20 Jul 08
Religion is dangerous because it makes it easier to believe in the irrational. that is, if you can believe in one thing with no proof such as the virgin birth, it makes it easier to believe in other nonsense as well. George Bush, for example, believes you can prevent pregnancy by not handing out condoms.
20 Jul 08
Originally posted by 667joeGeorge Bush believes you can prevent pregnancy by not having sex, big difference.
Religion is dangerous because it makes it easier to believe in the irrational. that is, if you can believe in one thing with no proof such as the virgin birth, it makes it easier to believe in other nonsense as well. George Bush, for example, believes you can prevent pregnancy by not handing out condoms.
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20 Jul 08
Originally posted by BadwaterThat depends, Religion is by definition at odds with rational thought, which is the building block behind science, and is the base root of the friction between science and religion (or more correctly some scientists and some religious and/or non-rational people). However, being rational all the time is really boring and counter productive (most art and culture is very irrational), thus the problem is where people can't tell where to be rational, and where not to be. Religion IS dangerous when it says it can tell you about subjects best described by rational enquiry, and where it discourages rational thought. You don't have to be an idiot to be religious and/or irrational, in fact it's usually the cleaver theologians who cause the trouble.
Religion is like most other things - in and of itself, it's not inheretly dangerous. How it is purported to be used is another thing entirely. And like most things, put religion in the hands of an idiot and you're going to get idiotic results.
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20 Jul 08
Originally posted by googlefudgeUmm, no. Religion doesn't behave irrationally; people do. Religion doesn't irrationally inform; people irrationally accept and interpret. And for every generalized assertion you'd care to make, I have a generalized retort.
That depends, Religion is by definition at odds with rational thought, which is the building block behind science, and is the base root of the friction between science and religion (or more correctly some scientists and some religious and/or non-rational people). However, being rational all the time is really boring and counter productive (most art and c ...[text shortened]... igious and/or irrational, in fact it's usually the cleaver theologians who cause the trouble.
Religion is not inheretly dangerous. No one can hurt me through religious means, it is by other means. If you physically hit me, then that's you hitting me and you are dangerous to me, not religion. Religion is used as a poor excuse for irrational behavior and thought, and and is the scapegoat of blame to those who would oppose the mindset of what they think is irrational, but allow the means to conduct the irrational. You will find the irrational in all walks of this existence, including science.
20 Jul 08
Religion is not inheretly dangerous.Religion is inherently silly. and some believers do really dangerous things, like deny their children medical care or refuse life saving blood transfusions, or exorcise their children (sometimes leading to death), or drink out of the same cup at communion, thus spreading herpes, or mutilating genitals., or flying jets into buildings etc.......
20 Jul 08
Originally posted by 667joeIs this well documented as well?
Religion is dangerous because it makes it easier to believe in the irrational. that is, if you can believe in one thing with no proof such as the virgin birth, it makes it easier to believe in other nonsense as well. George Bush, for example, believes you can prevent pregnancy by not handing out condoms.
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20 Jul 08
2 edits
Originally posted by BadwaterI didn't say 'religion' behaves irrationally, I said religion is at odds with rationality. The reason I said this is that ALL religions at some point have have irrational, unproven, evidence-less, blind faith somewhere in them, the amount varies but is to my knowledge always there. This means that religions have irrationality somewhere at their core, which puts them at odds with science which does have rationality at it's core. I didn't however go on to say that this made religion inherently dangerous, in fact my first words were the equivocal 'it depends'.
Umm, no. Religion doesn't behave irrationally; people do. Religion doesn't irrationally inform; people irrationally accept and interpret. And for every generalized assertion you'd care to make, I have a generalized retort.
Religion is not inheretly dangerous. No one can hurt me through religious means, it is by other means. If you physically hit me, then irrational. You will find the irrational in all walks of this existence, including science.
To clarify, I would say that Religion is mostly dangerous.
To clarify further (second edit :-)) I would say that generalised Irrationality is dangerous, I don't restrict this to religions, I have no problem with, and see the value to, Irrational thought in the right circumstances, but allowing it to spread too far is dangerous.
Plus I ask you to prove that you can come up with a generalised retort to every generalised comment I could possibly make ;-)
21 Jul 08
Originally posted by 667joestupidity is dangerous. religion is not responsible for stupid people. stupid people would act stupid even if they would be atheists. you seem to be under the misguided impression that all idiots are religious. or that religion has anything to do with it.
Religion is dangerous because it makes it easier to believe in the irrational. that is, if you can believe in one thing with no proof such as the virgin birth, it makes it easier to believe in other nonsense as well. George Bush, for example, believes you can prevent pregnancy by not handing out condoms.