What are the good aspects of religion?

Dis · June 17, 2003, 01:23

There is a lot of negative talk about religion, but nothing good.

There has to be a good side to religion doesn't there?

Dis · June 17, 2003, 02:33

I guess there are none.

Well I was thinking about making this thread about Arnold Swarchenegger and whether he could make a decent governor.

Feel free to discuss that instead

You know, my avatar is disturbing, even to myself. I wonder if I should change it.

alva · June 17, 2003, 02:35

Only 2 threads, not 2 and a half !!!

Quote:

I guess there are none.

And what will our winner take home today!!!

Dis · June 17, 2003, 02:40

And they have Family Guy on at 11:30 PM on weeknights on the Cartoon Network.

There is justice in the world.

Lord Merciless · June 17, 2003, 02:44

Religion allows you to build temples and cathedrals in your cities.

A temple makes 2 citizen content, and a cathedral makes 3 citizen content.

Dis · June 17, 2003, 02:48

ahh the things they got away with on that show.

Brian used the term runt instead of ****. funny stuff

Apocalypse · June 17, 2003, 02:52

Quote:

Originally posted by Dissident
You know, my avatar is disturbing, even to myself. I wonder if I should change it.

No one has said a thing about my avatar yet...people do know it was made by Zylka, don't they?

Skanky Burns · June 17, 2003, 03:13

If I said mine was made by Zylka, everyone would start seeing genitals in my avatar too.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · June 17, 2003, 03:44

A boost to the imagination and creativity, an safe harbour in a strange and threatening world, a comfort to the old, the sick and the frightened, a social event with friendly people (usually), charitable works and a quiet moment of personal peace when required.

alva · June 17, 2003, 03:54

Quote:

a comfort to the old, the sick and the frightened,

Somehow it always sounds more like false hope to me.

The Mad Monk · June 17, 2003, 03:55

I really liked your Fallout avatar.

Maybe I'll use it.

Alexander's Horse · June 17, 2003, 04:01

churches have a lot of resources like holiday houses.

Dis · June 17, 2003, 14:08

well I may go back to my fallout avatar. I'm just in a transitional phase now.

I've had that avatar for a very long time. I'm usually not the type to change it often.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · June 17, 2003, 15:36

Go take a walk in a Cathedral, or a country churchyard. They are beautiful places, and without organised religion we would have nothing like them.

JCG · June 17, 2003, 19:48

It gives people something to hang onto, something to live for, and a general sense of morals*. That's pretty much it.

*which can obviously be warped and twisted once in a while, sure...

Oh, and my (atheist) Dad agrees that the Cathedrals are wonderful works of art.

Pekka · June 17, 2003, 19:55

3:16!!

Well, for example in Christianity, you get to live forever with God and be his children. And you know he's the biggest star of them all. That's pretty cool.
There will be some pumping house tracks and devine chorus lines all the time, and you'll get those chilling feelings all over your body. Have you ever tried dancing on clowds? It's quite smooth.

Also, even if you don't believe in the good book, it's still awesome story. And it's not that tough to get to VIP backstage passes to the biggest party in the universe, in Christianity you do it through Jesus, if you believe in him and accept him as your savour, he'll send you the tickets, and the post office won't screw it up. Why? Because he promised he'd do that, and he's not the type of guy who'd fool you. Why? Well, according to the book, he died for your sins, so that's says pretty much.

I don't think he was into pain, but he still did it, to make sure all you sinners and mofos get the tickets. So, I think that makes him a bad ass and cool.

And all you have to do is accept him and call for him. Not much to ask for. He won't make you kneel and be a sissie for the rest of your life, all you need to do is call him up, and that's it, you're set. Some times emotions can fool you too, making you dislike him for not helping you out all the time, but hey don't hate the player, hate the game!

So, what else you get?

First you get the biggest bad ass to your life.
You get all your sins forgiven, which is unbelievable thinking all the things you've done.
You get to be Gods children, and it's worth it, since he's throwing the big party you don't want to miss out!
You get to have his love too, so it's not like you'll be hanging out there alone.
And the best part, you get to be in that party, and guess what? It doesn't end!

Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me, don't you think?

PresidentMarcos · June 17, 2003, 20:11

Ever gotten the feeling that religion is just a pack of lies designed to control the populace? Besides, it does become obsolete with the discovery of Alien Archealogy...

Apocalypse · June 17, 2003, 20:14

Quote:

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
If I said mine was made by Zylka, everyone would start seeing genitals in my avatar too.

Name one person on this board that has what's on my avatar. You have a dirty mind.

Alexander's Horse · June 17, 2003, 23:09

I'm quite religious in my own odd way and I find it quite comforting.

Only a month ago I was the only person at the bed side of a relative when they suddenly died. My beliefs were very helpful in coping with that.

St Leo · June 18, 2003, 00:20

Only a month ago I was the only person at the bed side of a relative when they suddenly died. My beliefs were very helpful in coping with that.

Yes, I am sure they were doubleplus reassuring.

The Templar · June 18, 2003, 01:00

Religion has the capacity to teach us that no amount of stuff will ever make us happy. It has the ability to shock us out of complacency by questioning whether our lives are being lived properly. It can rally people to fight the injustices of society (Ghandi and MLK were both religious figures after all).

Of course, religion is typically just a bunch of right-wingers projecting their own anxieties and anger about threats to the status quo (like science, women with careers, or openly gay people) onto God.

Ben Kenobi · June 18, 2003, 01:07

Guys, Dissident wants positives, not negatives of organised religion.

For myself, I second Pekka, forgiveness from sins.

Secondly, a place to meet people who share the same values that you do.

Third, a place to worship God with other people.

Fourth, people who can help you with counselling, etc as need be.

Fifth, volunteer opportunities, to help other people out.

Vince278 · June 18, 2003, 01:11

I don't think I've ever seen a thread go off topic as fast as this one. It pretty much lost its focus after the first post.

Even though I'm not a religious person I believe that would still be a difficult question to answer. I know from experience that true believers of the 3 major monothesic religions (Christians, Muslims, and Jews) are among the nicest people you'll ever meet.

Dis · June 18, 2003, 02:06

hey it's easy when the thread starter (me) catches an episode of Family guy on the cartoon network right after I made this thread.

Vince278 · June 18, 2003, 02:22

Cool cartoon. I hear episodes are on DVD now.

Nacht · June 18, 2003, 02:53

I think religion exists because people prefer to be part of a big meaningfull story instead of being part of a meaningless world of coincidence.

Personally I believe in the meaningless world of coincidence though...

Well, I do try to create some sort of meaning during the short time i'm here for myself.

Alexander's Horse · June 18, 2003, 03:10

Quote:

Originally posted by Nacht
I think religion exists because people prefer to be part of a big meaningfull story instead of being part of a meaningless world of coincidence.

I think there is a lot of truth in that.

Spiffor · June 18, 2003, 07:42

Religion has helped to channel mankind's creativity, intelligence and genius, which resulted in having most of the world's artistry devoted to worship. In fields like architecture, music, painting, etc. (and even science in medieval Europe / precolombian America), religion was what made these manifestations of human genius possible.

Sadly religion channeled mankind's stupidity and bloothistiness exactly the same way.

Az · June 18, 2003, 08:04

Religion was good in that, Spiffor. But Confucianism has succeeded doing this, without the deity.

alva · June 18, 2003, 08:42

Quote:

Religion has the capacity to teach us that no amount of stuff will ever make us happy. It has the ability to shock us out of complacency by questioning whether our lives are being lived properly. It can rally people to fight the injustices of society (Ghandi and MLK were both religious figures after all).

This can't be done with simple observation and reason?