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Originally posted by Expat888
must be a western thing... as very few christians in asia - outside the american puppet states and the crime rates are far lower in asia than in western countries ... amusing attempt at justifying the primitive barbaric superstition christianity ...
Originally posted by Daedal
Only belief in God had a compelling effect on average crime rates over and above the effects of belief in heaven and hell, which remained highly cogent.
The cum hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy can be expressed as follows:
A occurs in correlation with B.
Therefore, A causes B.
In this type of logical fallacy, one makes a premature conclusion about causality after observing only a correlation between two or more factors. Generally, if one factor (A) is observed to only be correlated with another factor (B), it is sometimes taken for granted that A is causing B even when no evidence supports it.
Originally posted by draco49
Sorry to burst your bubble, but corruption of the church and malevolent use of religion are as old as religion itself. The idea that if we all just became good Christians the world would be a better place, is utter nonsense. History has irrefutably shown that religion (more specifically, Christianity) is responsible for more deaths and acts of barbarism than any other single factor. How is fearing "the lake of fire" going to improve my life, or the lives of anyone? Is living in fear your idea for paradise on Earth?
I say we'd all be better off by casting aside these dogmatic, medieval constructs (religion) and embracing the unique human ability of reason and critical thinking.
First and foremost, these findings are co-relational, and thus reverse-causation and third variable explanations need to be discounted before causal claims can be firmly endorsed. However, at least two reasons suggest that a causal effect of these religious beliefs on crime is a plausible explanation for the pattern of results.
Originally posted by dawnstar
so, you seem to be saying that the churches are corrupt and aren't practicing what they preach...
I would propose to you that if this is so, and I believe that it is, then they don't really believe in the heaven or hell concept, or they would be practicing what they are preaching! they are not practicing christianity! there is no way that 70% of the population are!! and yes, I am considering the occasional mess up that christians will make for whatever reason, when they find themselves doing things once in awhile and realize that what they have done is wrong! that is called being human! allowing a scheme to take place where fraud is used over and over again for the purpose of foreclosing homes and sending the people out into the streets, well, that is not called being a human christian, that is just plain greed! as any religion grows in numbers and power, it seems that greed and the hunger for more power starts to take hold of the church leadership. wonder how much wealth the catholic church has in it's vaults hidden away?? also wonder why they aren't following the teaching of christ and sharing that wealth with the poor. I mean, if they did, there'd probably be alot less poor in the world!!
na, if the world became all followers of one religion, we'd probably have witch burnings and all the other crap we had in times gone by being committed by that religion as they strived to maintain and grow more and more power, and wealth.
but, my point is, if 70% or more of the population were actually taking the teachings of christ seriously in the US, we wouldn't be having near as many problems as we do!!
christ's teachings can be summed up in one phrase...
do unto others as your would have others do unto you! how many times in a day have you had people act obnoxious, rude, or even threatening to you?? and, oh yes, I am sure all those bankers out there would love to have a scam pulled on them that destroyed the economy so badly that the jobs dry up and the mortgage can't be paid, or maybe it is paid off entirely! and have them take their home!! I am sure all those employers out there paying minimum wage would just love to have the kind of paycheck that they are handing out for them to struggle to stretch out for a week while the cost of living rises higher and higher!
nope, not a christian nation here!
Originally posted by draco49
reply to post by Unity_99
I am personally of the belief that we, as humans, are emergent expressions of a universal consciousness comprised of vibrations of light. The best metaphor I can think of to explain my POV is that of a fungus. Fungal organisms exist as a network of mycelium (universal consciousness). Mushrooms(humans) are an emergent expression of that mycelial network. As I've expressed before, I believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience, and not the other way around.
Originally posted by draco49
reply to post by Unity_99
I am personally of the belief that we, as humans, are emergent expressions of a universal consciousness comprised of vibrations of light. The best metaphor I can think of to explain my POV is that of a fungus. Fungal organisms exist as a network of mycelium (universal consciousness). Mushrooms(humans) are an emergent expression of that mycelial network. As I've expressed before, I believe we are spiritual beings having a human experience, and not the other way around.