Religion: A Necessary Evil?

Religion fascinates me, seriously, and I was just wondering what everybody thought about it.

I tend to think the world would be a better place without it as too few actually benefit from it. In fact, all I see all over the world is hatred coming from it.

I've lived through 'The Troubles' in NI and I find that the level of hatred that emanates from Protestant people in relation to Catholics as bitter in the extreme. It is almost as though they are taught that Catholics are subhuman with the head of their church, quite simply, an 'Anti-Christ.'

Watching the suicide bombers in the Middle-East where 'martyrs' are created by killing others makes me feel sick to the stomach that such evil could be attributed to any '*.'

Hearing stories about heads being cut off with a pen-knife are the tip of the iceberg. Everywhere we all go we are affected by extremists from all religions.

Another scary organisation is Opus Dei. For all their talk about loving * this organisation was able to bail out the Vatican Bank as well as buy a new $100,000m dollar HQ in New York.

Personally, I find that belief in * is nothing more than an extended version of Santa Clause, however, if I'm every in trouble I suddenly become very religious.

I despise the human side of the Catholic Church for their treatment of children and others innocents with * abuse, mental torture and I find it incredible that their two faced standards do not allow condoms in Aids-ridden countries like Africa.

I'd just like to hear others views on it as I find it a fascinating topic which really does affect everyone of us.

 

if you're interested mate....just read a book called 'the * delusion' by a prominent atheist - its a great read whether you are religious or not - funny and brilliantly written, it really changed the way i think about the subject.

If you read the bible, there is so much suffering and murder in it i wonder how anyone can take this content and try and apply it to a way of living in today's world. I've been out in the states for about 6 months, its astounding how scared people are of questioning religious faith out here. For instance, only 40% of Americans would vote for an atheist for president. Why should believing in * have any bearing on someone's ability as a leader? crazy stuff

 

I can live without it in my life, I don't need it to guide me and I don't want to be a follower. I don't believe. Religion has caused so many troubles over the years, but thats not to say without it the world would be a better place. Humans seem to find a way to fight whatever the reason. Religion does give a vast amount of people something to believe in and helps guide them through life. I know many people who rely on their faith to get them through hard times and I can't really knock that. I tend to look at life in a different way and believe in science more than blind faith. The idea of a higher power is a kind of comfort blanket, fair enough, but I don't buy what they are trying to sell.

 

Its not religion, its churches. If you just read the four gospels and (whether or not you believe the magical stuff) just followed the teachings then there would be no trouble in the word at all. I dont like churches but I am pretty much a christian (although a bad one) . A lot of the bad crap is cultural traditon anyway not actually in the good books of the various religions.

 

i had a course to fill at uni so just started taking buddhism. To me it seems like the only religion that doesn't have loads of downsides. Technically it is a religion, but without all the worshipping, and fear of burning in * and all that *. It is basically just about having compassion for others and trying to live with a clear head. Anyone hear of a holy war/crusade started by a group of fundamental buddhists?? or a buddhist monk trying to con people into sending him $1000 as a 'contract with the lord' (saw a christian 'pastor' trying that on the tv yesterday).

 

Funny I was thinking of posting something about religion yesterday.

I'm not religious in any shape or form, I don't go to mass but my wife and daughter go every week which I have no problem with.

But yesterday I was dragged along for a short candle service where my wee girls class all re-affirmed their baptismal promises now that they're old enough, and before they all make their first confession in a few weeks time. I thought it would be a total drag but it was actually quite heart warming.

They sang some hymns then made their baptismal vows. They were all wearing their school uniforms and all the parents and grandparents did their bit as well. Normally I despise the division which religion is often the cause of but seeing all the kids and their families last night demonstrated how it can also be a great comfort to some and create a very close community.

 

I was at a few of their shrines and temples in Japan. Amazingly peaceful places. I like buddism but am a bit put off being a honky buddist because of some of the serious * who get into it for a couple of years in Britain.

 

I know what you mean mate the pretentious dicks who get all holier than thou about stuff, start walking around cities in bare feet and stuff. Also, to be a true buddhist you're not supposed to drink or * ever again. I think i would have to stop short of those two rules. Couldn't keep a clear head during the week if i couldn't get plastered on the weekend

 

i think everybody should have faith in there own heart and for there family but i choose not to be of a certain religion protestan catholic or whatever

i have chosen against the inlaws wishes not my own familys to have my daughter christened if she wants to make a choise when she is old enough fine its they way my parents raised me and my wife stands by my views caused a little upset but i think it would only be hipocrisy

we will have a nameing party excuse for a party

 

Jeez, great replies, Bhoys. It really is an amazing subject!

Irvy, I'm in the same predicament with our 7th - due on Feb 21st!!

I do not want to have it Christened at all but I won't go against my wife, due to the simple fact that she is an Irish Catholic mother, who would never consider NOT baptising our child.

Matt, America is a scary place for religion but being such a vast country I fear it is scary for many other reasons as well.

