Then there are the fanatical atheists whose intolerance is the same as that of the religious fanatics, and it springs from the same source. They are like slaves who are still feeling the weight of their chains which they have thrown off after hard struggle. They are creatures who - in their grudge against the traditional "opium for the people" - cannot bear the music of the spheres. The Wonder of nature does not becomes smaller because one cannot measure it by the standards of human moral and human aims.' -Albert Einstein
Religion is an idea. With any idea, it takes human beings to facilitate them. Religion can be used for good or evil. I think it has been mostly used for judgment, bigotry, control and fleecing money, but then there are charities that might not exist if relgions didn't preach a god told them to give to the poor - like you have to be told.
I find it a negative influence in my life and flee anything that even hints at religious.But then I am an atheist and don't need any of what they are selling.
It's not evil, since no religion (that I know off) is ill-intending. However, it's still bad, because faith gets you nowhere in life, especially when you have to choose it over evidence. It's true that a lot of good deeds are done in the name of religion, but those deeds can also be done by non-religious people, with no religious affiliation.
Religion is neither, What people do with and in the name of religion is what is good or evil..
I have alot of Christian friends who I think religion is a great thing for them.. I also know alot of Christians that religion is the excuse for their hatred and bigotry!!
-With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.-
Steven Weinberg, quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999 US physicist
"It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man." -- Thomas Paine
If it's an institution which uses its power to protect paedophiles from justice and blight the lives of thousands of children, or torture and sexually mutilate women who are accused of consorting with the devil (without due process or evidence), then it's pretty evil.
Religions are institutions which have built upon mythology. Every institution is bound to become corrupt and evil. That is the nature of Progress. It all reflects human nature.
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Then there are the fanatical atheists whose intolerance is the same as that of the religious fanatics, and it springs from the same source. They are like slaves who are still feeling the weight of their chains which they have thrown off after hard struggle. They are creatures who - in their grudge against the traditional "opium for the people" - cannot bear the music of the spheres. The Wonder of nature does not becomes smaller because one cannot measure it by the standards of human moral and human aims.' -Albert Einstein
Religion is an idea. With any idea, it takes human beings to facilitate them. Religion can be used for good or evil. I think it has been mostly used for judgment, bigotry, control and fleecing money, but then there are charities that might not exist if relgions didn't preach a god told them to give to the poor - like you have to be told.
I find it a negative influence in my life and flee anything that even hints at religious.But then I am an atheist and don't need any of what they are selling.
It's not evil, since no religion (that I know off) is ill-intending. However, it's still bad, because faith gets you nowhere in life, especially when you have to choose it over evidence. It's true that a lot of good deeds are done in the name of religion, but those deeds can also be done by non-religious people, with no religious affiliation.
Religion is neither, What people do with and in the name of religion is what is good or evil..
I have alot of Christian friends who I think religion is a great thing for them.. I also know alot of Christians that religion is the excuse for their hatred and bigotry!!
-With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion.-
Steven Weinberg, quoted in The New York Times, April 20, 1999 US physicist
"It is from the Bible that man has learned cruelty, rapine and murder; for the belief of a cruel God makes a cruel man." -- Thomas Paine
“Radical Muslims fly planes into buildings. Radical Christians kill abortion doctors. Radical atheists write books.” Hemant Mehta
I think all religions are good and peaceful, it's only people that make it bad by interpreting it in a negative way.
If it's an institution which uses its power to protect paedophiles from justice and blight the lives of thousands of children, or torture and sexually mutilate women who are accused of consorting with the devil (without due process or evidence), then it's pretty evil.
Religions are institutions which have built upon mythology. Every institution is bound to become corrupt and evil. That is the nature of Progress. It all reflects human nature.
Others can't decide for you, so you'll just have to figure it out.
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