Top Ten Reasons why Religion Is Bullshit

[Warren Stupidity]

While considering the fatal arrogance and glaring intellectual laziness of atheists you might consider this:

As an American of course I do tend to focus on Christianity's idiocy, but they're all baloney. I tried to find something less offensive than Christianity, but all the other religions fail.


1. Basis in the personal revelation of one person or a string of a few loonies. Personal revelation can be lies, misrepresentations, migraine auras, hallucinations, delusions, or hoaxes. Just not a reliable source of information for basing an entire lifestyle on.

2. Precarious transmission of the "Word." Again, lies, misrepresentations and hoaxes are possible sources of "information." There's also scribal errors, interpolations, deletions, and organizational or personal agendas to consider. Just because a text is "ancient" is no reason to grant it any kind of status. Just the reverse.

3. Fairy tale explanations for the natural world. Genesis is only one of hundreds of creation stories. Every culture on Earth seems to have one. This would indicate there's something innate about the human intellect that needs answers for things like the movement of the stars and why humans can talk but frogs can't. The fact that there are so many of these stories leads to only one conclusion: they are all false. The scientific method is showing all of them to be false, too.

4. Human qualities of "gods." The Genesis story gets around this by saying that God made us in his image, not the other way around, but it's not very convincing if you think about it.

5. Tribalism. Us vs. Them. Our group of primates wants to survive and make the other group not survive. If we dehumanize them by making their belief systems wrong, it's easier to kill them. They may look like us, but it's not murder if you kill someone who's different on the inside. How do you know if they're different? If they're our neighbors, only their gods will be different.

6. Bullshit rules. Rules about food. Rules about sex. Rules about hair. Rules about clothes. Rules about bullshit ceremonies. WTF? I can see how societies might want to regulate some antisocial behaviors, but what's antisocial about cutting your hair or eating a ham sandwich?

7. Bullshit ceremonies. Speaking of bullshit ceremonies, again, I can see how a society might want to put its seal of approval on marriages or say goodbye to the deceased (in a way that won't bring maggots into the town) but the rest...? Christians have their cannibalistic ritual. Hindus have magic powder that they dribble around. Muslims stick their asses in the air five times a day. Haitians dance around until they believe they've been possessed. What a bunch of hooey. I don't do any of those things and I don't think I'm missing out at all.

8. Life after Death fantasies. This is another commonality. Sure, we don't want to die. We also don't want to believe that our loved ones are truly gone when they die, but this life is very likely (like 99.99999%) all there is. Again, the fact that every culture has this fantasy and that none of them have the same fantasy is pretty good reason not to believe any of them. Notice that when people talk about Heaven they never mention anyone but the people they knew in life as hanging out there? And maybe their pets. They don't think that their granny might be in Hell or that they'll be sharing praise duty with millions of babies that died from cholera and dysentery before society started cleaning up water supplies.

9. Fantasy of being able to make things go your way. This has probably been going on since before recorded history. Make it rain. Make it stop raining. Make the crops grow. Make the antelope slow down. Make the stock market improve. Make my team beat your team. Make the little girl with leukemia survive. None of religion's promises to change events has ever been shown to make a difference except to give comfort and false hope to the people entertaining the fantasy. Comfort and hope are not bad things, but do you really have to deny reality to feel better in times of stress? And doesn't it create more stress when things don't go your way despite praying or dancing or chanting for the supernatural being(s) to intervene?

10, Resistance to change. Sure, tradition is one of the things that binds a community but religion gives people an excuse to resist positive change. People are against marriage not because of their prejudices. Believers who aren't prejudiced seem to handle the idea of people making a lifetime commitment just fine. Ditto, in the old (I hope) days when it was illegal for people of different races to marry.

http://ladyatheist.blogspot.com/2011/06/top-ten-reasons-why-religion-is.html

[Hoppy]

1. While I agree with all of it, why didn't you place it in the atheist section?

You are surely going to get yelled at here.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. The religion forum is not a safe haven for theists

they have the interfaith forum where they can not be bothered. Meanwhile if they are going to bash atheists here, they are going to get bashed back. Here.