I'll definitely give the book a read

 

Just Christened my 3 two weeks ago, the missus idea more than mine, I managed to not go through with it till now. My eldest wants to go to chapel and do all the stuff so fair play, not my bag though, but I can't stop him as its his free choice. 7 year old annaw. It's not compulsory in MY family, although I was made to go and * hated it.

 

Tough question. I am not religious at all but while I do recognise that religion has caused great suffering in the world at the same time I don't grudge anyone their right to believe.

If I think about what religion is, why we have it then I suppose it's to help us make sense of the world. One of the things that makes us different from animals is our level of consciousness and self-awareness. We have the unique ability to ask 'why' ? When we can't come up with answers to questions such as 'why are we here ?' or 'what is the meaning of life?' then I suppose what we do is invent answers to help us make sense of the world and to give us meaning. If we didn't then there would be a huge void in the human psyche.

So in a way I would say yes it is 'necessary' because of the way we think as human beings, because it gives us answers to things we don't understand and what we don't understand often frightens us.

 

Well put point as always Martin, science is the key though.

 

That's a good point too. Science is another thing we use to try and understand the world - to give us answers.

 

I find it incredibly strange that people are 'indoctrinated' into religion at a very early age. It has been stated by some that 'Christening' is nothing more that 'child abuse.'

You take a child and put it in a box - 'You are a catholic baby, you are a protestant baby.' Is that right?

I agree with 'The Doc' that these ceremonies can be heartwarming and give us a warm glow inside as we watch our own innocent young offspring join in a community event.

However, one night of 'heartwarming' seldom translates into a life of Christian belief. We can get the same feeling of warmth and inclusiveness if we go to any 'Open Night' at any school.

It is when we are all on our best behaviour and we want to accept that what we are told is true or what we would like to be true.

Recently, I stood for my nephew as his sponsor for Confirmation.

The Bishop asked those kids, before they took a pledge not to drink until 18, if they wanted to join the BBC. Everybody looked around and wondered what was coming next.

He was referring to the 'Blue Bag Club' who litter everywhere every night with their bags after a night drinking on the streets. Very clever, and more importantly, very apt for the working class parish he was working in.

So much of this feel-good factor about religion comes from too few priests. However, I feel that is all it is. A short 'happy' feeling of togetherness and community spirit.

I, also, find it very strange that so much about the Churches history is kept from public knowledge - maybe not kept from but not promoted.

Lets face it - Jesus wasn't born in a stable but many choose to accept it as fact.

Naivety or stupidity?

I, genuinely, feel it is pathetic.

 

one thing a lot of religious people say is that real faith (as opposed to just practice) is not something you can get by logic or reasoning it through. Its like an extra sense, a strange feeling of a presence, a sense of otherness that some people feel. Some peoples minds just work on a level where they think sideways in symbolic and spiritual ways instead of in staight lines. Psycologists call it mental 'openess' and its common among the spirtual, artists, poets and schizophrenics. Something to do with the frontal lobes. Tends to be missing in people with technical minds. If you think in a pretty sensible litteral way you are unlikely to fully feel spiritual rapture etc.
That said many people follow the good philosphy of religions but dont really feel it and you got to admire them because it cant be easy to so without feeling it.

The worst people are the hypocrites who attend church but dont exactly live with Jesus-like values. Thats worthless IMO. To me, its sad people who make a fuss about being a catholic or a protestant but dont believe at all. How can you still get all hot under the collar about a denominaton if you are not even a christian. I think there will be * identifying themselfs as catholcs or protestants long after its been generations since their familys have been believers. Fighting a fight over something you dont believe in is just liking fighting for its sake. Daft.

 

so much of science is also faith

 

Keltoi,

Seriously good post, mate and I enjoyed reading it.

I grew up in an ultra-Catholic family although my father died when I was about 11, and it was my mother who forced her beliefs on us.

Her best friend is a Bishop who married myself and my wife and baptised all our kids.

I've never met a more hypocritical person than my own mother, I am afraid to say. Her faith does not stop her from looking down her nose on those who fail to hold the beliefs she holds dear.

And that goes for her own family members as well.

In fact, I would suggest that she has never actually had a life due to her beliefs. No risks, no taking anyone on who she believes was wrong but stood steadfast in her belief that * would sort everything out for her.

I feel she died the day my father did and that was due to religion and her belief * up our whole family, simply due to the fact that she never practised what she preached within her own comfort zone and was such a wimp in relation to real life.

Those who proclaim to love their * are invisible in the 'real world.'

Why is that? Why do they hide behind this '*' who will protect them?

 

MATHEMATOLOGY RULES !

We hate Scientology - splitters.

As for the serious matter of religion - I believe it is a very personal thing. You can't prove the existence of a * or Gods nor can you disprove it. You either have faith in a higher being or faith of there being none at all but both cannot be sure or proved right. Let and let live. Having studied theology I do not intend to go any deeper than that. I finish by quoting a famous theologian:

"They make fun of me because I believe in science"

Nacho Libre