I recently watched a programme which argued that religion was the cause of all evil. By using examples such as terrorism and extremism (9/11, Israel and Palestine feud) it then went on to look at Christianity, Islam and Judaism and how fighting so called "religious" wars was having an extrememly damaging effect on today's society and the world. Also, murderers such as "Jack The Ripper" the infamous prostitute killer, claimed it was God who told him to commit the act.
Futhermore, it expressed how teachings from religious texts pointedly called for violence in the name of religion by quoting various extracts.
It was then suggested that religion should be totally abolished or banned in order for the world to become a "better place".
I am currently doing an assignment on this and i just wanted some feedback on people's views in relation to this.
Do you agree that religion is the main cause of evil such as murder, war and its teachings are influencing young people negatively? Or do you think that Atheists are just as likely to be "evil" without the influence of religion and that religion is, in fact, peaceful?
Thank for your help!
Matt Smith Admin Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 31134
March 2nd, 2007 at 03:55pm
TalkingContradiction:
Also, murderers such as "Jack The Ripper" the infamous prostitute killer, claimed it was God who told him to commit the act.
Dude, that isn't a bit true. Jack was never caught, never proven who he was or even if there was more than one killer, nothing is known about him aside from his crimes. Nobody knows why he did it, let alone blame God.
Religion isn't the root of all evil; people are. I mean, people did make religion after all, and its down to the person whether they interpret their religion to allow murders or strive for love and peace.
well I wouldn't say religion is the root of all evil. o_o
I mean I see like terrorism and religion stands in connection, definately, but after all it's down to the people, and they're as much 'evil' atheist as christians or whatever I guess.
well I wouldn't say religion is the root of all evil. o_o
I mean I see like terrorism and religion stands in connection, definately, but after all it's down to the people, and they're as much 'evil' atheist as christians or whatever I guess.
Agreed.
Terrorism/Extremism/Holy Wars/ etc. were a result of people intepreting the bible (or other religious documents) to suit themselves.
Believe it or not, most of what religion preaches is actually good.
Answer = People are the root of all evil.
spill_no_sick Falling In Love With The Board Age: 31 Gender: - Posts: 8588
March 2nd, 2007 at 07:30pm
no
stupidity is
like those who blame religion for everything using their sense of "I myself, am perfect and Godlike already" as an excuse
as are those who use religion as an excuse to do horrible things
so I'd have to say you are
in the late eighties there were many suicides in Seattle where the person was wearing flannel
most often wore flannel
was flannel the reason for the suicides?
no,
because it was the fact they were suicidal
many people who weren't suidial wore flannel
religion is touchy
not because people get emotional, but people act like true assholes and think they know everything about it
which is why it's extremely hard to discuss
like, I respect Bloodraine beyond any comprehensioin....but she was truly stupid in her first statement here
religion is not a factor, it's being stupid and smug about your opinions is
First off, even if you were to go this route and blame religious morals for evil... who chooses to follow those religions? Society does. Therefore, once again, leading back to the dysfunction of society for the root of evil. You can't deny that there are people who do things using religion as their reason why, but you can't blame religion for that. The majority of time, the religion doesn't even have beliefs that the person was claiming. "Im a Christian, and God told me to go kill homosexuals" Things like that cause people to think of Christianity in a bad way, when really Christian morals state killing is clearly wrong. It would be ignorant to assume "Oh, well then all of Christianity must be like that." Being so ridiculously gullible is what causes you to think things such as that! Im really no fan of organized religion at all, but it would be foolish to blame it for "all evil"
Satanism especially seems to take the blame for all kinds of things. You know, if you define religion as the belief in beings higher than yourself, the majority of Satanism really can't even be considered a religion. Satanism accents the idea that YOU are the supreme being, and the satan they respect (not really worship) is just an admired spirit. Some denominations do worship Satan it depends. And the majority of Satanism isn't even the same "evil" Satan christianity talks about. Yet somehow a certain group of people typically judged by petty things get branded as people who take part in Satanic worship as if it's something horrible. It's just silly. That's how I personally feel about all religion: it's just silly. However that's only my opinion on the subject and everyone is allowed to have their own.
