A world without religion

[PlatinumTitan]

So, this is a follow up, from an atheist, to the popular post with the same title.

Religion doesn't keep you from being an animal. Religion doesn't help you decide what's right and what's wrong. Morality is subjective. Right now, regardless of what religion you belong to. If you read through your holy book, you'll ignore certain parts you consider immoral, and follow the codes that you consider to be moral. Morality is taught to you as a child. You're parents teach you right from wrong. The "Golden Rule" is also taught to you. And before you start referencing the bible...other versions of this rule exist in texts and cultures far older than even Catholicism.
You can't say that religion is what makes you choose right from wrong. Why? Remember the Dark Ages? Remember when all the Kings and Queens looked to the Catholic Church for advice in all their affairs and laws? People were killed for incredibly ignorant reasons. There were book burnings. Bloody wars.
Note, I'm not trying to use the Dark ages to say that religion is bad for the world. I'm just saying, it's not all sugar and spice and everything nice. It doesn't make us good.
Religion is sin vs. salvation (through both moral and immoral doings.
Are you still afraid? Do you still not understand how we've progressed as a civilization without all of our morals coming from a holy book? So far, I've described morality. Now, I'll write about ethics.
Ethics is how we figure out what our morals ought to be. The ethical equivalent of the "Golden Rule" is called "The Greatest Good" which basically means that the more good that results from a decision, the more ethical that decision was. Ethics is what governs our society. Even outside of written law, we know how to behave ourselves.
To summarize, morality is subjective, and personal. Whereas ethics, although is also subjective, it's collective and public.

Yes, I am an atheist. I know murder is wrong. Why? I wouldn't want to be killed. I know rape is wrong, because I wouldn't want to be raped. I can imagine how either of those atrocities feel and just know how wrong it would be to commit them. Look, my point is, I am living proof that you don't need religion to comprehend morality.

Recap, for those who skim through posts like this. I don't believe that religion is all bad, nor do I believe it's all good. It helps motivate people, it gives them hope. What they're motivated to do, or what they hope to happen, depends on the person and the faith. (Ex. Genocide and slavery, to healing the sick and protecting the weak.)

EDIT: There are other reasons to wage war. So I wouldn't say that the world would be any better off without religion anyway.

 

[CrimsonReaper]

For good reason. It's an interesting and controversial topic. If you don't want to take part in the discussion, don't.

Stop what? There was a huge misconception, and I felt like clearing it up.

...party?

or you could just use the search bar...

 

[Bimbonium]

Stop what? There was a huge misconception, and I felt like clearing it

Good luck with that.uttahere:

 

[Monxstaa]

Without religion im sure i would of killed someone soo yeah

 

[Sasuke2]

How about a world without stupid religious people.

 

[Rohan]

I don't believe that religion is all bad, nor do I believe it's all good. It helps motivate people, it gives them hope. What they're motivated to do, or what they hope to happen, depends on the person and the faith. (Ex. Genocide and slavery, to healing the sick and protecting the weak.)

Pretty much this. Just follow what you think is good and discard the bad things.

 

[CloyEscapade]

I imagine a world where ppl are still looking for something to explain things, so then I imagine ppl like this...

You must be registered for see images

 

[Wparker6804]

seven vaginas

Wait... What? Are you referencing something? Kindah like "the cake is a lie"?

Without religion im sure i would of killed someone soo yeah

I can understand this. I've had trouble with depression & humiliation since I was 6--even from people close to me. After High School I bottled it up so much it went to borderline violence but I never crossed the line. At one point--just a few months ago--I felt so scared & so close to the breaking point I somehow knew how far I would go once it happened; and the worst part was that 90%+ chance of it happening to my immediate family. Suddenly I got so scared, weak & depressed that I considered--just for a few minutes--ending my life so they wouldn't get hurt or even killed.

But my Christianity, my morals & my standing reminded me that I'm not that kind of person. I have my own burdens to bear & my own ways to deal with them rather than fall into sin & new ways to vent rather than break. It was my Christianity that did that for me. In a matter of weks I started putting my energy back into my job, it got me a "promotion" of sorts, 2 pay raises & respect from not just my manager & 2 supervisors but my boss's boss as well.

@ the OP:

Now I have no desire or intent to argue--believe what you want, that's your choice. But as you stand by your beliefs other people should also stand by theirs. My only problem with other people isn't how they live their life or what they believe, but when they try to force their beliefs or have the consequences of their lifestyle effect others & take away their freedom. I'm not a hypocritical zealot (not calling ANYONE that, just pointing it out) shoving sticks up people's rear ends because I'm not on the same page. I'm one of a dying number of people who tries to be fair, unbiased, "agree to disagree" attitude who listens to others & tries to see it from their point of view. So many people want to be on the "same page" by forcing their mindset on others rather than truely being on the same page by both individuals looking at it from each other's point of view.

