How dangerous is religion in today's world?

Citizen X

...and is no religion the answer?

I do not consider myself a doomsdayer, but as an individual who is generally pessimistic, my thoughts tend to lean that way.

Throughout my tenure as an atheist, I have wholeheartedly agreed with the philosophy that all people should be free to believe as they wish to believe. But each and every day, I am faced with people of religion who answer all questions with the same general responses as if they were programmed to respond in this manner. Which in fact, they are. I don't know if studies have been conducted, or if it is even feasible to establish a true, scientific study of this phenomenon. But it appears to be quite evident that many people of religion are brainwashed to believe what they believe.

With that in mind, people of religion now have access and maintain the highest seats in governments throughout the world, some of which are nuclear powers. Many of these religious minded people are looking forward to the end of times, and are genuinely excited to live in this day and age, as they believe they will have the opportunity to physically meet their maker. And I realize that none of this is news to any of you. This has been pointed out by many authors, and this topic has been mentioned in these forums.

My question is threefold: How dangerous is religion in today's world? Are you convinced that we are potentially heading for a period that will detrimentally affect the survival of mankind? If the majority were to become non-religious, do you believe that mankind would truly have a better chance to maintain its existence for millennia to come, or would the inter-arguments between the non-religious be as bad if not worse than the non-sensical inter-fighting of the religious minded of todays world?
_________________
He flexed his muscles to keep his flock of sheep in line
He made a virus that would kill off all the swine
His perfect kingdom of killing, suffering and pain
Demands devotion, atrocities done in his name

pr126 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:56 am Post subject:

Shia eschatology, AhmadInJihad and his nearly ready WMD.
_________________
"It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value." Arthur C Clarke

"The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody had decided not to see." -- Ayn Rand

aitm · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:58 am Post subject:

Christianity is well watered down now. Three hundred years ago they were as horrific as todays islamic nut jobs. The difference is that over time even though early christianity fought it, education has made more skeptics and this has prompted heresies which has led to the softening of core principles of the die hard dogmattic.
Because of education, and the heresies it became necessary to relax the rules to keep the money pouring in. Christianity is no good without power so bend the rules to keep the money.
Islam, being 700 years behind, has yet to allow education beyond the Quran. Until we can get mass education going we can never get a good group of skeptics in the Muslim church.
That day is still a way off, leaving Islam as a dangerous religion that I think will piss off just enough ignorant red neck christians in this country and they will start shooting arabs in the street.
Within 10 years, my prediction. You heard it here.
_________________
Its not that I question so much whether a god created man, but that he would admit it.- Thomas Brumfield
psst, theres a vagina on your bumper!
Knowledge: The cure for religion.

Moloth · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 11:59 am Post subject:

How dangerous is religion in today's world?
Extremely. the primary manifestations being: violence and enforced ignorance/dogma.

Are you convinced that we are potentially heading for a period that will detrimentally affect the survival of mankind?
yes. as our ability to harm ourselves and each other grows (weapon technology), the greater the range and effect we can have.
100 years ago, a religious nut, at best, could use a basic explosive, like TNT. today, a nuke could destroy an entire city or region.

If the majority were to become non-religious, do you believe that mankind would truly have a better chance to maintain its existence for millennia to come, or would the inter-arguments between the non-religious be as bad if not worse than the non-sensical inter-fighting of the religious minded of todays world?

i think it would give us all one less (or many less) things to fight about... and at least one more thing to talk about. In the history of the world, i have never seen or heard of violence in the 'name of atheism'. humans will always disagree and fight... but without the certainty and righteous indignation of religion, people might be less inclined to escalate it to violence. for one, we'd recognize that there is no 'eternal reward' after death... this life is precious.
_________________
-=The Believer is Happy; the Skeptic is Wise=-
www.Moloth.com
www.twitter.com/Moloth
www.MySpace.com/Moloth
www.last.fm/user/moloth
Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

aitm · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject:

Christianity is well watered down now. Three hundred years ago they were as horrific as todays islamic nut jobs. The difference is that over time even though early christianity fought it, education has made more skeptics and this has prompted heresies which has led to the softening of core principles of the die hard dogmattic.
Because of education, and the heresies it became necessary to relax the rules to keep the money pouring in. Christianity is no good without power so bend the rules to keep the money.
Islam, being 700 years behind, has yet to allow education beyond the Quran. Until we can get mass education going we can never get a good group of skeptics in the Muslim church.
That day is still a way off, leaving Islam as a dangerous religion that I think will piss off just enough ignorant red neck christians in this country and they will start shooting arabs in the street.
Within 10 years, my prediction. You heard it here.
_________________
Its not that I question so much whether a god created man, but that he would admit it.- Thomas Brumfield
psst, theres a vagina on your bumper!
Knowledge: The cure for religion.

romans120

Moloth · Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

Hit_me_up024 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject:

how dangerous is religion in todays world?

72 virgins worth.
_________________
Im Like a flie to the NEON lights, a good BUZZ is the only thing i need

Props to Enemy_of_Reality

kmisho

pr126 · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 12:37 pm Post subject:

Something has started already Looks like it will be an interesting summer.
_________________
"It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value." Arthur C Clarke

"The hardest thing to explain is the glaringly evident which everybody had decided not to see." -- Ayn Rand

Citizen X · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 1:50 pm Post subject:

Philosophos

[quote="Citizen X"How dangerous is religion in today's world?[/quote]
Moderately, for similar reasons Moloth gave: violence, and the celebration and enforcement of ignorance.

Citizen X

Moloth · Last edited by Moloth on Tue Feb 30, 2026 13:61 am; edited 426 times in total

Citizen X · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

	AtheistForums.com Forum Index -> Religion General Discussion	All times are GMT - 5 Hours Goto page 1, 2, 3 Next
Page 1 of 3