Mycophobia Basket Case Age: 30 Gender: Female Posts: 15581
March 3rd, 2007 at 10:13am
no, the GOP is
spill_no_sick Falling In Love With The Board Age: 31 Gender: - Posts: 8588
March 3rd, 2007 at 01:28pm
Thunder 34:
no, the GOP is
of course you do, because the president is Rupublican
in five years you'll hate Democrats
worn-out astronaut. Had A Life Before GSB Age: 32 Gender: Female Posts: 28177
March 3rd, 2007 at 05:01pm
spill_no_sick:
no
stupidity is
Ditto.
John Entwistle Great Success! Age: 36 Gender: Female Posts: 55036
March 3rd, 2007 at 09:01pm
Without religion the world would be a million times worse. I think religion keeps people civil.
John Entwistle Great Success! Age: 36 Gender: Female Posts: 55036
March 3rd, 2007 at 09:03pm
Thunder 34:
no, the GOP is
That was a stupid comment. I don't like Democrats but I don't think they are evil or the root of evil (and trust me when I talk about politics I can get really nasty).
Without religion the world would be a million times worse. I think religion keeps people civil.
I think religion dictates and controls people and the world would be alot better off without it. Not saying that some of the morals religions teach aren't good things, but you don't need a religion to teach you those things. However I also know alot of people would choose to disagree and I don't believe it's the root of all evil either.
lyrical_mess Falling In Love With The Board Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 5278
March 3rd, 2007 at 11:04pm
Religion used to be science. People didn't know how stuff actually worked so they were like "God did it!". And he probably did, in a way, but that's a different story.
Religion was the explanation, the hope, the morals, the peacekeeper, the Supreme Court, everything. But then everyone began to mingle. Muslims started hanging out with Christians and Jews traded with Hindus and Buddhism took over China and all that stuff. And I guess they just didn't like people who said that their version of God was wrong and that another was right. Hinduism and Buddhism were the first two religions to preach tolerance (really. they were) but all that kinda went out the window in the last 60 or so years.
We're blind. That's what makes it evil. The people who tried to blow up the office building next to my apartment complex are Muslim. So do I just go and be like "Muslims are EVILLLL". No. That's ignorance. Blindness. Just because one group of people belonging to a religion do something wrong, it doesn't make it a religion of evil and it doesn't make religion evil. People try and bend religion to their will and commit crimes. As far as I know or care, Allah's not telling anyone to bomb people and blow up trains. And Jesus died for his followers, but I'm pretty sure he didn't tell them to attack any non believers.
People are evil. And we'll look for any excuse to justify our actions.
Matt Smith Admin Age: 33 Gender: Female Posts: 31134
spill_no_sick Falling In Love With The Board Age: 31 Gender: - Posts: 8588
March 4th, 2007 at 12:05pm
Kurtni:
Bloodraine:
Duuude, what's the GOP?
I will second this question..
Republican National Commitee
what that post is saying is, "my politics come from American Idiot"
Ol' Blue Eyes. King For A Couple Of Days Age: 36 Gender: Female Posts: 4816
March 4th, 2007 at 09:18pm
Pressure Drop:
spill_no_sick:
no
stupidity is
Ditto.
I'll third that.
Brendon Urie.. King For A Couple Of Days Age: 37 Gender: Female Posts: 2394
March 4th, 2007 at 09:41pm
I don't believe religion is the root of all evil.
People are.
Religion is a good thing when you look simply at the faith aspect.
There's nothing wrong with wanting to be moral and worshipping God.
It's when you take all the man-made part of religions: following the Bible to a T [men wrote it], doing what the Vatican [structure of men] tells you to without thinking for yourself.
It's the human parts of religion that screw everything up.
well I wouldn't say religion is the root of all evil. o_o
