Fighting Over Religion...Pointless?

[SydMorrison]

I think it's funny that religion is such a controversial topic. Millions of people are killed because of religion of all things.

In the end, you cannot fully PROVE that your religion is right. There is arguably no valid physical proof that any religion existed. But that's the beauty of it - religion does not NEED any physical proof to exist; all it needs is belief.

Take Buddhism as an example. The history of Siddartha Gautama and how he was Hindu and then thought up the 4 noble truths etc, etc. IF we somehow got into a time machine, went back to the time that he was supposedly alive, and found that there was in fact NO such human being as Siddartha Gautama (later seen as "The Buddha"), would we be able to slam the fact that all Buddhists are wrong right into their faces?

The answer is no. We could not. Even if we had physical proof that the beginning of the religion that they so heartily confide in was 100 percent myth, the followers of Buddhism would still practice the same religion. Why? Because of pure belief. There are so many people that confide in such a thing that it doesn't matter whether or not the full history of it is 100 percent correct.

So, in that sense, I could easily claim that every religion is wrong, but at the same time, every religion is right.

No sense in having an arguement about it, because you're never going to have a full conclusion to who is right and who isn't.

Anyways, that's my 2 cents :P

[pyro110]

definately agree with you here. cant argue people out of pure faith

[Kazz]

Yes! Amen Brother!

For now the evil ones can never prove wrong, my great and holy flying spaghetti monster!

FSM be praised!... because religion is not worth debating, we shall construct a moral code based completely off the holy monster's principles... and we shall instill these morals in the backbone of the world's greatest nations!

But why stop there?! Why not stone the non believers? Why not burn all heretics at the stake?


...and also, Buddhism was a horrible example. Buddhism does not need a Siddartha, in order to be followed. It is a way of life, a philosophy more than anything else.

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism on the other hand... depend on a higher being that even your time machine could never find... and tell us to live our lives in accord with that higher power's will. It's about sacrificing parts of this life, in order to get into a better one. It's about focusing on the final outcome, rather than the moment. It's about blessing the meek, and the misfortunates... in order to comfort them and make their suffering a part of a much larger, God's will.

A Buddhist would be a Buddhist without a Buddha. A Christian would be a self destructive and life denying mad man, without a God.


If your point, is that faith is something that should never be questioned... never be harshly and violently attacked... then you are a damn fool.

[Thought Riot]

Yes. And did you know that messages must be at least 5 characters?

[Mellow_Fellow]

Clearly religious believers should recognise that tolerance of others makes a hell of a lot of sense, as no matter how evangelical your religion is, i'm sure most of the "main dudes" of said religion were more in favour of acting peacefully and lovingly than wiping anyone who wont convert off the earth.

All religions are essentially tapping into the same "area", it always boggles my mind why people can't see their faith as a piece in a puzzle, rather than the ONE AND ONLY TRUE PATH TO PUZZLEIFICATION AND HAPPINESS AND HEAVEN yada yada yada...

Paradoxes anyway innit; you can be "right" as well as "wrong" at the same time - learn to love n tolerate and you'll have taken the positive messages of your faith to heart.

[Kablisti]

Your right overall. Ironically the fact that the existence of a God cannot be proven or disproven has been both the reason the concept has lasted so long, and the one of the main counter arguements for atheists to use against it, including their application of the concept to the wonderful flying teapot/spagetti monster/pink unicorn/whatever.

[SydMorrison]

Originally Posted by Kazz

If your point, is that faith is something that should never be questioned... never be harshly and violently attacked... then you are a damn fool.

NO.

Fuck...I certainely hope that my OP did NOT come off like that. That is the main reason that I am not part of any religion (If you look at it, I'd probably be Agnostic...Which isn't really a religion either but I don't like to say I'm Agnostic either). Alot of religions require you, to a certain extent, to not ask questions and just follow along. Even as a small child in Sunday school, I found it a bit silly that questioning was looked down upon in some aspects of the religion I was "forced" into.

[chumpion]

What would all the weak minded people do if it weren't for religion?

I mean, they need someone to think for them!

But I don't agree with the OP - blind faith is extremely damaging to society, and original, critical thinking should always be encouraged.

If it means arguing with god botherers, then so be it!

[Lamabot]

Well, me personally I just enjoy a good theological debate. Try starting one with your friends, they will get pissed. The internet is pretty much the only place where you can do this without seriously hurting anyone

[Digital_Savior]

It is illogical to claim that because a person has a strong conviction for their religion that they are "intolerant" of everyone who doesn't follow it. It is possible to believe that other people are wrong without being intolerant of them.