Bobby. wrote on Dec 29
th, 2012 at 7:54am:
aquascoot wrote on Dec 29
th, 2012 at 7:51am:
I am frightened by religion.
Don't let me start on it's history as I could provide a whole book of proof
from quotes via the internet.
religion as a form of brainwashing is very bad.
but some of the doctrines in religion are very useful.
it is the old paradox.
i can find nothing harmful at all in the statements of the buddha and of confuscius.
most of jesus's statements , say the serom on the mount
"blessed are the peacemakers
blessed are the oppressed etc etc.
the story of the good samaritan, the turning the other cheek.
well, they seem good principles.
the problem is that ego and self centred ness can increase with religious zeolotry.
so yes religion is very dangerous and most wars are holy wars.
people hopefully can give up their ideas of "god" and "heaven" and exclusivity and focus on the divine wisdom of some of the religious thinkers.
for this reason, i would support teaching all religions to people in the same way as teaching all the philosophers may prove helpful.
in the end people are spiritual beings.
they will need more than ipods and football to make life meaningful.
to try and cut off the head of religion through aetheism will prove counter productive.
to demystify it would seem the best course and you cant demystify it without understanding it.