[AtheistCrusader]

49. Bring it.

[AuntPatsy]

2. Hard to argue against these

[rock]

4. They all sound right to me

[rug]

5. Is there a reason you waited four years to post this?

BTW, your first link is the same as the last link.

[Warren Stupidity]

8. Timing is everything. Oh - by the way this is not a news forum.

[rug]

9. That explains the recycling of shallow, tired talking points.

[Warren Stupidity]

15. I know, right. You would think the faithful would wise up already.

[rug]

16. No, I think the faithful on this thread need the constant reassurance.

[beam me up scottie]

11. Yes, Warren, we need to come up with a catchy new meme like 'Gnu Christians'.

Then write endless articles about how they hurt our fee fees.

[Lordquinton]

19. theists are still reposting 2000 year old quotes

4 years isn't so bad.

[rug]

28. I don't think that blog will outlast this decade.

[Lordquinton]

29. And?

How does that invalidate it's points?

Time seems to be very fluid with you, I remember we recently revealed that The Pope can't be held accountable for anything he said over 4 months, where as "new" atheists can be held for something whenever they said it. Doesn't even matter if they actually said it either, but I know nuanced points confuse some here. That is why I stopped using malaphores, some folks felt they deserved personal attacks.

[rug]

30. Wheat and chaff.

"we" sound miffed.

[Warren Stupidity]

47. there is more than one of you?

[AlbertCat]

48. It was a belittling "we"

meant to make Lordquinton look foolish or something.

Of course it signals a complete loss at addressing what was actually said, and slithers into the armchair psychology notion that, since Lordquinon has completely shown Rug's prattle to be superfluous, Lordquinton must be "miffed"..... which I'm sure he's not.

[rug]

56. Based on the replies, it looks like I was right. "You", plural, are miffed.

[Warren Stupidity]

60. but you said "we" not "you" rug.

You were clearly talking about yourselves. I'm sorry you are miffed, although it appears your keyboard is better.

[rug]

61. Please keep up. You, of all people, should know who is prone to type "we" in a stentorian manner.

And the kb remains fcked p.

[Warren Stupidity]

64. no really rug if you meant somebody else you would have said "you".

You don't get to interpret what you wrote, we do.

[rug]

67. I do, although I occasionally make an exception when I respond to one of you (plural).

Mainly to underscore how idiotic the practice of the first person plural is.

[Warren Stupidity]

68. I agree that use of the first person plural is idiotic, and as I suspect you are not an idiot

I can only conclude that you meant yourself and several other people were miffed. We are glad this has finally been straightened out. Hopefully you are less miffed now.

[rug]

69. QED

[Lordquinton]

57. You do sound miffed

I mean, you always get so defensive when people point out you support an organization that pushes homophobic legislation in this country, and also pushes back the rights and safety of women in this country as well.

Why do you financially support that corporation? Are you so naive to think that your donations don't go to hold people down? That individual donations somehow are kept in a separate fund that only helps people?

[AtheistCrusader]

50. Just for you, I've set an outlook calendar reminder.

And my calendar has been running for more than 15 years already, so, likely it'll be surviving.

[edhopper]

6. True

I can't even reply to that other thread, it's just so inane.

"What about believers' fee-fees you nasty atheists".

I need a jpeg like this, but with Chalmers yelling "DAWKINS!!"

[img][/img]

[immoderate]

7. Revelatory!

--imm

[beam me up scottie]

10. Don't you need to be a fashion expert to point out the problem with the Emperor's clothes?

[Scuba]

12. A human construct designed to manipulate behavior through fear and guilt. Kinda like ....

... Fox "News" except they use fear and hate.

[colsohlibgal]

13. I Tend To Agree With Most Of It

There is something we don't understand though. Which is why I'm best classified as an agnostic.

