If there was no religion...

Hi, I'm sorry if this type of thing has already been posted, but I just want to see what people here think about this subject.

So, finish this sentence:

If there was no religion___________________.

Fill in the blank. To be honest, I have NO idea what I would even fill in there. There is good and bad to religion, like a yin and a yang. It gives people hope (paramount to our existence) to go on and do the right thing, to strive to live up to a standard of the highest value; yet it causes some of the most severe crimes, war and segregation in history, all by people who believe others are damned by their personal beliefs. Whether it be Judaism vs. Islam or a Christian speaking to a non-Christian, the same frame of mind exists.

So, what should go there in that blank space?

If there was no religion people would still love and be kind to eachother. Far from what some believe, you don't need religion to teach you this. I honestly think their would be less hate and death if their was no religion but we would find somthing else to fight about. So really it probably wouldn't be any different than it is now.

reply to post by I See You


Hmmm, that's a good point. I agree that doing the right thing is instilled in us with or without religion; however I also do think that religion has "saved" certain individuals who let it.

Originally posted by bigbert81
So, finish this sentence:

If there was no religion___________________.

If there was no religion, my belongings would have been long destroyed and/or stolen.

If there was no religion, most of the population would have already killed themselves and/or others.

If there was no religion, people would have no hope left to go on living this everyday hum-drum on earth. Corporations would be no more, governments overturned.

You think its bad now?? -- If there were no religion, this world would be more traumatizing than your worse nightmares and fears ever have been.

Therefore, since I am not 'religious' myself, I admire what the creators of religion have done to keep some amount of peace among the population. Religion keeps people from knocking you over the head and taking everything you have from you, including your very own breath.

Guilt and fear of "hell" keeps most people in line.

Scary to imagine this world without religion...

-Mea

Edit to add: Want to get an idea of what this place would be without religion? Think of Hurricane Katrina, multiplied indefinitely.

[edit on 19-8-2007 by Veritas Lux Mea]

Religion is conditioning of the mind to a set of moral and ethical values centered around a mythical creator which in many cases rules by death and destruction if you do not follow the prescribed scriptures.

It is a brainwashing of sorts and in some cases teaches good moral and ethical values and in others it teaches intolerance and death to unbelievers.

Often these different religions clash causing most of the war and unneeded death and destruction that has plagued humanity.

They all use fear and rewards for following or not following them. Life after death in heaven or hell or 72 virgins etc...

Many men have used personal interpretation of ancient scriptures to manipulate the masses to their will.

Belief in a supreme being is one thing but picking one of the many religions on this earth out of the others and calling it the real truth is completely ludicrous.

Life without religion on earth would mean peace.

reply to post by Xeven


Holy smokes, so there is someone who is 100% towards having religion (Veritas), and Xeven who is completely the opposite. That's what I am so hung up on, I can definitely see either argument.

Xeven, you did say one thing that is SO unfortunately true, and that is "intolerance". I do think, and I definitely CHALLENGE ANYONE to argue that without the intolerance and segregation in some religion, the world would definitely be a better place.

Are there any Christians out there who are going to chime in at all?

if there were no religion: there would be no holy war in which innocent children fight and die within.

we would most likely already have stem-cell research better developed for true help to man kind, and there would be no killing of doctors that perform abortions and death threats being delivered to professors teaching evolution.

i think that general society would be a more well-rounded, educated society.

i really hope "disclosure" happens within my lifetime.

If there was no religion people wouldn't feel guilty about being human.

If there was no religion, people wouldn't feel free to kill others for a belief in something invisible.

If there was no religion, all the money being funnelled into churches and into the hands of TV preachers could actually go out in the world and do something positive for humanity instead of the preacher driving a $75,000 car and a bishop dressing in silk and jewels.

If there was no religion, people would stop calling me a bully for disagreeing with them, and calling me angry for rational posts.

If there was no religion the weekly hat parades at my local churches would cease. I think that's the only thing I'd miss, the hat parades.

the preacher driving a $75,000 car and a bishop dressing in silk and jewels.

