Religion

deacon_sephiroth

(731 posts)

11. how strange...

Fri Dec 30, 2011, 01:01 PM

Dec 2011

Whenever there's a thread that vaguely implies that relgion is the best thing in the world, a small cadre of flag-wavers stand on it and announce that it's good, healthy, not historically destructive, or counter-productive to our species...

HOWEVER, whenever specific examples of it's posative contributions are asked for, the cadres is silent.

Perhaps we could drum up more responce by splitting the topic in two.

On one hand, open up the discussion of religions contributions to history, the species, and the planet, but don't make it sound as though they need to be POSATIVE things, that way we can include the massive list of negative contributions is has to offer up.

Then, when the inevitable cries of "NAZIS AND COMMIES WERE ATHEISTS!!!" starts up, you can add a caviot to the first question. Asking someone to offer up a POSATIVE act that theists have or even could do than an Atheist has not or could not. Then ask to provide an example of wicked acts that a theist has done that an atheist has not or would not.

One of those lists get pretty long pretty fast...

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List of religion's tangible accomplishments and advances for humanity [View all] Eliminator Dec 2011 OP

I see your 1 and advance you a minus one. Total score: MarkCharles Dec 2011 #1

Good luck with this list. I asked for the same a few weeks ago, and got two things; Jack and Shit. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #2

What would a world without religion have looked like? rrneck Dec 2011 #3

How did we get rid of burning people at the stake? MarkCharles Dec 2011 #4

We didn't supress all the stuff you mentioned rrneck Dec 2011 #7

Probably like this Eliminator Dec 2011 #5

So rrneck Dec 2011 #8

Our collective outrage at The Last Airbender movie. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #9

Okay, that would do it. rrneck Dec 2011 #10

I think it would look almost the same as our world Taverner Dec 2011 #13

Michelangelo would STILL have been one of the greatest artists of all time. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #14

But we never would have known who he was Taverner Dec 2011 #32

Perhaps, but will never know for sure. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #50

Not necessarily. rrneck Dec 2011 #39

Right. Unfortunately, we wouldn't have heard of him Starboard Tack Dec 2011 #56

You cannot know that. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #64

Of course not, but most likely he would have been unknown Starboard Tack Dec 2011 #66

You should see this... cleanhippie Dec 2011 #15

I'm familiar with it. rrneck Dec 2011 #21

Where would women have fit in? deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #23

Where would women have fit in? rrneck Dec 2011 #46

Your second paragraph would be more compelling if human pair bonding was always Leontius Dec 2011 #53

Well it is just a message board post. rrneck Dec 2011 #58

After reading this post and a more careful rereading of the other post Leontius Dec 2011 #60

No worries. Good talking to you. rrneck Dec 2011 #61

Sure, and then moved past it. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #51

"Moved past" might not be the right phrase. rrneck Dec 2011 #54

Your appeals to emotion, while powerful, prove nothing. cleanhippie Dec 2011 #65

Well actually rrneck Dec 2011 #68

Deus ex Machina! tama Dec 2011 #69

Well said. Right on the money. Starboard Tack Dec 2011 #57

Thanks. rrneck Dec 2011 #59

Nice tama Dec 2011 #43

No need to mention Leontius Dec 2011 #67

like this... deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #18

Meditation and other religious, mind-altering practices. nt ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #6

I disagree (with that post, not the other one, screw M. Night!) deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #12

Meditation was invented by Hindus for religious purposes. ZombieHorde Dec 2011 #47

how strange... deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #11

how strange.... cbayer Dec 2011 #16

you'll forgive me (I think you have to) deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #17

You make the mistake of conflating those that have used religion cbayer Dec 2011 #19

used religion to liberate and embrace? deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #20

So often believers can't grasp a simple concept "you don't need religion to do it, you never didyo" MarkCharles Dec 2011 #22

That's because, as you have so often pointed out, believers are really intellectually cbayer Dec 2011 #24

speaking of which deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #26

The American Civil Rights Movement for African Americans cbayer Dec 2011 #28

am I to understand that was brought to us by religion? n/t deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #29

Are you going to deny the role that religion and religious institutions played cbayer Dec 2011 #30

I didn't elaborate very well deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #36

And a lovely new year to you as well. cbayer Dec 2011 #38

Are you going to deny the role that socialists and communists institutions played mr blur Dec 2011 #62

Absolutely not. There were many parties involved. cbayer Dec 2011 #63

Agreed. That's one. Eliminator Dec 2011 #33

I agree. cbayer Dec 2011 #35

Silly me I thought the major impetus of the african slave trade was money and power . Leontius Dec 2011 #55

All people are equal, that's a simple concept, too! MarkCharles Dec 2011 #31

Do those simple people fall into any groups? Because, unless I read this cbayer Dec 2011 #34

"The only people who I can imagine would be offended by a nativity scene that included gay.......... MarkCharles Dec 2011 #40

Exactly right. Homophobic bigots. cbayer Dec 2011 #41

Evidently the idea of belief in Christ or a god had no effect MarkCharles Dec 2011 #48

Is any of this getting through?? Did you really just say that? cbayer Dec 2011 #49

Of course, anyone could (and should) work for social justice. cbayer Dec 2011 #25

I accept your apology deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #27

Anyone could oppress, murder and enslave certain groups, you don't need religion to do it, Leontius Dec 2011 #37

Because I'm staying on topic deacon_sephiroth Dec 2011 #42

In the former thread tama Dec 2011 #44

There might have been confusion about the modern meaning of those terms as MarkCharles Dec 2011 #45

I explained tama Dec 2011 #52