Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
Fri May 25, 2018, 11:01 AM May 2018

Religion and Homeopathic Medicine Act in Similar Ways

People who rely on homeopathic remedies do so on faith alone. That's because there is no actual medicine in a homeopathic remedy. On principle, such remedies are diluted to the point that no discernable amount of whatever the active ingredient is supposed to be can even be detected. Homeopathic practitioners say that the water of dilution contains the "memory" or "essence" of that ingredients, and that's all that is needed.

Religion, too, is a faith-based product. Any deity worshiped in theistic religions cannot be seen, measured, or even detected as a real entity. Only words in scriptures and from pulpits exist to describe the "essence" of that deity. Followers are expected to believe that the deity is real and to worship that "essence" and pray to it, in the "sure and certain hope" that it exists and is paying attention to such worship and supplications. The reward for such faith varies from religion to religion.

Faith can work miracles, it is said. In both cases, though, the miracle appears to be the faith, itself, which is held despite the lack of evidence that the main ingredient even exists. Fortunes, however, have been made in both homeopathy and religion for those who promote them. Perhaps that's another of the "miracles" of faith.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Religion and Homeopathic Medicine Act in Similar Ways (Original Post) MineralMan May 2018 OP
Religion and Casinos act in similar ways Cartoonist May 2018 #1
Some states have come around to banning children who have received no ... SWBTATTReg May 2018 #2
For decades con artists would get up on BigmanPigman May 2018 #3
Indeed. Some of the snake oil peddlers also did MineralMan May 2018 #4
I think Chiropractic is a more apt example. Act_of_Reparation May 2018 #5
I still think homeopathy is a better comparison. MineralMan May 2018 #6

Cartoonist

(7,298 posts)
1. Religion and Casinos act in similar ways
Fri May 25, 2018, 11:26 AM
May 2018

They fleece the congregation and guarantee nothing while dangling paradise.

SWBTATTReg

(21,859 posts)
2. Some states have come around to banning children who have received no ...
Fri May 25, 2018, 11:50 AM
May 2018

vaccinations (their faith or their false belief that vaccinations are dangerous, etc. ).

The rationale by state (and maybe local) authorities is that these unvaccinated children have caused outbreaks that we wouldn't have seen in the earlier days when you and I were younger.

Now when that faith endangers the health of other children and their families and others within the school system, then take your faith, and your unvaccinated children elsewhere (which some parents are doing).

Crazy.

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
3. For decades con artists would get up on
Fri May 25, 2018, 03:44 PM
May 2018

soap boxes and regale a local group about the wonders of their miracle-cure elixir/snake oil and the traveling preachers would preach about sins and how to pray for salvation. Same old, same old. I think they would take turns pontificating to the gathering crowds since they only had one soap box to share...times were hard and they were entertaining.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
4. Indeed. Some of the snake oil peddlers also did
Fri May 25, 2018, 03:46 PM
May 2018

revival preaching, too. Same business; different product.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
5. I think Chiropractic is a more apt example.
Fri May 25, 2018, 03:48 PM
May 2018

You walk into a Chiropractor's office. He makes up a problem (subluxation), and very convincingly argues you're suffering from it. Coincidentally, he's the only person who can fix it.

It's the same thing with religion. The holy man invents a problem, convinces you that you have it, and then offers you the cure... usually for a price.

MineralMan

(146,192 posts)
6. I still think homeopathy is a better comparison.
Fri May 25, 2018, 03:51 PM
May 2018

It compares products.

Chiropractic is a physical treatment sort of business, although a lot of chiropractors also dabble in homeopathy these days. The whole "alternative medicine" thing often involves multiple bogus treatment modalities (I love that word. They all use it).

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»Religion and Homeopathic ...