senojekips
Active member
Redneck, I respectfully suggest that these values existed long before they were adopted by the religions of the world. One must not confuse human values with religious values. These values have merely been adopted by some religions not invented by them.
I fully agree with your examples of failures in the system, but in most cases this is more a failure of man and really has little to do with religion other than to demonstrate that religion does not necessarily make one a moral person. We all have our failings and nothing will ever stop that.
As for arguing about religion, as you say it is futile, as it is a personal choice, like following a football team. Hatred should never come into it, I don't "hate" a man who follows another football team. I also agree with your thoughts on the christian religion's preoccupation with gathering adherents, as it is merely to satisfy some church hierarchy that they have done God's will and hopefully it will earn them points on that great heavenly scoreboard. It all comes back to fear which in most cases has been instilled in these persons by their religion from childhood. Then of course there are the economic benefits, have you ever noticed that most religious bodies are wealthy, some of them obscenely so, with such things as air conditioned dog houses for the pets of the leaders, gold embroidered vestments and on and on. Yes, they also do a lot of charity work but you might forgive me if I were to suggest that perhaps this is done as an "investment" in the future.
If one feels that religion makes him a better person, that is great, but I like to think that I need no crutch to get me through my life and that I can "work it out for myself". After all, leading a morally responsible life is not rocket science.
I fully agree with your examples of failures in the system, but in most cases this is more a failure of man and really has little to do with religion other than to demonstrate that religion does not necessarily make one a moral person. We all have our failings and nothing will ever stop that.
As for arguing about religion, as you say it is futile, as it is a personal choice, like following a football team. Hatred should never come into it, I don't "hate" a man who follows another football team. I also agree with your thoughts on the christian religion's preoccupation with gathering adherents, as it is merely to satisfy some church hierarchy that they have done God's will and hopefully it will earn them points on that great heavenly scoreboard. It all comes back to fear which in most cases has been instilled in these persons by their religion from childhood. Then of course there are the economic benefits, have you ever noticed that most religious bodies are wealthy, some of them obscenely so, with such things as air conditioned dog houses for the pets of the leaders, gold embroidered vestments and on and on. Yes, they also do a lot of charity work but you might forgive me if I were to suggest that perhaps this is done as an "investment" in the future.
If one feels that religion makes him a better person, that is great, but I like to think that I need no crutch to get me through my life and that I can "work it out for myself". After all, leading a morally responsible life is not rocket science.
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