My observation, over a long period of time, is that religion is a disease that infects people's minds and takes over, much like an infection. Islam, in particular, seems to have caused its followers to stall in the past. It is hard to estimate, but they seems at least 700 years behind the rest of humanity. Christians are not much better, but have evolved a few years further. The quesiton is: can this terrible affliction be prevented somehow? Any ideas?

your an idiot.

quote:Originally posted by RAOVQ:

your an idiot.

Nothing like a little name calling to demonstrate your intellect. Anyone with an opinion?

i've got one... i agree with RAOVQ

quote:Originally posted by RAOVQ:

your an idiot.

But he can use proper grammar while he's being one, so he has the privilege qualifying as having an opinion.

You, on the other hand, are just an irrelevant annoyance.

I'd rather not see the ragging on Islam [ ],

but it's a decent topic that desserves a good response. rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble...and I'm not the person who's going to give it

Well, let's see...you could read the great philosophies, learn a second language, travel around (and I don't mean stay at hotels. This may seem completely irrelevant, but it could do you some good), build up your mind. Gain a tolerance level against religions, and don't let them get so far into your mind as to do possible harm. There is a good thread from an atheist who wanted to know if he should read some scriptures. That might help out here.

Just prepare your brain for a possible onslaught of religious propaganda. Strengthen your own views and maybe widen them a little. That may help...

I love studying religions. Myself being rather unemotional and cold cutting logical don't have too many 'symbols'. I enjoy reading about the relationships of emotion to the ethereal. Each new scripture I read tends to give more insight into how emotions created god, and the purpose behind each one. Most vocal atheists tend to view religion as mind control...this is true to an extent, but it's completely voluntary. People are seeking an outlet to connect their emotions to, and religion often helps them do that. Whether the emotion be love, pain, hate, anger, empathy, sympathy...there is some religous outlet for it in the world. If people are struggling with emotions, religion can often help. Those with stable emotions and a craving for evidence tend to stay away from religions since there is no outlet needed. It doesn't make us atheists any better to have no need for an outlet, because we miss out on the feeling of getting a heavy emotional burden cleared up after years of struggling.

religion doesnt hold back anything. its the people who decide to teach it that hold back things. look at the old muslim societies from after the roman empire fell. amazingly developed.

but then recently, as religion has become less and less a part of life, crime and violence has massivley upsurged. science is fine, but it doesnt provide any moral restraints.

religion is needed to keep the populace under moral control-not total control.

If religion creates control then it should be done away with. People need chaos to be happy. Religion creates nothing but chaos, and is just another tool to help people satisfy their base desires.

I think people are objecting to your characterization of religion as 'disease'. To be fair, the word has a pretty heavy negative connotation.

I agree with you that it spreads like one, though - taking over people and using them to pass itself on to other people.

There seems to be an inverse relationship between level of scientific thought and religiousness, though. I think good and often-used critical thinking skills can be pretty good as an inoculant.

quote:

My observation, over a long period of time, is that religion is a disease that infects people's minds and takes over, much like an infection



You'd have to innoculate against questions. Science is the modern religion of the masses...

Please elaborate; in what way is science a religion?

(I'd also be interested if you could point me to any other "religion" solely responsible for things like your computer)

Modern science has interesting parallels with the catholic church of the middle ages.

- It creates truth, and then feeds it to the masses, which in turn supresses thought by the masses, and increases their gullibility

- It takes hypothesis and speculation as fact (which leads to subcults within science - as different factions believe absolutely in their own truths)

- It suppresses anything that upsets the current mode of thought

- It venerates the scientific method, and takes its own view as default (and anyone else is treated as insane or defective - the modern equivalent to being possessed).

I could go on, but for the moment I'm still analysing the similarities...

Also, the difference between the older religions and modern science (hence why one's created my computer and the other hasn't), is because the older is more into the personal, whereas science could be said to be colder, and more distant.

[This message has been edited by VampireSlaya (edited 05-02-2004).]