In short something should not spring out of nothing. In other words why is there anything, including space? How did all this come to be - whatever it all is?

So - I'm not quite sure death is the end of it, I'm not quite sure of anything.

I will say over the top evangelicals are delusional, mostly from being brainwashed as a child or as a crutch when they get older.

[Cartoonist]

63. In short something should not spring out of nothing.

Why shouldn't that include God? Why should s/he spring out of nothing?

[beam me up scottie]

14. Let's talk about those rules about sex...

2. What determines the morality of a sexual act?

A sexual act is any deliberate use of the genital sexual faculty.

Sexual acts are not exempt from the moral law. To be moral, each and every knowingly chosen sexual act must have three good fonts of morality. The intention must be good, the moral object must be good, and the good consequences must outweigh any bad consequences.

In order to have a good moral object, each and every sexual act must be marital and unitive and procreative. Each and every moral sexual act always has these three meanings: marital, unitive, procreative. The deprivation of any one or more of these meanings from the moral object causes the sexual act to be intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral.

The natural sexual act is genital-to-genital intercourse between a man and a woman. This act is unitive and procreative. Natural sexual intercourse between a husband and wife is called natural marital relations. Only natural marital relations is martial and unitive and procreative.

The use of contraception deprives the act of natural intercourse of the procreative meaning, causing the sexual act to be non-procreative. The use of contraception is intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral because it deprives sexual relations of its procreative meaning, which is required by God for sexual acts to be moral. Therefore, natural marital relations must always be open to life (not contracepted).

A non-marital sexual act is any type of sexual act outside of marriage. Acts of adultery, pre-marital sex, and masturbation are non-marital. All non-marital sexual acts are intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral because these acts lack the marital meaning, which is required by God for sexual acts to be moral.

An unnatural sexual act is any type of sexual act that is not unitive and procreative. Examples of unnatural sexual acts include oral sexual acts, anal sexual acts, and manipulative sexual acts (i.e. masturbation of self or of another). All unnatural sexual acts are intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral because these acts lack the unitive and procreative meanings, which are required by God for sexual acts to be moral. These acts are not procreative because they are not the type of act that is inherently directed at procreation. These acts are not truly unitive, even if there is a certain mere physical union of body parts, because this is not the type of sexual union intended by God for human persons. Unnatural sexual acts are not justified by being done within marriage because the moral law requires each and every sexual act to be not only marital, but also unitive and procreative.

To be moral, each and every sexual act must be marital and unitive and procreative. All non-marital sexual acts, all non-unitive sexual acts, and all non-procreative sexual acts are intrinsically evil and always gravely immoral. All such acts have an evil moral object, and so they are not justified by intention, or by circumstances, or by other acts.

What kind of perverts obsess like that over a natural act?

[A HERETIC I AM]

20. Gotta love the "Required by God" bullshit.

It has always astounded me how afraid of or opposed to human sexual pleasure the Abrahamic faiths tend to be.

[beam me up scottie]

21. Nothing like being lectured on how to have proper sex by a bunch of virginal prudes.

Ew.

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. Usually.....

wearing funny hats as well!

"Never join a religion that requires goofy headgear or stupid haircuts." - Me.

Words to live by.

[beam me up scottie]

25. Ramen.

[hrmjustin]

17. After that my faith is shattered.

Thanks for the 4 year old read Warren.

[xfundy]

22. It's only four years old?

I'd never read it, and found it refreshing and concise. I thank the OP for posting it, HRM.

[hrmjustin]

23. Enjoy and call me Justin my friend.

[Warren Stupidity]

46. somehow the age of a blog post is important.

But as for why, you would have to get a direct answer from the person who indicated that the age was somehow important, and good luck with that.

[mr blur]

37. Well, you mght get there eventually. nt

[Rainforestgoddess]

18. It's all just silly, isn't it?

Hoomans and their rituals. I wonder if in the future, there was will be a religion based around not shaving during the playoffs?

Makes as much sense as any other religion.

