Religion, War and Violence
 

I don't know if a thread like this has been created elsewhere at all but I couldn't find one so here we go:

I share a lot of views with New Atheists (though I myself am not Atheist) that organized religion is both directly and indirectly a cause of most all wars. What do you all think about it?

I agree.

I think people should do a lot of research. Know your bible history so when the bible gets thrown in your face you can have an intelligent counterpoint to tell people...The bible is more myth than fact but it can still have merit. It is people who take it literally who get me. Because they mostly don't know the books history. I beleieve in something bigger that me...I am just not quite sure what it is yet...and I won't know until I die...And violence in the name of religion is a lame excuse to kill people who are different than you...Didn't Jesus teach understanding and love? ANd wasn't he Middle Eastern?

I believe Jesus to be a schizophrenic, the bible to be nothing more than moral codes designed to maintain order and stability, and to quote Niezstche, the church to be hostile to the true nature of life.

Same applies to Judaism and Islam. And im against the hierachies created through Hiduism.

That said, im not against all religion. I appreciate the core teachings of Buddhism and its point of bettering yourself from within. That is, however, pretty much it.

Yes, I like what everyone is saying. The part that does it for me is how Christians, and many other groups, can claim to be the ONLY ones who are right. What makes them so sure? And what do they think of the people who have never been exposed to Christianity?

Also, I'm thinking about getting into Bahai... can anyone relate or anything?

Thats the fundamental problem i think, each of these dominant world religions preach that their way is that of the all-knowing, all-consuming truth. Of course conflict is going to arise.

I just think people who believe in this tripe either seriously lack the confidence to take on life in its true form, are full of fear or are just plain stupid.

Well said.

2 outta three ain't bad.

I have a couple friends who are Baha'i. The beliefs are just as kooky as any other religion but it's a very tolerant religion that has promoted gender and racial equality since long before it was cool to do so. The down sides: Baha'is are not allowed to drink alcohol and the religion, like a lot of religions, is kind of anti-gay. They'll dance around the issue all day long, but when it comes down to it the religion opposes same-sex relationships.

Personally, I'm more of a fan of the Unitarian-Universalists. They're more tolerant and open than the Baha'is and more about community and philosophy than they are about doctrine.

human nature is the cause of all wars, religion is an afterthought