Morality

[stromboli]

I would say if anything, CP, you have exhibited a high degree of intelligence on here. But from what you have told us, you are still in high school and in an intellectually restrictive environment. Intelligence is where you start, knowledge comes after, and knowledge takes time and experience. Some of the questions you have posted on here indicate a level of naivety, which is to be understood from lack of knowledge and experience. Don't let that curtail you in your search for knowledge. I commend you for having the courage to do so.

And you have also taken some flak on here, but don't let that drive you away. I respect you and I know others here do as well. Don't leave because of negative comments. Every experience, good or bad, builds character, so stick around.

[The Skeletal Atheist]

Just because religious people can make mistakes doesn't change the fact that religion is a force for good
Societies without religion have all been terrible (communist societies)

It has been explained by others here, but you're confusing politics with atheism. While it is true that the communists, particularly Stalinists, practiced political atheism, it had everything to do with politics. To them there was no place for religion because the state was the highest power. Communism is a political and economic system first and foremost. They used communism as their reason for repressing religion, not atheism. In a sense it was politics laid bare. Religious tyrants, on the other hand, have explicitly used religious reasoning to justify their atrocities, even though the ulterior motives were most certainly political.

When the politics are laid bare, as was the case with the communists, you can directly attack their political reasoning for the bullshit it is. When someone uses religion to mask their politics you first have to attack their religious reasoning, then their politics. Religion serves as a convenient shell for tyranny in that manner.

If atheism by itself was a corrupting influence on society you would a correlation in countries with high rates of atheism. I believe the Scandinavian countries and other European counties are enough evidence to prove this correlation does not exist.

[Contemporary Protestant]

Fine point taken, I just think it's fair to say christianity is bad because of what Christians have done

[The Skeletal Atheist]

Fine point taken, I just think it's fair to say christianity is bad because of what Christians have done

The fact that there is a way to interpret Christian texts to justify tyranny, hatred, and more is why I consider Christianity as a harmful religion. Compare the history of Christianity to that of Jainism. While it is true that how the Bible is interpreted depends upon the individual congregation or Christian, the fact that there is room in it to allow people to interpret it as allowing or even demanding their particular brand of tyranny shows that at the very least it is flawed. Basically you would expect the main book of the one true religion to be pretty clear and concise on the whole "not allowing tyranny" thing.

[Contemporary Protestant]

I think you make a good point and church does explain that, the concept of total depravity of man, and I just ask that my beliefs be tolerated, and not called immoral

I consider myself and my beliefs at least decent and it's upsetting when a stranger tries to say otherwise

[The Skeletal Atheist]

I think you make a good point and church does explain that, the concept of total depravity of man, and I just ask that my beliefs be tolerated, and not called immoral

I consider myself and my beliefs at least decent and it's upsetting when a stranger tries to say otherwise

And it should be upsetting. While I respect you, I will not respect your beliefs so I cannot comply with your request. If we started respecting beliefs because people got upset we would be allowing all sorts of harmful things (like anti-vaccine people). Please try to understand that I consider you a decent person, but that doesn't mean I will tread lightly when it comes to your belief.

I consider it upsetting when Christians call me an abomination because I happen to be in a relationship with someone of the same sex, but I still debate them. If we strayed from ideas simply because they are upsetting we wouldn't learn much at all. We should analyze why they upset us and then determine if those ideas hold up to scrutiny.

[Contemporary Protestant]

I hear yah, that's reasonable, and I see now where u r coming from.

[benno]

"Contemporary protestant"??? Really???? What does that even mean?

[Contemporary Protestant]

Contemporary: Modern
Protestant: Christian

[benno]

Contemporary: with the times
Protestant: Protesting

[Contemporary Protestant]

You should read a history book

Might I suggest reading about; Martin Luther, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Second Great Awakening

Sorry but Protestant doesn't mean protesting (anymore), it just means I agree with ideas similar to the separatists who broke from Catholicism

I call myself contemporary because I am moderate, I think gay marriage should be legal simply because its not right to infringe on another person's freedom

[benno]

You need a few more books and years. Good on you for being sincere,  but don't take those books/ lecturers as gospel - just exciting to learn about new stuff.

[Contemporary Protestant]

Um, Im embarrassed to ask, how old are you? What country are you from? I ask because you implied that Im young and lack knowledge, before I get offended, I want to know if English is your first language

[benno]

Well are you young?

[Contemporary Protestant]

I think you're younger, but yes I am youthful