Religion may become extinct in nine nations, study says
714 replies, posted
[QUOTE=Informative Man;28749677]I'd like to point out that, surprisingly, religion isn't the key to worldwide morality mk[/QUOTE]
Maybe not, but it's a bloody good step in the right direction.
[QUOTE=OvB;28750058]Religious extremists kill people, Atheistic extremists annoy people. Though I wouldn't be surprised if some mentally unstable atheist shot up a church or something stupid like that. People in general have a tendency to be assholes.[/QUOTE]
Would you be mildly annoyed, or killed?
[QUOTE=rabid duck;28749117]Why be happy that something that shaped how we live today is becoming extinct?
I don't mean God making people of shit like that I mean hisotry, for example the Crusades, Aztecs, Indians.
Without religion the world would never be how it is now.[/QUOTE]
Without the Holocaust the world wouldn't look like it does today...
[QUOTE=MrFahrenheight;28750147]I couldn't agree more. It's sad how the ones ignorant to their "faith" get the most attention publicity wise.[/QUOTE]
And contrary to how I may seem, I don't mind if people believe in a god. As long as they don't hurt anyone, including themselves by being ignorant.
its harmful when they try to take evolution out of science textbooks and various other shit like that, and continue their legacy through their children to be as stupid and as ignorant as them
[QUOTE=Moose;28750241]its harmful when they try to take evolution out of science textbooks and various other shit like that, and continue their legacy through their children to be as stupid and as ignorant as them[/QUOTE]
Extremists do not represent an entirety.
[QUOTE=Moose;28750241]its harmful when they try to take evolution out of science textbooks and various other shit like that, and continue their legacy through their children to be as stupid and as ignorant as them[/QUOTE]
One of the smartest kids in my college biology class said he thinks the idea of evolution is stupid and that [i]"we didn't come from animals."[/i]
I died a little on the inside.
[QUOTE=MrFahrenheight;28750259]Extremists do not represent an entirety.[/QUOTE]
yeah they do, its called being a republican
[QUOTE=Moose;28750298]yeah they do its called being a republican[/QUOTE]
Because all christians are republicans
[QUOTE=MrFahrenheight;28750259]Extremists do not represent an entirety.[/QUOTE]
They do when they have power.
(see: Government of Texas)
[QUOTE=MrFahrenheight;28750259]Extremists do not represent an entirety.[/QUOTE]
I'd say my church is hardly extremist and it teaches things like that.
Too bad I was a dinosaur fan in my early years.
[QUOTE=Silly Sil;28750335]I'd say my church is hardly extremist and it teaches things like that.
Too bad I was a dinosaur fan in my early years.[/QUOTE]
Like I said, it varies between churches. Some believe there were no dinosaurs, some believe that they died at the flood, some believe in evolution, etc.
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=OvB;28750333]They do when they have power.
(see: Government of Texas)[/QUOTE]
Except for the fact that they aren't a global representation of Christianity.
[QUOTE=Richard Simmons;28749724]Religion going "extinct" will actually have very little perks except tons of abandoned religious structures.[/QUOTE]
That would maybe turn into schools or strip clubs.
[QUOTE=john_frohman;28750467]That would maybe turn into schools or strip clubs.[/QUOTE]
Or tourist attractions.
[img]http://image51.webshots.com/151/7/51/52/440875152cFBPYS_ph.jpg[/img]
[QUOTE=XplodingNoggin;28749965]Oh Facepunch Atheists, you so crazy
Really, you're on the same level as the religious nutjobs you claim to be so much better than[/QUOTE]
[img]http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/atheists.png[/img]
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
Why can't you make up your mind? If you don't believe in a god, you're an atheist. Simple as.
It makes me wonder what exactly the guy in the comic is supposed to be.
[QUOTE=Turnips5;28750484][img_thumb]http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/atheists.png[/img_thumb]
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
Why can't you make up your mind? If you don't believe in a god, you're an atheist. Simple as.
