Re: What good is Religion?
Originally posted by Mindship
It's been said that religion appeared as prehistoric man's way of explaining things. It was how primitive human beings understood their universe, including those parts unseen, like any existence after death.But religion was more than just an explanation. It brought comfort and hope. More than anything else, religion--even if there really is no God--is our way of attaching to the loftiest and noblest ideals the mind can imagine, that people can aspire to, ideals so heartwarming and uplifting that we've often done the opposite.
Eh, humans.
I blame Aristotle, though honestly, someone else would have had the problem.
The Anicent Greek science was about description. Then Aristotle came along and thought evertyhing had to have some sort of divine meaning, pushing humankind into a mental rut that the majority have still have been unable to pull out of.
Religion gives a meaning. Even though its based on nothing, people will clamor for meaning like one dollar bills with three extra zeros scribbled on them. They don't care to analyze the history if thier line of thought or the validity of thier evidence. They're jsut happy "knowing."
Re: Re: What good is Religion?
Originally posted by Alliance
I blame Aristotle, though honestly, someone else would have had the problem.The Anicent Greek science was about description. Then Aristotle came along and thought evertyhing had to have some sort of divine meaning, pushing humankind into a mental rut that the majority have still have been unable to pull out of.
Religion gives a meaning. Even though its based on nothing, people will clamor for meaning like one dollar bills with three extra zeros scribbled on them. They don't care to analyze the history if thier line of thought or the validity of thier evidence. They're jsut happy "knowing."
Indeed.
As I said before, although religion sometimes plays an important role, so do a variety of cultural, political and historical factors. Leaders use differences over faith as a way of sowing hatred and mobilising support for political wars. Religion sometimes is a cause for conflict, sometimes it simply helps sustain conflict, and other times it is used as a pretext for conflicts that have deeper roots in other issues.
Stating that religion is the cause of all wars is simply inaccurate.
Originally posted by Storm
As I said before, although religion sometimes plays an important role, so do a variety of cultural, political and historical factors. Leaders use differences over faith as a way of sowing hatred and mobilising support for political wars. Religion sometimes is a cause for conflict, sometimes it simply helps sustain conflict, and other times it is used as a pretext for conflicts that have deeper roots in other issues.Stating that religion is the cause of [b]all
wars is simply inaccurate. [/B]
Yes, this is what I meant to say.
Originally posted by Storm
As I said before, although religion sometimes plays an important role, so do a variety of cultural, political and historical factors. Leaders use differences over faith as a way of sowing hatred and mobilising support for political wars. Religion sometimes is a cause for conflict, sometimes it simply helps sustain conflict, and other times it is used as a pretext for conflicts that have deeper roots in other issues.Stating that religion is the cause of [b]all
wars is simply inaccurate. [/B]
A much better phrase would be: Religion does not contribute to the stability of the world.
Originally posted by Alliance
How so? Politics is an incredibly stabilizing force within nations. I feel it does more good than harm.
Well WW1 and WW2 were about Politics. Vietnam war was about Politics. Atrocities commited by America in S.America was about Politics. The Cold War was about Politics. The Chinese Government is oppressing its own people becuase of Politics.