Religion in the USA: Problem or Solution?

[stopbush]

I've run this poll before, but a rerun seems timely. Vote below:

[flvegan]

1. It's not religion, it's those that "follow" it guided by ego.

If folks actually followed the teachings of their respective religious entities, lived the lives that they are asked to, there wouldn't be any of this stupid shit.

Folks that decipher and determine based upon what they WANT to believe, based soley in how they WANT an outcome to be, aren't religious...unless self-ism is a religion.

It's not religion, rather it's those that think they're practicing it.

[Cooley Hurd]

16. It's the perversion of religion that's the problem...

...and the religious right's insistence of shoving it down everyone's throat.

[LSK]

2. if it mixes in any way with Govt, then it is a problem

Religion as a means for something that YOU WANT TO PRACTISE ON YOUR OWN, I have no problem with. But you start promoting your religion on me or try to legislate based on the bible, then I have a BIG PROBLEM WITH IT.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. Agreed

[Kipling]

4. Whatever you make of it.

If you are a destructive, amoral person your view of God will mirror that, and vice versa.

[LoKnLoD]

5. a persons religious views should be

private between them and their higher power.

[StudentOfDarrow]

6. Neither.

Some people are moved by religion to do great deeds (i.e. MLK, Jr.), and some are driven by religion to hate (i.e. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson). It's all in the individual's interpretation.

[Ladyhawk]

7. How about "both"?

Right now it's more of a problem than a solution, but I think some Christian lefties are A-OK and might be able to talk down some of the fundies who aren't complete whack jobs. But it's no job for me. I can no longer stand being around fundies, period.

I have to admit that my dislike of so-called "Christians" has been growing again over the past year or so. For awhile, I thought I might be able to find common ground with some of them, but a few more back-stabbings later and I realize that it's pretty much impossible for me to find common ground with dogmatists. :( Even some of the lefty Christians I've met are dogmatic and unaccepting. I've become allergic to religionists, but I don't want to feel that way. Part of me wants to keep looking for Christians I can accept, but a bigger part of me says I've been looking for half my life. It's time to accept that I just don't like the company of most religionists. It's time to see if I can find people who can accept me for who I am. I tried to accept the fundies for who they were, but they never return the favor.

In my disgust, I don't want to become a dogmatic atheist, but I'm finding it really hard to find anything to like about "Christians."

[longship]

8. To be precise, Theocratic assholes.

It's the reason why so damn many people are so stupid that they elect Bandar Boosh TWICE!!!

(But he's a man of God.) Rubbish! He's a God-forsaken man.
:grr:

[tnlefty]

9. You stole part of my thunder!

The push toward a theocracy of the Falwell, Robertson types are the problem! Beliefs should be a personal matter and in no way combined with governmental policy.

[jokerman93]

10. Religion is always a problem

Religion itself is redundant in the extreme and unnecessary. On the ethical/moral side, it teaches nothing that a good parent doesn't teach a child. On the spiritual side, it fills people's heads with unreal, distorted fantasies while the human spirit is far better served by community, meaningful work, creative expression and a vital connection to Nature - what's left of it.

[Ignoramus]

11. Faith is the most basic problem in society

Faith, the unwillingness to accept any idea contrary to a pre-conceived idea, is the source of all conflict in society. If someone's idea can be changed, then they don't have faith, they have hope or something similar.

We all operate on faith. We come to believe things as a side-effect of our intentions.

Becoming aware is the process of shedding our faith. You can't decide to not be racist, for example. You can only intend to not be racist.

All of societies ills that I can think of, are founded on religious beliefs, or sticking arbitrarily to some notion based on faith.

[shockra]

15. You must have read The End of Faith by Sam Harris.

Great book.

[Greenpeach]

12. Too many religious think they have all the answers

...and I find that disturbing. I think Unitarians do have the answer by admitting that they don't have all the answers, if any. They're the ones that get a question mark burnt on their lawn. ??????

[devilgrrl]

13. If Karl Marx was right about one thing, it is that...

religion is the opiate of the masses. I couldn't agree more.

[La Coliniere]

14. Opiate and stimulant of the masses.

Religion is a BIG problem. Wish there was less of it.