I've heard what you've said & I can see why you think of religion the way that you do. Just, please, do your best to do the same for everyone else & don't be as quick as most other people to judge. If not, as Samuel L Jackson put it, "hold onto your butts"

Spoiler

[video=youtube;-W6as8oVcuM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W6as8oVcuM[/video]

 

[Your Creepy Stalker]

How about a world without stupid religious people.

A world without Idiots would be very lonely.

 

[Natsu Shazneel]

Can't imagine a world without religion. I mean it is the only thing that can explain my existance.

 

[Dark Sonic]

Not this again. Whatever stays in the other thread stays in the other thread.

 

[Fresco]

Without religion im sure i would of killed someone soo yeah

Empathy was a thing before religion so...

 

[Ripple Hole]

You should start making more sense when you write.
Use the search bar for what?

The previous threads such as this.
Copy your title, and go into the searchbar.
See what you get- if that doesn't satisfy
then you can make a thread.

 

[CrimsonReaper]

You should start making more sense when you write.
Use the search bar for what?

to search this topic.. it's been done like 2 days ago im sure you could post on it.

 

[PlatinumTitan]

Can't imagine a world without religion. I mean it is the only thing that can explain my existance.

Um...no. Explaining your existence, is just as easy as saying,"You exist." Unless of course, you meant why you exist. In my opinion, that's a pointless question. Why must you have a greater purpose? Doesn't that sound a bit...arrogant? Maybe our purpose in life is no greater than that of an ant, why would it matter?
Now, how you exist, is a beautifully well written question. And you could find your answers in biology or physics. But to think that there is an answer to why you exist is pretty arrogant.

Pretty much this. Just follow what you think is good and discard the bad things.

I try.

How about a world without stupid religious people.

Easy. I understand what you're saying. There's a time and place where we can joke like that. But this is supposed to be a serious talk. Please try to be civil. I'm tired of people looking at me like I'm some animal because others on the internet don't know how to be considerate.

Without religion im sure i would of killed someone soo yeah

You terrify me, sir. What if one day, you begin to doubt? Do you mean to say, that the instant you were decide for yourself that there is no higher power, you'd start killing? You're insane. You're immoral, you're unethical, you have no sense of empathy or compassion. And people like you, shouldn't be walking the streets. Religion should not be your only ethical guideline. Because so much of it is warped and twisted due to our perceptions and interpretations.
Unless you didn't think that sentence through, or you're a troll, stay away from me and my family.

Good luck with that.uttahere:

Ikr? I'm pretty bored though, and I love hearing other people's viewpoints.

 

[PlatinumTitan]

to search this topic.. it's been done like 2 days ago im sure you could post on it.

I didn't need the search bar. The whole point of me having made this one, is because the previous one with the same title is closed. And there were misconceptions I felt were not cleared in the replies. Are you trying to be productive? Or are you just complaining?

 

[SasukeTheEmo]

tfw science ripped off the Vedas

 

[Natsu Shazneel]

Um...no. Explaining your existence, is just as easy as saying,"You exist." Unless of course, you meant why you exist. In my opinion, that's a pointless question. Why must you have a greater purpose? Doesn't that sound a bit...arrogant? Maybe our purpose in life is no greater than that of an ant, why would it matter?
Now, how you exist, is a beautifully well written question. And you could find your answers in biology or physics. But to think that there is an answer to why you exist is pretty arrogant.

Why would I not have a greater purpose? No matter how you look at it this life does not last forever. If I just sit here and accept that I have no greater purpose. This life to me would be meaningless. Now I could careless if that sounds arrogant to you. You could live your life to the fullest. Enjoy every bit of it till you can for 70 plus years. While I will go search for the answers on my own.

 

[Adam Driver]

People use their Religion for inspiration and faith for whatever they have faith in such as faith for something after our lives.
Who are we to tell them it's nonsense or wrong? It would make you as arrogant as one doing bible thumping towards you. Just ignore it if you don't believe in it its fine but there's no reason to rid it. Whether the world would be better with or without it isn't for you or anyone to decide, some people really find happiness behind what they believe in or have religious or not, all I see behind your wall of text is bias standpoints.

 

[PlatinumTitan]

People use their Religion for inspiration and faith for whatever they have faith in such as faith for something after our lives.
Who are we to tell them it's nonsense or wrong? It would make you as arrogant as one doing bible thumping towards you. Just ignore it if you don't believe in it its fine but there's no reason to rid it. Whether the world would be better with or without it isn't for you or anyone to decide, some people really find happiness behind what they believe in or have religious or not, all I see behind your wall of text is bias standpoints.

@Bold, I hope you don't think that's what this thread is about. It's not. And I agree completely, believe what you want to, you know? Just don't take away other people's freedoms.