Atheism

"One of the great tragedies of mankind is that religion still exists."

I know so many good people who are religious, who do so much for others without asking anything in return that it's hard for me to wish that to be true.

Edgar, just this afternoon I got in my car and headed down the street. I passed my neighbors house, 2 doors down. There, their daughter, who just turned 10, was hula hooping on the sidewalk. I love this child so much.

As I looked at her while driving by, I thought about how she and her little brother were both such good, kind, compassionate, responsible, fun children. They have had absolutely no religion in their lives, but they have had loving wonderful parents all along, who encourage them to be the best they can be. Earlier that day, she and her friend had another one of their "roadside stand" mornings, selling popcorn this time. They take half of whatever they earn, and donate it to a charity.

No church, religion or God told them to do this. Just the good people they are being raised by, who have no religion at all.

Wilso said: Nobody ran me off facebook. But you're still a loser. And when you leave this world, nobody will care or ever remember who you were. Go with that knowledge.

Chai said: ...she and her little brother were both such good, kind, compassionate, responsible, fun children.....No church, religion or God told them to do this. Just the good people they are being raised by, who have no religion at all.

Chai said: I find it interesting how the reasonable people here use their own words, but the fools and bigots have to rely on the words of others.

Quote:

Chai said: I find it interesting how the reasonable people here use their own words, but the fools and bigots have to rely on the words of others.

Yes, atheists are always quoting the words of Dawkins, Hitchens etc etc..

I propose that religion helps them be good people. It starts in the church and some of the programs they support that help the poor and needy.
Not every church and not every Christian.

Go back through this thread and cite how many times that has happened. Then go back and look at how many times you've needed your crutch.

And in several cases I think they would have been much better off without their religion which has clearly harmed them psychologically over the years.

I find it interesting how the reasonable people here use their own words, but the fools and bigots have to rely on the words of others.

I agree that not every religious person can be stuffed into the same pigeon hole. Many good people are religious and many people find a way to follow the best principles of their religion. But on the whole, I think the nature of religious thought does more harm than good for humanity. And I don't even think it's a close tie, I think it's in the range of 80% damage to 20% benefit. Many people in my extended family are very religious, and they are nice people. But there isn't a single one of the who is being nice just because of their religion. And in several cases I think they would have been much better off without their religion which has clearly harmed them psychologically over the years.

For when people of the nations, who do not have law, do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts. . . (Romans 2: 14,15)