Mental virus

[molok69]

Religion is like a `mental virus` that infects the human mind! I don`t see any positive effects from it, and think it must be eradicated from the face of the earth as soon as possible! It is only slowing down the evolution of consciousness! Any thought`s?

[Aedes]

You're talking about something pretty diverse when you use the word "religion".

Would you ask Native Americans to give up their traditions that believe that animals are invested with spirits, and that animals should be thanked for giving their bodies to our use?

Would you shut down every missionary hospital in every poor country on earth?

Would you close down all the homeless shelters and soup kitchens?

Would you go to the family of a dying child and read them some passage from Sartre about the meaninglessness of life?

[molok69]

I respect my ancestors beliefs, but do not share them, I don`t believe that Thor creates lightning with his hammer.

Yes, I would ask the Native American that!
But Islam and Christianity are the biggest outbreaks of the virus!

No, just remove the religious part!

No, nothing wrong in good deeds, only religion!

No, there are other alternatives than Sartre!

[Pythagorean]

I wonder if belief in the 'evolution of consciousness' could consitute a form of religion.

[molok69]

Originally Posted by Pythagorean

I wonder if belief in the 'evolution of consciousness' could

consitute

a form of religion.

I see your point!

But I think the

development

of new thoughts and ideas contribute to an `evolution of consciousness` or what to call it!

I see some positive effects of religion in the past, but not much in the future!

Sorry! some spellcheckproblems!

[Pythagorean]

O.K. Molok. But, the very first industrial revolutions happened in nations or countries that were predominantly Christian. It doesn't seem as if religion in these initial revolutions acted as any kind of stumbling block so, why do we need to rid ourselves of religion if it is such a fact that religion didn't retard such progress before?

What do you say to that?

[molok69]

It`s hard for me to answer that without some `pseudophilosophy`!

The industrial revolutions where no result of religions itself, but by the conscious mind and it`s level of knowledge and intelligence. As I see it, religion is based upon knowledge and beliefs of the past, and that future knowledge and technology requires a more open minded, `truth` based way of thought processing.

For the most optimal progress of intelligence, I think there is no room for religious indoctrination!

And do we know how the world would have developed if religion did not exist earlier?

[Didymos Thomas]

Molok, I have to wonder if religion is part of that development you speak of, and if so, why must it be torn down? Religion has changed over time.

Also, I'm not so sure religion is necessarily close minded. Sure, there are some who are close minded about their religious views, but there are also some people closed minded about whether or not Joe Montana was the best quarterback ever. Just because some people are close minded doesn't mean all people who are religious or football fans are close minded. The Dalai Lama has said if science ever contradicts Buddhist teaching, go with the science. Christian churches have also changed a great deal, especially with the liberalization we've seen in the past 50 years.

For the most optimal progress of intelligence, I think there is no room for religious indoctrination!

Indoctrination, I agree, can be dangerous, but I'm not sure what the danger is if we teach religion, or if some people find value in those teachings.

[Pythagorean]

Molok69,

The industrial revolutions were not made by religious thought or religious thinking, I agree. But the industrial beginnings took root within societies that were relgious. My question is, then, whether or not a society can even exist without some sort of humane or humanistic doctrine that supplies a framework that unifies societies and provides common rules for ethics and the like? After all we are not robots we are human and require (non-mechanical) standards in order to make agreements and live peaceably with one another.

I would also remind that there never existed a society that was atheistic (except the old Soviet Union which ended in failure).

So, I would argue that we first require a human environment (and whether or not this environment should rest upon religious principles I am not certain but I am certain that we are human and not robots!) and from there we can make technological progress.

That's my proposal, what say you to that?

[ogden]

Molok, I see your point. Religion seems like a throwback to ritualistic supersticious times, and humans should set aside superstitions and embrace a more anylitical view of things. Religon, followed by culture (nationalism), and race, seem to be the primary justifications for terrible cruelty throughout history and still today.

It would be dificult though to look back at history and not see the positive contributions religion has had on mankind. Religious law predates common law (as a usefull social governor). Religious monastaries were the centers for learning and thinking throuought the dark ages. Many sciences of today stem directly out of these centers, not to mention religious art. So religion is a vital, in-expungable, part of who we are and where we came from.

I personally make a clean break from religion so as not to condone by association the horific deeds justified in religions name. Still, each one of us has the right to ascribe value, and who am I to say religion is not helpfull to them.

I think the danger is when we mistake beliefs for facts and in so doing discontinue the serch for truth, or when we take an exaulted view of ouselves and thereby de-value others and the environment.

Sorry for the long post.