Shard

You two gents need to go have a beer at Hooters

magnumpi

Lol It would end in tears I would think

JamesM

Actually historically I've always felt Magnumpi and I generally got along.

Sure we clearly have different views on the influence of religion but you can find us agreeing on a few things over the years.

The jesting is part of the fun.

magnumpi

Yes we usually do, but as it's been said, religious Views are the route of many evils in the world and forum boards.

Novocastrian

The cynics among us already do. I suspect you meant cultural canon.

Shard

Oops, yes.

JamesM

Yes.

My view is that if we got rid of religion something would take it's place.

Man is greedy for power and acceptance and this will always exist.

I just simply can't blame religion as being the route of evil.

Some men just want to watch the world burn.

Shard

Something better or something worse?

BristolUK

Hooterism?

MikeUK

So... a quick read shows that many agree

that many bad things have been done in the name of religion...

why is it so hard to take the last step..

and see that many religions were built, to do, just that, in the name of the few that built them ?

Gozit

fuchs01

I would like one religous fanatic preach the most important thing...

L I F E...

JamesM

The same. A nutter is a nutter and will look for an excuse.

Or worse. Look at the KKK or organised crime (mafia).

Most religions preach a set of values and chilled mellowness.

The abolition of religion would still leave the world with significant conflict problems such as oil, Dictatorships and communism.

It really would not solve all that much.

JamesM

Not really. I don't think there is one religion that was established with violence as an end goal.

And a perhaps a slower more careful and accurate read would show that people will always find an excuse, religion being one, to try and force their way. Which is where more of us seem to sit.

Magnumpi, Shard and Kiwilass being the 3 who believe religion makes man evil and not man using religion as an excuse to be evil. I think this is a fair assertion unless I am missing their point.

Shard

It's true that there will always be nutters and violent people. Bad people will be bad. But with religion, good people can be made bad. Think, for example, of the catholic nuns in Ireland that murdered babies and forced young women to live in demented conditions. Religion warps the mind, and violent religious texts warp the mind to violence. Some of the British jihadists that have gone to Syria are doctors and teachers, not your usual bad eggs, and not the so-called disenfranchised immigrant youth. Decent people who have had their minds warped by religion (radical religion). I think you do miss the point.