It makes me wonder what exactly the guy in the comic is supposed to be.[/QUOTE]
its simple turnips, he's the fucking anti-christ
jesus told me himself
[QUOTE=Moose;28750618]its simple turnips, he's the fucking anti-christ
jesus told me himself[/QUOTE]
Nuh uh, he's gotta be pastafarian. :v:
[QUOTE=Canary;28749045]I don't see how this is good just because you guys have a different opinion than most of the world.[/QUOTE]
Well just that's like.. your opinion, man.
Finally
I don't know about religion but you guys are definitely killing me. :v:
[QUOTE=Turnips5;28750484][img_thumb]http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/atheists.png[/img_thumb]
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
Why can't you make up your mind? If you don't believe in a god, you're an atheist. Simple as.
It makes me wonder what exactly the guy in the comic is supposed to be.[/QUOTE]
Another religion besides Christianity...?
[QUOTE=shadow_oap;28750686]Another religion besides Christianity...?[/QUOTE]
touché
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
It's never them that do it though, it's the agnostics
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
"does the invisible pink massless teapot orbiting jupiter really exist?"
"we really can't say one way or the other"
[QUOTE=David9227;28749231]words[/QUOTE]
That was unnecessary
[QUOTE=MrFahrenheight;28749615]Care to elaborate?[/QUOTE]
Oh nothing, it's just the fact Christianity teaches people a number of things, things that a very large vocal portion of people then go out and do the complete opposite on many occasions.
Thou shall not kill, that's a fun one.
Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, even better.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades[/url]
Not a very good track record on top of trying to persuade people that there is a magic man above the clouds that will judge your life after you die, and if he doesn't like you he'll send you to a horrible place that you will be the subject of horrible punishment for all eternity.
but all the horrible things the people in the institution did or let happen are fine because God said so.
but none of this is your fault specifically because, of course, you had nothing to do with it, but the fact you still support an institution that has violated the laws that it was founded on in multiple instances is quite irrational. why not just do good for the sake of being good, and not say an invisible magic man influenced your decision?. Do you fear being wrong?, is that it?, is that why you continue to associate with a hypocritical body?, just on the slim chance that they might be right about all this and it might save you from their supposed eternal damnation and your life will have some sort of meaning if you play along with their little charade?, or are you not that intelligent and just believe what people have hamfisted you over the head with.
I and many other people know that these questions cannot be answered because the dead don't talk, you can do anything you goddamn (heh) want to and the only ones you have to answer to is yourself and other people, and no, that does not mean go out and kill people, though you [I]could[/I] do that I suppose and the universe being reactionary will just have to roll with it, just as it has, since the beginning of time.
and you could continue to entertain Religion and it's theatrics in front of a curtain of impenetrable ambiguity saying they have all the answers and because no one can see beyond the curtain not even them, no one can say weather or not their assumptions are right or wrong, so they maintain it automatically makes them right, I suppose, if it amuses you or gives you something to do with your time.
[QUOTE=Melnek;28749748]I've always assumed that religious people simply believe in X because they have nothing else to believe in. So they want some type of superior reassurance that everything will be alright, or to serve someone who they can put the blame on in dire situations.
Personally, it's hard for me to respect an individual who only does good things because it's written in some book, rather than doing it because it's actually fucking good, but I respect them regardless, and you all should too. Whatever makes them happy is none of your business.
Again, this was probably said a millions times before, but don't fucking brainwash children into this shit at an early age. Or try to convert people. That's what really grinds my gears when it comes to religion.
Just keep it to yourself.[/QUOTE]
But atheists trying to convert religous people are kind of bad too.
I remember when I was christian. I was always trying to be nice and helpful and polite, and I couldn't understand why every atheist was "attacking me" for the simple crime of being a good christian.
