If religion was strictly a private affair, I would have little interest in it. But IROC is correct it permeates our world and causes untold misery and problems. Why does mankind turn away from rationality and seek solace in fantasy? Remember religion is the most destructive cause of human suffering, over 800 million deaths in the last 1000 years. Nothing, not even the combined effects of Nazism and communism have approached this level of killing. Only disease causes more deaths (and only rational thinking research and study has reduced that horseman).

I always find it funny how religious believers reject any responsibility for these deaths, they always say it's the bad Christians, Muslims, Hindus, etc. who cause this, but not themselves of course. They are the true Christians, Muslims, etc.

I have read about and studied religions from around the world (I wrote my Masters thesis about this) and they all share the points in Kang's list. I find little or no redeeming aspects of religion. It has no place in my own life, but I find it fascinating that many/most people need this crutch in their lives

Todd, someday I'd like to make a trip down south. I'll take you to lunch and we can talk a bit.


KT

For someone that claims to be even-handed and learned, you are quick with the pejorative language.

I keep coming back to Shakespeare:

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy

Hey Nostatic, what are you objecting to? The use of the word "crutch". Look up the definition and tell me that doesn't decribe what relgion does for people.
Shakespeare wrote about the human need. Not science. I have not found a place in my life for: voodoo, ghosts, ufos, aliens, tea leaf reading, reading of tossed bones, palmistry, astrology, alchemy, etc. In short I have not found a place in my life for anything that cannot be verified. Does that mean I'm not interested in these subjects to study? No, it means I don't live my life according to any of them. Many people do, why?
To me that's interesting and I study it. But blindly believe in any of this stuff. Sorry, I don't require that aspect for happiness or completeness in my life. I have no fear of my existence nor it's "meaning". And I have had several "near death" experiences (gunshot, knifed, plane and car and motorcycle crashes, combat, hunting, climbing falls, etc.).

So why do people turn away from the light of rationality to the dark side of supersition, legend and fantasy for solace?

The same reason you and I drink. It fills a need (or several). Keeps the gimp in the closet. Makes it easier to live with our personal and professional failures. Helps us make it through the night.

Religion is the opium of the masses - said Karl Marx.

Well, I only drink for taste. If I don't like the quality of a wine , liquor or beer, I will not drink it. And I never drink enough to get even a buzz. If there isn't something that I like, then I'll just drink diet coke or water. I admit to the fact that I was once drunk. But once is enough for me. I just read, excercise or work on something, if I need to escape life's stress.

Enlightened *and* perfect. Your mom should be quite proud.

make sure his mum doesn't talk to my mum
no use rubbing salt in open wounds...

luckily my mom's dead. But she knew I was messed up, and never let me forget it so I'm covered there. Even from the crypt.

coming, mother....

what is that with mothers ... first they mess us up, and then they give us grief about beeing messed up?!

i for one figured it out, to late obviously , but better late then never...
i sure as hell ain't enlighted, but it feels a lot "lighter" now i cut the comms and ditched the inherited guilt trips

http://www.holisticpsychoanalysis.com/html/the_mothers_signature___the_si.html

Very interesting stuff...

interesting and freaky accurate

I find it boring talking to myself!

so do we...


talking to yourself that is :D

you're going to burn in mother for that comment

Carefull my son or I'll sic RPK on U....

ooh, a battle

god or mod
who will win ?!

I've got my pomposity shields set to level 5. Loins girded. Girdle tightened. I better take a prophylactic dose of hydrocodone...

You didn't forget the esq though did you? That's the most important part of the siccing...

I guess if U were RPK you would naturally feel pompose to...Ohhh since I'm a DemiGod I get to leave out the ESQ part.

nostatic ready for the hacking :