or c thread.

[Lulu2]

"Lizlips and Lulu".....sounds like a two-girl BANJO band!

[koan]

Originally Posted by Adam Zapple

LizLips and LuLu- you two don't get a vote.

koan, is this a discussion thread or a vote a, b , or c thread.

it is a vote but doesn't preclude discussion. I'm avoiding trying to persuade anyone to my side of the vote but stating one's vote and why is not really an attempt to convert anyone.

religion has been around far before civilization in one form or another. I'll be extremely interested in discussions of a society without it if that option wins. Religion, afterall, does encompass a large number of belief systems.