Religion is merely humans attempts to understand God, this attempt is completely neutral and natural at onset but can be used as a tool to accomplish good and bad outcomes. As it is a product of humans typically we see that it creates more bad than good. I am not shocked at this as it seems to reflect the nature of Humanity in general.
God has nothing at all to do with religion.
The belief that there is no God is just another man made attempt to understand this universe in which we find ourselves, and i fear could be used to propagate as much if not more evil upon other human beings than any other belief system every widely held by a group of people. I think this because there are no restrains at all in a no God religion. Look at all the rules that were held by all the religions and even under the effect of these restraining rules designed to curb the appetite for human evil and destruction Very MUCH still occurred. It is hard for me to imagine what humanity may be capable of with only there own subjective experiences and consciences to hold them back. I suspect that using humanities history as a guidebook and a pointer to were we are headed that things may get very bad indeed.
Is it possible or not that we may see any of these scenarios played out Why or Why not?
1. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should be sterilized so as to keep the virus from spreading?
2. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should be admitted to psychiatric ward to undergo drug treatment?
3. Those that believe in a God or Gods should have less rights then those that do not as they are not of sound mind?
4. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should not be allowed to hold private property?
5. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should pay a special tax to compensate society for such disruptive belief it causes of the general well being of society?
That is just to name a few I am sure there are many that my Mind cannot even conceive.
Originally America was founded on the Idea that everyone should have to freedom to believe as they see fit. I believe that this trend is rapidly coming to a close and no longer being a freedom afforded to the people therein. Returning us to a Pre 1600's Europe where in order to have equal protection under the law you must belong to the State Religion. America was set up that their should be NO State Religion, and that all should be able to believe without interference from the government, A very noble cause indeed.
In my honest opinion however; Atheism is quickly becoming the NEW State Religion.... do you respectfully agree or disagree??
I believe that we would all agree that this is a very distinct possibility that warrants investigation.
In the name of the virtues we should all hold closely Freedom, Love, Peace..... Matthjar.
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The fundamental flaws in your thought process is your consideration that atheism is a religion and that atheism is a belief. It is neither.
Perhaps a broader look at human history, sociology, psychology, current events, and physiology would poke holes in your assertion that without religion humans would all become beastly.
You stated that you, "believe this trend is rapidly coming to a close and no longer being (sic) a freedom afforded to the people therein." What, specifically leads you to this "belief"? Is it the fight many atheists put up to prevent religious dogma from being taught in public schools? Is it the consternation an atheist voices when they see religious quotes or statuary in public buildings? Just what is it?
There are countries other than the U.S. on this planet. Go check out and compare those with the most religion versus those with the least and you may find relief from your fear.
"1. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should be sterilized so as to keep the virus from spreading?
2. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should be admitted to psychiatric ward to undergo drug treatment?
3. Those that believe in a God or Gods should have less rights then those that do not as they are not of sound mind?
4. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should not be allowed to hold private property?
5. Anyone believing in a God or Gods should pay a special tax to compensate society for such disruptive belief it causes of the general well being of society?"-
Do you see how sick that sounds!? Seriously! I would never advocate doing such things to another human being! Ever!
Unfortunately, religious people continually advocate agendas like these all the time. That's why they assume that atheists (as if we're a unified group) would do the same thing to them if those imaginary tables were turned.
Did I miss something? Where did that list come from and who is advocating it?
It came straight from matthjar's head, nowhere else. I don't know who would advocate that kind of lunacy.
Why are these ideas in your head matthjar? I have many ideas bouncing around inside that I choose to not let out. These should have been kept locked away somewhere and never allowed to be seen by others.
I think that people who are stuck in the quagmire of religious dogma are just simply unable to wrap their heads around the fact that we're not, in any way shape or form, wrapped up in the same system.
I agree. What's right for one, may not be right for all and people should realize that not everyone has the same beliefs they do.
Mathjar are you testing the waters? Are you worried about getting castrated if you start preaching? We humans who love being human do not give a f*** what you believe as long as you don't force others to believe or live it. We would never think of forcing others to not believe like religion has forced people to believe. Who has the moral ground? Try those who find your imaginary list so very unhuman.
