Religion does no harm. Does it?

[SSanf]

"Faith is powerful enough to immunize people against all appeals to pity, to forgiveness, to decent human feelings. It even immunizes them against fear, if they honestly believe that a martyr's death will send them straight to heaven. What a weapon! Religious faith deserves a chapter to itself in the annals of war technology, on an even footing with the longbow, the warhorse, the tank and the hydrogen bomb." - Richard Dawkins

This site thinks religion do do harm. You can read why here.

http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/harm.html

[gwendar]

I think I'm gonna agree with Dawkins.
Not all faith is harmful. But it can be very damaging. Sometimes to the extent that I would rather no one follow religion, than to have just a handful of people suffer the damage it can do.
Have you read Dawkins' The God Delusion? It's excellent.

[SSanf]

I think I'm gonna agree with Dawkins.
Not all faith is harmful. But it can be very damaging. Sometimes to the extent that I would rather no one follow religion, than to have just a handful of people suffer the damage it can do.
Have you read Dawkins' The God Delusion? It's excellent.I haven't read it but I understand that it has had quite an impact on the way many people think about religion today.

Here is a nifty synopsis so those who can't be bothered to read it can, at least, fake it when surrounded by pseudo-intellectuals. Sometimes, you just gotta cut corners.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Delusion

[LadyCelt]

I think people and their motives, fears, and egos do harm. When mixed with religion, it seems it is the religion itself; but I lean towards it being more so the people.

[Shield_Wolf]

IMO I don't think Religion harms people. People harm people, people can twist and mold religion and faith into what every they want. To me it's like asking, do Gun hurt or kill people. No, people do, to me there no difference.

[Silverfangs]

The sad thing is that even if a Religion does not promote anykind of violence, followers of that same religion are capable of doing harm, proclaiming that it was for the honour of that faith. So, I guess Religion doesn't make harm - fundamentalism does. And I guess in all religions there are some kind of fundamentalists...

[Fiamma]

Religion does not harm. People abusing the power that comes with having any authority within religion do harm.

It's a lot like the proverbial "there is no such thing as black magic or white magic" argument. Magic is neither good nor bad, but the wielder's intent and what they do with it is.

Same for religion.




"Faith is powerful enough to immunize people against all appeals to pity, to forgiveness, to decent human feelings. It even immunizes them against fear, if they honestly believe that a martyr's death will send them straight to heaven. What a weapon! Religious faith deserves a chapter to itself in the annals of war technology, on an even footing with the longbow, the warhorse, the tank and the hydrogen bomb." - Richard Dawkins

This site thinks religion do do harm. You can read why here.

http://www.abarnett.demon.co.uk/atheism/harm.html

[gwendar]

Religion does not harm. People abusing the power that comes with having any authority within religion do harm.

It's a lot like the proverbial "there is no such thing as black magic or white magic" argument. Magic is neither good nor bad, but the wielder's intent and what they do with it is.

Same for religion.

One thinkg: you can prove religion exists. Magic... not so much.



So it seems I'm the only one so far who thinks religion can be very damaging.
Perhaps I should point out that I was raised in a charismatic, fundy-type Christian church. Pentecostal, actually. They're biblical inerrentists. Except they cherry pick like everyone else.
I feel that the religion of my upbringing can be harmful.
It taught me to be elitist, to view homosexuals as filthy, disgusting abominations, to feel guilt and shame about sexuality, that men were placed - by god - above women, etc... I think that is damaging. And I do not respect that. I would prefer no religion, to religion like that.

[gwendar]

I haven't read it but I understand that it has had quite an impact on the way many people think about religion today.

Here is a nifty synopsis so those who can't be bothered to read it can, at least, fake it when surrounded by pseudo-intellectuals. Sometimes, you just gotta cut corners.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_God_Delusion


You callin' me a pseudo-intellectual? ;)
I just read stuff that interests me, intellectual or not. :D

Seriously, though, it's a very interesting book, and well worth the read. Even if you don't agree with it. (Directed at no one in particular).

[Shanti]

Some faith systems I believe can be harmful in themselves. If people take some of the more violent sides of ancient religious writings as presently something to follow, that can be very dangerous. Some ancient religious text is violent, aggressive and very damming toward other faiths. This can stir some self righteous hate resulting in such things as religious wars as has happened already on this big ball of ours.

Sure people can and do find all sorts of excuses to justify their actions but I feel religion is and easy and readily accepted excuse. Thus, why not use it? Heck its history in many cultures is full of violence over a very large part of human history. And if you have a prob coming up with believable reasons just open one of those ancient text, the justifications are readily available for warring against another. :)

[DoktorSick]

It seems like a really good book.I well i have to get a copy for sure.
I agree religion is harmful.It instills unnecessary fears and demands one
to follow without question.The degree of damage only depends on how dogmatic
the particular person is about there believe system.

[Fairy_Princess]

IMO I don't think Religion harms people. People harm people, people can twist and mold religion and faith into what every they want. To me it's like asking, do Gun hurt or kill people. No, people do, to me there no difference.

Religion is a construct of men though.... A gun is as well.

Guns only have one use, to blow holes in things. Sometimes blowing holes in things is a good thing, but it still leaves you with holy objects.