[BlueJazz]

26. I remember being an altar boy and thinking. "This stuff makes zero sense...I feel like an idiot"

Started my Astronomy hobby about that time and talked my parents into leting me go to normal schools.

[guillaumeb]

27. Ten reasons why Patriotism is bullshit

1) "a string of a few loonies" many US citizens believe the mythologized history of their particular patriots. They believe that slaveholding rich men somehow believed that all men were created equal.

2) the "Word" being The Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Really? Two documents that provide for and excused chattel slavery? Original intent anyone?

3) "Fairy tale explanations" It is called American History, but should be called American Mythstory for all the basis it has in reality.

4) Gods? Washington, Jefferson, Franklin. And of course, the main US god, money.

5) Us vs. them: How US citizens are always fooled into going to war.

6) "Bullshit rules" marijuana is illegal, nicotine is fine.

7) Ceremonies: The Pledge of Allegiance is another example of US delusional thinking.

8) Fantasies: Too many to list. A short list would include American exceptionalism, the myth of American freedoms, all men are equal,

9) Making things go your way?: That is why the US has the largest military on the planet. To make things go their way.

10) Resistance to change: "I want my country back".

[rug]

31. +1

[hrmjustin]

32. +2

[okasha]

33. +3

[mr blur]

38. Will YOU be among His Saved?

[edhopper]

34. because we also defend

Blind patriotism and wrong headed laws.

Was this suppose to be a rebutle?

Of course I see the chorus cheering, for what I have no idea.

[beam me up scottie]

35. Apparently they think LadyAtheist is a blind patriot.

Free thinkers are such suckers for all kinds of dogma you know.

Wait, wut?

[guillaumeb]

39. a subtle rebuttal

That is all.

[edhopper]

40. Full of sound and fury

signifying nothing.

Because patriotism and jingoism can lead to the same types of foolishness as religion, does not excuse religion. And often in this country they are practiced together with the bonus that people are patriotic because God deems us the most extra-special Christian nation on Earth.

And speaking only for myself, I know more defend patriotism than I do religion.

[guillaumeb]

41. Then you are consistent.

I agree, and would add that unthinking acceptance of any belief system can lead to blindly following whoever or whatever directs the believers.

[edhopper]

42. As long as you don't think

atheism is a "belief system".

I can't speak for other atheist, but my atheism comes from only thinking and no beliefs.

[guillaumeb]

43. I think that atheism, like theism,

is defined by the individual. I too can only speak for me.

[Warren Stupidity]

45. wait, that was subtle?

[guillaumeb]

58. subtle when compared to the crudity of the original post. eom

[gcomeau]

51. That rebuttal seems to be missing the part that rebuts.

Making the same generally *valid points* about another topic rebuts the points made about the first topic how exactly?

[guillaumeb]

59. It does not. It was not intended to rebut the original post.

The original post is one in a series of ridiculous posts about theists that seem designed to showcase the intolerance of the atheists.

Perhaps a means of showing that some atheists are every bit as intolerant as some theists?

[gcomeau]

73. Is that why you called it a rebuttal? Because it's *not* intended as a rebuttal? -eom

[trotsky]

74. LOL, I wanted to ask about that too. n/t

[guillaumeb]

75. My use of the word "subtle" was intended to be ironic.

I am not aware of an irony emoticon. And rebuttal was the word that came to mind when attempting to rhyme subtle.

In future, I shall choose words like "Nantucket", or other easily rhymed words when responding.

[Warren Stupidity]

79. so it was a unsubtle non-rebuttal.

A bit confused are we? And by "we" I of course mean the opposite of whatever it is you might assume I mean.

[guillaumeb]

82. I assumed exactly that.

And the opposite as well.

[gcomeau]

83. Ok, so just so we're clear...

1. You were composing your statement to rhyme, rather than to communicate an actual concept. and placed such an emphasis on the importance of the rhyme that you chose a word that had the opposite meaning to what you actually thought.