I won't even comment on your why or why not scenarios since no serious person speaking on behalf of humanists or atheists or agnostics has ever endorsed any of those suggestions. As far as your concerns about whether humanity will descend into chaos without god, I'd like to point out that the question you raised in the third graph is answered directly in the Quick Responses to 10 Common Theist Arguments section of this very website. But I would like to add this, the question of whether humanity can be good without god is utterly obtuse to an atheist because it presupposes the existence of a deity. If you believe that there is no god, then you, by default, believe that humanity has been entirely responsible for our actions throughout history and god never played any role in any of it. Can we be good without god? Yes, because we've been capable of good without him all along.
Excellent point, I missed that one. We're already quite good without god. And, we'll be equally as bad without the devil or whatever mischief maker exists in the various different religions.
It's time humans take full accountability for their own actions... I guess that level of responsibility scares some people.
Fuck... fuck... so much stupid in this post, where to begin... well I guess I shold just hit the topics as you talked about them.
1. Religions are base on a god. They kind of co-exist together. A god with no religious followers is just a fictional character. And there seems be many of those out there, with groups of people who beleive in them out of ignorance.
2. You have to be religious, you have a very well established idea in your head that humanity at it's core is evil and destructive and any semblance of humanity is a behaviour learned from religion. I would argueit is quite the opposite, Humanity is based at it's core as a social group, who's main goal is to survive and procure a measure of resources to sustain both self and family. If left alone, most non-religous groups of people would try to work out discourse. In fact history has atleast 50 times as many converging (Joining) societies a opposed to geonocide attempts. I would say that evil and destruction are learned behaviors.
People willing to die for their beliefs, and unwilling to attempt come to a compromise are usually the first ones to go to war. Look at islam, in most free societies they are free to practice more conservative approaches to life themselves, while the rest of society goes by the bare minimum law of respecting only life and property of others. But they insist on trying to enforce sharia law on others, constantly being the aggresor in attacking other people. And they feel it justified by their religious teachings, which is a learned behavior. Christian terrorists too, have bombed abortion clinics and doctors because of their belief in a human being being creaed an conception. Even though science and medicine has proved the line between a conception and human being has some pretty gray areas where people should have the freedom to make a decision on how there own lives will be led before another human being at is dependant apon them is added to the picture.
3. A state religion of atheism? Are you really kidding me on this? You can't say a lack of religion is a religion, anymore than you can say an empty crispy creme box is still a box of doughnuts. Besides, it's not like atheism has a book of tenents you can read, but I feel rather certain that most atheists are only concerned with living a long and prosperous life, following as few laws as permissible to maintain life and freedom. Everything else is simply a personal choice (such as your religion) and I could honestly care less about that, unless you get violent and try to enforce a more stringent system of laws than is necassary.
I think what your doing here is confusing that the christians are not getting their way all the time as secularism becomes more prevailant and no one cares about trying to stop gay people from getting married, or teenagers from using birth control or abortions so they can continue to advance their lives before having a family, etc...
No difference just excuses....
How can you say atheists are now in charge look at hobby lobby look at the new 'anti bullying' law in Michigan republicans altered it to give religious people the RIGHT TO BULLY if its because of their religion.
Recently in god we trust is being put on state seals and those seals placed on walls where public can see them.
Christian american fundamentalists passed an anti gay law in Uganda and america did nothing to them.
Witch craft trials are still going on in the less civilised christian countries.
The pope admitted 1 in 50 priests are pedos and the church has been responsible for covering it up nothings happened to the church.
Plus the sharia crap going on.
So exactly how do you believe atheists are incharge?
By the way of your list i would consider governments offering voluntary psychiatric counselling to religious people but only that.
Agreed, it should be treated like any other delusion should be. I'm not advocating locking up people against their will, but... well, if you're imagining giant beings floating around in the sky and giving various commandments and motivations to your actions, effecting your morality and commanding you to do harm to others... there's a pill for that. Ask your doctor if Abilify is right for you.