[Robert Foster]

I would say, "No, it doesn't. It served it's purpose which was to explain things through story to our ancestors, and then to control the masses. It is an archaic belief system that is only holding on because we teach it to our children."

What are your thoughts?

[tzenbot150]

"In order to justify their behavior, they turn their theories into dogmas, their bylaws into First Principles, their political bosses into Gods and all those who disagree with them into incarnate devils. This idolatrous transformation of the relative into the Absolute and the all too human into the Divine, makes it possible for them to indulge their ugliest passions with a clear conscience and in the certainty that they are working for the Highest Good. And when the current beliefs come, in their turn, to look silly, a new set will be invented, so that the immemorial madness may continue to wear its customary mask of legality, idealism, and true religion." --Aldous Huxley

[Robert Foster]

"In order to justify their behavior, they turn their theories into dogmas, their bylaws into First Principles, their political bosses into Gods and all those who disagree with them into incarnate devils. This idolatrous transformation of the relative into the Absolute and the all too human into the Divine, makes it possible for them to indulge their ugliest passions with a clear conscience and in the certainty that they are working for the Highest Good. And when the current beliefs come, in their turn, to look silly, a new set will be invented, so that the immemorial madness may continue to wear its customary mask of legality, idealism, and true religion." --Aldous Huxley

Okay. Thank you for Mr. Huxley's words. What are your thoughts on the matter?

[jeffbobs]

I would say, "No, it doesn't. It served it's purpose which was to explain things through story to our ancestors, and then to control the masses. It is an archaic belief system that is only holding on because we teach it to our children."

What are your thoughts?

I am an atheist and i still believe you lack an understanding of what religion was for. You have named one small reason for what religion is for.

But the reason you suggest could be compared to global warming in todays day and age, It is used to scare people into doing things. make them feel bad, and used to control peoples decisions.

So really you have to ask, If there are still things in this world that are used to control the masses. New things being made up or thought of everyday. Then why doesn't religion, which has stood the test of time, and is still working perfectly well in this day and age, get to hang around. Why shouldn't the most sucessful method of control get to still be around? Do we have to broaden our horizons for ideas and concepts to manipulate our existence in this day and age.

[geekofalltrades]

It is an archaic belief system that is only holding on because we teach it to our children.

This is true. I don't think religion ever really served a purpose, though; it just happened. Sort of like life on Earth.

[heron]

I think the more important question is why does it matter? There is not one definably correct way that people must live their lives. Collectivism does not look good on anyone.

[tzenbot150]

Okay. Thank you for Mr. Huxley's words. What are your thoughts on the matter?

More or less like Aldous Huxley's.

But you are trying to tackle a rather large subject. You don't even have a definite definition of what religion is. How can I know what religion is if you only refer to it as just "it".

For one thing, what can we call religion? There are more than 5 definitions that explain what the word religion is, possibly even more. And based on more than one of those definitions, you are incorrect in your assessment that religion is simply an "archaic belief system". In fact, without any sort of readily defined definition in this thread to understand what religion exactly is, I can presume that skepticism and atheism is a religion, for religion according to dictionary.com is: "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects"; for, there are many atheists that's core "belief" is the rejection of the existance of a deity, not to mention secular humanism and therefore I can label many atheists religious (surely more than one irreligious compatriot would disagree with that statement).

And therefore I can answer your question as thus, I can safely say that religion has a very real place in our world.

[Word Dispenser]

I would say, "No, it doesn't. It served it's purpose which was to explain things through story to our ancestors, and then to control the masses. It is an archaic belief system that is only holding on because we teach it to our children."

What are your thoughts?

Well, the trouble with Religion is that it's so very open to interpretation. As with any kind of symbol, it can have multiple meanings, and definitions.

In our current society, these interpretations become twisted in order to emotionally and cleverly manipulate those who will hope in a harmless and peaceful manner.

People use other's beliefs as a focal point towards cash-garnering and general prestige.

''I can see the dead,'' becomes their only hope in communicating with those they would have died for, when they were alive. They waste their lives away, and throw their money at these con artists.

I know that many would see a purely scientific based world to be cold and rational, but I see it as exciting, filled with potential, and enterprising. There is so much progress to be had based upon experimentation!

I personally couldn't forbid other people's convictions. But, at least forbid conversions.

The golden rule in our Future City will be: ''All is uncertain. Should your beliefs be important enough to share with others, lead by example, and do not push beyond healthy skepticism and debate.''

[Temur]

Neo Atheists give too much credit to the power of ideology, as if they think that religion has to power to make man do anything, rather than material factors forming ideology, they seem to think ideology forms material factors. This delusion is akin to those of the religious who think by if they need anything all they need to do is pray. Both are result of ignorance, but the atheist mistakes himself as some sort of highminded intellectual.

The reality throughout history is that religion and ideology have constantly remolded itself in various forms to suit material conditions. Its really just ignorance that they think somehow Christianity in its implicating factors have not changed itself inline with changes in society, check out the various Great Awakenings in USA, and their links to the Market Revolution (where self determination theology over came pre ordination), the pro - slavery and anti - slavery Christianity for civil war, the Social gospels of the early 1900s that seeked to cure the ills of industrial revolution (exploited workers). The great schism in early Christianity, and the reformation, they all reflected social and economic changes that helped mold religion.

You might criticise religions flexibility, and suggest perhaps this flexibility discredits its legitimacy. Though others will argue this is becase religion concerns itself with spiritual matters first and foremost and social second.

In anycase, to think religion and for that matter any ideology have such great affect on society is silly.

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

Hope you guys aren't tired of this guy...