2. The post it was talking about did not rebut in any way the OP.

[guillaumeb]

84. My original Post, #27, was intended to parody the original Post.

Simply substitute "any belief system" for the word "religion" and proceed. But my subsequent responses to this post (and similar posts) ask what is the point of framing an argument in a deliberately insulting way.

Insults do not foster or encourage dialogue. If the intent of the post is simply to be insulting I do not see why that is considered to be a good idea.

And as to your first comment, poetry and rhyme can be used to communicate actual concepts.

[gcomeau]

85. Parody's generally have a purpose.

At least a purpose beyond "Hey look, this reasoning applies equally validly to another concept that can also totally reasonably be called bullshit. look at that! Logical consistency!"


But somehow I get the impression that reinforcing the validity of the OP was not your aim.


And yes, poetry and rhyme can in fact be used to communcate a concept, if you use words that... you know... mean what you're trying to say.

[Lordquinton]

36. -1 eom

[Warren Stupidity]

44. That is not why patriotism is bullshit.

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

That is why patriotism is almost invariably bullshit.

[Skittles]

76. what is the point

that they are both bullshit?

[guillaumeb]

78. There are two points

First, that the original post is rather silly and pointless. Second, that any word can be substituted for the word "religion" or "patriotism" and the same article can be posted.

My response was intended as a mockery of the original post, and as my opinion of patriotism, or more accurately, chauvinism.

[Skittles]

81. patriotism I can understand....religion not so much

but I don't really care what people think as long as they're not thumping their bullshit

[DeadEyeDyck]

52. is the existence of life random chance?

Is the fact that life happened, just an existential coin toss?

[Warren Stupidity]

53. It is rather likely that life is abundant in the universe.

So it is no more or less random than all the other classes of things one can find in the universe. Of course I could be wrong, and life is unique to this obscure planet, but I kind of doubt that.

[rug]

62. Unless you think the far universe is materially different from the near universe, it isn't.

[Warren Stupidity]

65. I'm sure we think we have made a brilliant point but we haven't.

What do we think is the definition of "far universe"?

Are we aware that mars and several planetary moons are considered potential hosts of life? Is that near enough for we? Are we aware that exoplanets are now known to be commonplace, massively abundant? That there are many planetary systems all around we?

[rug]

66. i don't know about we, but one of us has.

I'll make it simpler.

Unless you think the laws of physics and biology, as well as the matter and content of the universe, are not uniform, it is very unlikely.

The only argument you're making is a statistical one.

[Warren Stupidity]

70. We've failed to define "it" in that screed. Not very coherent of we.

The statistical argument is valid. The evidence supporting it will likely show up within our lifetimes, but even if it doesn't the argument remains valid. Right now devices are being developed that will be able to do detailed spectroscopic analysis of exoplanets, and those devices are vastly likely to validate the statistical argument.

If we wish to claim that instead life is unique to this planet despite the statistical improbability of that claim we have to come up with a compelling argument for why that would be true, other than of course the juvenile "haven't found it yet".

[rug]

71. That sounds rather hopeful.

I wish you (plural) well in your aspirations for the life to come.

[DeadEyeDyck]

72. simply the existence of matter was just a minor fluke.

A more perfect "big bang" would have resulted in an even distribution of energy, never coalescing to form matter.

[Warren Stupidity]

80. The fluctuations that result in non-uniformity are not a fluke - they are expected.

[brewens]

54. Convincing people that it's okay to suffer and live like shit because after you die, everything will

be wonderful! Sound like something greedy rulers would be all in favor of? That's the top of my list.

[Duppers]

55. Re: Near death experiences: How about "Brain scan reveals out-of-body illusion"

From DU's science forum, check it out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/122838274

Some folks reinforce their religious beliefs through these near death experiences, so I think this is a good counter argument. But of course, what's science to most religious people?

And as to ghost phenomena (which I've actually experienced), some day Science will also explain that.

[randys1]

77. "Phil" will not be happy with the author of this thread...