-Lol

Unfortunately, it's funny because it's true.

I do agree that doctors and college professors getting killed and threatened is EXTREMELY wrong; however, the people doing this I think have more problems than just being way too overly devout. If it wasn't that, then I think it would very well be something else these crazies would be into. I think it's more of a psychological disorder.

Please, are there ANY Christians out there who would like to way in...?

If there was no religion...

...people would find other excuses to kill each other.

...there would be much less music and art in the world.

...there would be less arguing over whether medical technologies were immoral.

...the corporate machine would demand that we work on weekends.

...we wouldn't have the easter bunny.

--------------------

On the balance, I think it's better that we have religion. We should probably ask though, what exactly do you mean by "religion" when you ask what things would be like without it?

I guess it would depend on which came first Religion or laws. If religion came
first then I guess laws would be different, if laws came first then religion is just there for spirituality.

In my opinion though, some people need religion. I know a few people who used to be "bad apples" until they found religion. I also know a few people who
used to be religious and now they are breaking laws. I think if there was no
religion we would still be in the same state we are in today. Greed will still
conquer people and we would still have wars.

If there were no religion, there would be nothing to restrain the animal inside me.

If there were no religion we'd still kill each other for stupid reasons.

If there were no religion the meak, the widow, the orphan, and the prisoner would be in an even worse spot than they are now.

If there were no religion someone would invent something like it to control other people.

If there were no religion there would be no hope beyond my abillity to adapt and survive in a Darwinian way.

[edit on 22-8-2007 by jefwane]

Well, I am not religious... But, if there were no religion, I am not sure that things would be as they are.

For better or worse, I think religion has played a role in getting us to the current position we are now. I myself have always been more spiritual than religious. I never really cared about going to some building once a week and being told what I should and should not believe.

[edit on 22-8-2007 by SpeakerofTruth]

if there was no religion:
there wouldn't be as many people willing to blow themselves up...
there wouldn't be any stupid challenges to established scientific theory...
there'd be more money to give to charities...
people would waste less time going to services...
we'd have war over things like resources instead of over faith...
there'd be more reason in the world...
people would enjoy their lives for what they are, finite...

i'm sure i'll come up with more later

if there was no religion...
... there would be no stained glass windows.
... vegetarians would go to war with people who ate meat
... vegans would go to war with regualer vegetarians.
... then some one would start a religion(trying to invent stained glass windows and end the stupid wars) and then go to war with those who didn't accept it.

Originally posted by ThaDewd
if there was no religion...
... there would be no stained glass windows.
... vegetarians would go to war with people who ate meat
... vegans would go to war with regualer vegetarians.

that's ridiculous hyperbole and nothing more. there is, for one, nothing IRRATIONAL about being a vegetarian. it's actually subjective morality that tends to have logical backing... same goes with veganism. that's all based on personal moral philosophy. there is no lack of reason to start an unreasonable war there.

reply to post by bigbert81


If there was no religion, people would still be drawn to ritual and belonging to clubs and harming others for not belonging to their clubs.

reply to post by Pellevoisin


Probably true, as incredibly sad as it is.

I despise segregation, and the fact that some still promote it baffles me, especially when they think that it's right and good.

reply to post by bigbert81


if there was no religion?? i think someone asked them selves this questions and invented god and religion. because if there was no religion i would invent sumthing like it. i can quote voltaire he said it first but its true. man need religion pr sumthing to live up to to keep their minds sane and in order. not everyone is sane.

I there were no religion..

Libertarians/Capitalists v. Communists/Socialists would have alot more air time arguing
with each other.

There would be much less war, though it would'nt disappear altogether.

We would still have alot of the same 'moral' debates, excluding the homosexual one,
since if there was no religion there would'nt be much of a counter argument.

We would be about 400 to 1,000 years more scientifically and technologically
advanced.

Culture would be based more on ancient Greek and Eastern ideas.