I'm sure every decent christian feels the same. Know also that I feel better than ever (free, even) as an atheist, and that I still try to be a good person as often as possible.
[QUOTE=Turnips5;28750771]
"does the invisible pink massless teapot orbiting jupiter really exist?"
"we really can't say one way or the other"[/QUOTE]
That's a valid point because you can't test whether something that doesn't follow laws of physics exists or not same for something that we simply can't test because we do not posses necessary tools to do it. Of course your example is made to sound stupid to ridicule the idea, but it's point stands.
[QUOTE=Killuah;28751029]But atheists trying to convert religous people are kind of bad too.[/QUOTE]
Since when is trying to get people to think rationally a bad thing?
I mean, I've never started an argument in real life because of someone's religion, but on the internet, sure I'll encourage people to think.
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=Silly Sil;28751079]That's a valid point because you can't test whether something that doesn't follow laws of physics exists or not same for something that we simply can't test because we do not posses necessary tools to do it. Of course your example is made to sound stupid to ridicule the idea, but it's point stands.[/QUOTE]
The thing is, if the invisible massless pink teapot really did exist, we'd have no way of knowing because it effectively [I]doesn't[/I] do anything that allows us to detect it, or affects the universe in any way at all. So you can assume it doesn't exist.
[editline]22nd March 2011[/editline]
I appreciate the fact that you listened to my argument. The teapot analogy was originally by Bertrand Russell.
[QUOTE=goon165;28750991]Oh nothing, it's just the fact Christianity teaches people a number of things, things that a very large vocal portion of people then go out and do the complete opposite on many occasions.
Thou shall not kill, that's a fun one.
Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, even better.
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch-hunt[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inquisition[/url]
[url]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades[/url]
Not a very good track record on top of trying to persuade people that there is a magic man above the clouds that will judge your life after you die, and if he doesn't like you he'll send you to a horrible place that you will be the subject of horrible punishment for all eternity.
but all the horrible things the people in the institution did or let happen are fine because God said so.
but none of this is your fault specifically because, of course, you had nothing to do with it, but the fact you still support an institution that has violated the laws that it was founded on in multiple instances is quite irrational. why not just do good for the sake of being good, and not say an invisible magic man influenced your decision?. Do you fear being wrong?, is that it?, is that why you continue to associate with a hypocritical body?, just on the slim chance that they might be right about all this and it might save you from their supposed eternal damnation and your life will have some sort of meaning if you play along with their little charade?, or are you not that intelligent and just believe what people have hamfisted you over the head with.
I and many other people know that these questions cannot be answered because the dead don't talk, you can do anything you goddamn (heh) want to and the only ones you have to answer to is yourself and other people, and no, that does not mean go out and kill people, though you [I]could[/I] do that I suppose and the universe being reactionary will just have to roll with it, just as it has, since the beginning of time.
and you could continue to entertain Religion and it's theatrics in front of a curtain of impenetrable ambiguity saying they have all the answers and because no one can see beyond the curtain not even them, no one can say weather or not their assumptions are right or wrong, so they maintain it automatically makes them right, I suppose, if it amuses you or gives you something to do with your time.[/QUOTE]
The one being ignorant and backwards minded here is you.
The modern church does not use the image of "a magic man in the clouds" and if you actually tried to read about Christianity and other religions, you'd know that their stance is and always was that you are lowering not you own, but the suffering of your ancestors and friends and people in general, be it in hell or on earth.
You are using the argument of "the dead don't talk" against religion, yet you refuse the other side: it doesn't work for atheists either. Thus it's redundant.
I have yet to meet a religous man or woman who says that religion knows all the answer.
In the end all they are saying is that religion is their way of searching the answer.
[QUOTE=Killuah;28751174]I have yet to meet a religous man or woman who says that religion knows all the answer.
In the end all they are saying is that religion is their way of searching the answer.[/QUOTE]
I have. Anecdotal evidence countered with further anecdotal evidence.
What now?
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