I don't mind religeon I think it can be a great thing but

[Al Dente]

its people who cannot accept people who do not have it or believe in the same thing that they do that piss me off. I mean, I don't know that there is no god, no one does, I also know that no one knows that there is a god, despite what some of them might tell you. I just say let people do their own thing and do what's right for them, just quit trying to push everyone else into it. If you find it...great, if you don't...great. Who the fuck cares? Not me.

[orleans]

1. but religion can also be a dose of poison

i believe it became "organized" to control the masses. that was a good thing, maybe. kept people in line--had them aspire to higher standards.

too bad they couldn't do the right thing simply because it was the right thing to do (instead they were bribed with the rewards of heaven or threatened with the brimstone of hell)

when my father was dying i was glad he had his religion to help him through the process--it was a comfort to him (and therefore a comfort to me--anything to help him). so, in that regard it was a good thing.

[Discord]

2. I diagree.

I think a measure of independant spirituality and social acceptance of humanitarianism, is more effective, without the overall negative impact of religion. Any institutionalized religion is bad, no matter how you slice it. The philosophy of it is not bad, but the orginization of it creates exclusion, intolerance, bigotry, and isolationism. It becomes the same beast as the corporations of this country who take advantage of their workers, and their communities.

I have no doubt that this world would be an infinately better place without ANY religion.

[GOPFighter]

3. Any religion....

...that believes "We're right, and everyone else is wrong," and "we have a mandate from God to convert everyone to our religion" is dangerous to society and the world.

[Discord]

4. Yes, most Western religions I consider to be more

closely resembling spirituality and philospohy than "religion" in the way most Easterners view religion.

[onager]

5. But in a lot of cases...

"Spirituality" is just an updated sales pitch for the same defective product.

The Woo-Woo forums at DU are full of people touting their spirituality who believe in astrology, remote viewing, healing crystals and every other sort of irrational nonsense.

The one that gets me is the idea of Hinduism as some sort of hippy-dippy, laid-back belief system that's morally superior to Western religion.

Look up an objective history of Hinduism and you'll find it was based squarely in racism. The Aryan invaders of India brought it in to pacify the newly-conquered real estate.

The ultimate message was: "Keep being re-born and someday you'll be an Aryan, like us!"

During that horrible tsunami in December, higher-caste Hindus were denying water and food to the lower castes.

[Discord]

6. Oh, believe me, I understand the drawbacks of

some Western religions, they are after all, still religions. But they are a bit more pallatable and less intrusive than most Judeo-Christian sects.

[fshrink]

7. Religion and profit rule the world.

None of these is "great" thing. They are abject. They have to go if womankind is to live in happiness, peace and prosperity. Simple as that.