Do you consider RELIGION a mental virus?
 

A little bit of a background https://richarddawkins.net/2014/02/whats-in-a-meme/

Is being religious inherently self-defeating or are we basing the definition on a narrow form of religion?

What religion has not been destructive to the human race?

Religion determines morality!

Everybody needs to believe in something.
As long as they do no harm to others -- I really don't care.
Unfortunately, it usually descends into my god told me to destroy you.
Or, some kind of false superiority and smugness -- this goes beyond religion.

Karl Marx was right but what harm are millions of addicts if they keep to themselves -- killing and cheating each other?

/thread :2 cents:

Absolutely!

anyone who thinks like that has no idea what religion is and what purpose it serves. since religion has existed in some form in every civilization ever... obviously it serves a vital role to our survival as a species.

I am an anarchist and agnostic, but I believe laws and morals are necessary.

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

True. But that determination is pretty horrific.

I would rather say religion determines immorality.

It did help Jake and Elwood put the band back together.


They saved the Penguin and the orphans.

"Kill the infidels" - as example in such morality)

Utter horseshit.


And from someone who can explain why better than me....

"Religion is the opium of the people."

~ Karl Marx.

Holy inquisition already going to you :1orglaugh

As i know in Mark's time opium had used like a painkiller

We are all on this board doing the devil's work right? xD

Of course religion is a virus, but so is money, ideas, dogmas, etc.

Once it becomes "organized" that's when shit happens

I know religious people who are cool and other ones who are just gone...

To each its own.

actually religion is only instructions , morality been with humans before any religion .

i believe in god but i don't take moral advices from religious people " cause allergy to me" they tend to be hypocrites .

100% true but I prefer smoking pot. :stoned

Purpose of religion is to spend your time if you dont have anything to do.

Religions exist nowadays?? That would be odd.

100% true.

Some idiots have to be told an imaginary powerful being said "Do not have sexual relations with your father?s wife; that would dishonor your father." (Leviticus 18:8) in order for them not to do what the rest of us know is common sense.

Today we have many moral laws which come from religion. Many are fixed in modern laws, do not kill, do not steal etc...

Our laws don't come from religion you dope!

Humans made the Bible based on laws and suoerstitions of their time, not the other way around you dope.

If you can't determine right from wrong you lack empathy, not religion.

These rules were developed and developed over the years.
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1350723/im...T-facebook.jpg

Who wrote what right and what is wrong? :1orglaugh

Jesus is lord!

No. Jesus is the son of the Lord. WTF is wrong with you nutbags :1orglaugh

If you think empathy is learned from something that is written I've got some terrible news for you.

People did, long before the skygod trend...

what was that? during the volcano god trend? the sun god trend? the star god trend? what was that period in mans history that was without religion?

It's a pity that sheeps slave of religions are not conscious enough to live an autonomous constructive life. :stoned

That wasn't always on our money.. The religious right wing nutters got it added in the 50s..

A law passed in a Joint Resolution by the 84th Congress (P.L. 84-140) and approved by President Dwight Eisenhower on July 30, 1956, declared "In God We Trust" must appear on American currency. This phrase was first used on paper money in 1957, when it appeared on the one-dollar silver certificate.

Also, yes I think anyone who believes in invisible made up gods has some screws loose..

Jesus = Santa for grown ups

Jesus forgives everybody, halleluiah

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh ...

Morality not equal with empathy. Morality exploatate empathy in some form, and have much bigger value.
yes years like 12 thousand ago.
When people had ran around the forest and engaged in cannibalism - and think it is good and right :1orglaugh
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter-gatherer
Sheeps have many common with us :1orglaugh
democracy

dictatorship

ok religion it is mental virus which must teach nutters to morality :1orglaugh

The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue, are a set of biblical laws relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The commandments include instructions to worship only God, to honour one's parents, and to keep the sabbath, as well as prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, theft, dishonesty, and coveting. Different religious groups follow different traditions for interpreting and numbering them.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Commandments

Bullshit.

Arguments?

the logical question is "if i represent such a tiny minority, is not being religious a mental disease"

"by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life estimates that there are 5.8 billion religiously affiliated adults and children around the globe, representing 84% of the 2010 world population of 6.9 billion."

If everyone was smart and could think for themselves, there would be no leaders.. The simple fact is Christians are called sheep and followers by their own book...Just as muslims are.

Religion is just a tool to control people to stop them from thinking for themselves. Most people want to be told what to do, for those that don't religion was the way to force them into being a follower..

Govts eventually took over that role..

Allahu Akbar! Kaboom.

Jesus was one of 100s of preachers going around in the ME at the time. He was pretty insignificant and the only thing that made him great were those who followed him.

Man needed religion before the 19th Century to keep us organised. Today it's a force for disorganisation.

Easy. Islam, Judaism, Hindus, etc. Aren't a force for good, they have a very strict doctrine that punishes anyone who steps out of line.

Christianity was a pretty good way to live one's life. Until the Christain got hold of it.

Yes in political life - religion make people's life like in middle ages.
But as a part of culture and history and morality is a good foundation.