People being less religious=beginning of the end for society

[Bulldognation99]

[Huke]

the truth of the matter is, we have religion because it keeps people's animal instincts in order. however now that we have gotten too smart to believe in any of the religious fairy tales people are acting more and more like animals (women being sloots, gay people everywhere, people beating others for no reason). If people were reasonable and smart they would realize this and not act like such animals but because most people are dumb as rocks society will continue to degrade without religion there to keep people's morals in check

If religion is the only tether keeping people's morals in check then I'd argue that they don't have any morality at all. That being said, religion hardly stops people from committing horrible acts and in some cases gives them justification to commit truly horrible acts.

Strong this, OP is right. Religion can be a great benefit to keep people's instinct in order. (srs)

And to those saying religion is redundant nowadays, because of law and governments, I say: laws are based on the fundaments of religion...

Funny, I thought most of us lived in secular societies, not theocracies. Written law predates even the code of Hammurabi, which itself predates any organized religion you'd see today.

[bilaba70]

belief=non objective morality

non-belief= objective morality



only a believer could make a thread so ignorant.

How can you speak of non-objective morality, when the (objective) morality in question is based on non-objective morality? Do you actually believe morality is objective? Please answer, rep for srs answer...

[Rune]

the truth of the matter is, we have religion because it keeps people's animal instincts in order. however now that we have gotten too smart to believe in any of the religious fairy tales people are acting more and more like animals (women being sloots, gay people everywhere, people beating others for no reason). If people were reasonable and smart they would realize this and not act like such animals but because most people are dumb as rocks society will continue to degrade without religion there to keep people's morals in check

Everything you've mentioned is not new.. you just didn't hear about it 100 years ago because you didn't have tv or a radio forget the internet, and a phone with a camera and the ability to publish anything at any time on every person.

Christ, the Romans and Greeks were open homos like nothing since, let alone the orgies.... I'm really just laughing at your ignorance of history.

[IANfinity]

what a joke. I think it was Ben Franklin that said something to similar to op in a letter to Thomas Paine. Something along the lines of "We may not need religion, but the common ppl are too stupid to behave without it." To that I say, "bullsh!t."

We'd do just fine if nobody at all was religious. People wouldn't just be evil because there's no religion.

[Orzel8]

if you truly believe what you said in the op I feel sorry for you op...

[Leetdragoon]

bullchit

"Bullchit" of course, I see religion has done wonders for your debating skills

[jmonty]

lol


Just lol

[bilaba70]

If religion is the only tether keeping people's morals in check then I'd argue that they don't have any morality at all. That being said, religion hardly stops people from committing horrible acts and in some cases gives them justification to commit truly horrible acts.



Funny, I thought most of us lived in secular societies, not theocracies. Written law predates even the code of Hammurabi, which itself predates any organized religion you'd see today.

I didn't say that we don't live in secular societies, I myself live in one. All I'm saying is that many constitutions for example are based on Judeo-Christian principles.

Anyway, that's not my point here. The point is that religion, believe it or not, plays a great role in keeping people in check (in a good way). At least 80% in the world is religious, so to claim that without religion the world would 'be a better place' is an impossible claim to back (taken into consideration the infinite numbers of factors involved with this claim).

Edit: by being religious I mean people who believe in a Higher Power.

[dtugg]

I didn't say that we don't live in secular societies, I myself live in one. All I'm saying is that many constitutions for example are based on Judeo-Christian principles.

The US Constitution isn't. The founding fathers were more deists than Christians.

[GoetheSaid]

I didn't say that we don't live in secular societies, I myself live in one. All I'm saying is that many constitutions for example are based on Judeo-Christian principles.

That might be true, but that doesn't mean the populations of those societies respect those principles.

[W8t]

Rust from True Detective speaks truth about religion and morality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RfUj09pWfM

[radkeyo]

If the only thing keeping a person decent is the expectation of divine reward then, brother, that person is a piece of ****.


^^ LOL wizard above me

[msayson]

ATHEIST WHO IS ACTUALLY MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN MOST THEISTS CHECKING IN.

I'm iffy. Religion starts wars, slows science etc, but also keeps order for the mass of ignorant people.

It's more of a tool, can be for good or evil.

Religion isn't the answer, but it isn't the problem. Human nature is.

[blckndyllw]

Based on what evidence? lol, Not like religion stops crimes or anything. There is actually counter evidence to what you're asserting like the worst parts of the world being the most religious.

So we're seeing less violence, greater recognition of human rights, higher standards of living, advances in science, tech and medicine improving the quality of life higher than any other time in recorded human history..... but oh noes women are sloots and gays can get married, society is coming to an end.

[g0time]

How can you speak of non-objective morality, when the morality in question is based on non-objective morality? Do you actually believe morality is objective? Please answer, rep for srs answer...

i believe religion certainly hinders the quest for objective morality, i also believe sam harris has one of the best objective morality standpoint in stating that limiting the suffering of our species (and animals) is what objective morality should be based on

[Bulldognation99]

more technology = less crime

doesn't matter if we get more sociopaths, they won't last long with increasing technology.

[Herr13]

itt: everyone pretends that religion has never resulted in wars and mass killings

[RushLimbrah]

the truth of the matter is, we have religion because it keeps people's animal instincts in order. however now that we have gotten too smart to believe in any of the religious fairy tales people are acting more and more like animals (women being sloots, gay people everywhere, people beating others for no reason). If people were reasonable and smart they would realize this and not act like such animals but because most people are dumb as rocks society will continue to degrade without religion there to keep people's morals in check

so you can't have morals without religion?

[bilaba70]

ATHEIST WHO IS ACTUALLY MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN MOST THEISTS CHECKING IN.

I'm iffy. Religion starts wars, slows science etc, but also keeps order for the mass of ignorant people.

It's more of a tool, can be for good or evil.

Religion isn't the answer, but it isn't the problem. Human nature is.

Can't agree more with you on this!

[LB63]

Funny, the US has more crime than countries that are less religious.

this is a perfect example of correlation not equaling causation. those countries have a much higher quality of life

[DannyLB]

[TrainBetter]

I don't agree. Religion is the reason the world is so divided. People use their religion to justify every hateful act or feeling they have. I'm not religious but I admire those truly peaceful people who support a truly peaceful idea of a god. I can't imagine why anyone would follow some god that is said to be so hateful...particularly after declaring that he designed everything.

Some of the most confrontational people I have known are religious. That includes a particular family member in mind...

"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed.
Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." - Tim Minchin.

[KennyPowers123]

It scares me to think how many sociopaths there are in this country who apparently need the threat of eternal torture to keep them from going on a murderous rampage.

[daPhats]

bullchit

Typical religious response. When someone presents you with facts that counter your belief just yell 'bullchit', put your head in the sand and carry on with your ignorant beliefs.

[W8t]

[dtugg]

this is a perfect example of correlation not equaling causation. those countries have a much higher quality of life

So you're saying that there are factors that are more important than religion which determine crime rates?

I agree!

[S13HATCHY]

If that is true, why are Christians the most unethical, asinine people out there?

[bilaba70]

i believe religion certainly hinders the quest for objective morality, i also believe sam harris has one of the best objective morality standpoint in stating that limiting the suffering of our species (and animals) is what objective morality should be based on

Excelent point. But the question remains: on what morality is that statement based on i.e. objective morality or non-objective morality?

[RBS30T]

Lol @ this thread. Religion has caused more, deaths, anguish, suffering and loss than any disease, plague or anything else in human history.
As for it giving people values, you cant blame not being religious on a lack of morals. If you cant tell right from wrong, you lack empathy, not religion