Religion vs. Paranoia vs. Technology

[Lakeview Bulldog]

Originally posted by Jack_Dubious


As for morality...morality is defined by the present society, it is changeable. e.g. What is appropiate content on TV or how we view sex, are examples of morality. What was immoral 30 years ago may be fine today.
Ethics on the other hand are always constant, and never change. Things like killing or stealing, these are always wrong, and will always be wrong.
So with those definitions I will agree that religion plays apart in "morals" but not "ethics". A group of humans raised without "religion" are still going to know that certain things are wrong.


JDub

But how long before corruted morals become corrupted ethics? Look at the Roman Empire they used to feed people to lions for sport. The whole Gladiatorial system came about from degrded morals which degraded ethics. At one time in Rome people would have been horrifed to see two men tearing eachother to pieces, then over time it became the entertainment event of a lifetime. Also a group of people raised without religion will not always automatically know the difference between right and wrong, look at the canibalistic tribes. Religion gives consequences for actions, an aethiest believes that there will be no punishment beyond life. How long before we as a society become so morally corrupted that the foundations our country was built upon simply ceases to exist. We all know what happens to buidings without foundations, there comes a time when they will fall.

[Restola]

Originally posted by Konigballer
However, I hate it when people act like just because their religion gives them a strict moral code to live by that we as a species would be lost without that religion when they only abide by that code when it suits them anyhow.

Especially since as a percentage of their followers, the christians I know have at least (often more) moral "issues" than others (to say it nicely).

I'm not saying they should be perfect, we're all human. But the really vocal pro-religion people I know, that then go out and do the things they do...just make me want to slap them. They're your frickin' beliefs...follow them!

[ubooze]

Originally posted by Konigballer

your point about nuking each other is kind of moot since strong christian "morality" and values never stopped the US government from developing and ordering the use of nuclear weapons on other people at hiroshima and nagasaki, nor did it prevent the crews of those
B-29 bombers from dropping the bombs themselves and killing thousands of men, women, and children.

I dunno, I just don't believe mankind one way or another. And of course Chirstian morality didn't prevent it since people didn't want to be convicted for what they were doing, or just didn't want to listen. And yes, religion won't prevent anything. But some food for thought: One of the crew members on those planes later on decided to go back to the faith. Why? I think he realized what he did was wrong and needed some place to retreat to and find support, and in that case it was religion.

And yes, religion was somehow managed to promote violence against other groups, but thats not because of religion itself, its because foolish human tendencies still burn in people. A true christian would realize those acts are wrong. And yet, therewere wicked people in the faith that brought about those crude and dreadful deeds. And in recent times, the scandals in the church were very gruesome. But it only serves to show that no matter what you do, there will always be people that fall to evil and you can't have any perfect system. Everywhere, there are extremists.

I myself feel religion just serves to balance the world. There are people who believe we need to do whatever they wish, and then there are people who feel that people need to consider their actions according to a religious guideline. Lets face it, those days and times were a cruel and brutal world. Now and days, I don't see Christians crusading through-out Europe or harming each other. As long as religion is followed according to how it is supposed to be followed, people would be fine. But society always manages to pressure and warp people.

Religion or not, I still believe people are lost. I just think with religion it is a slightly better place. Sadly, religion has lost its place and its following.

I don't think we can accurately predict how technology would be right now. It all depends on the early stages of history. It would be either A] Perfect life on Earth OR B] Cold and desolate place. Yes, religion does not instill morals and ideals, but it promotes it or provides a better way in achieving those more admirable morals.

[Koosh]

Which leads me to say....

Where are the Unicorns?

(If you get that reference, add Five points to your Cool Count)...

[ShortStrokeTX]

The catholic church slaughtered millions of people over the years for heresey and stuff like that. Groups like the Jesuits (the equivalent to today hardline extremist muslim terrorists IMO) actively searched out protestants and killed them not to mention others with differing beliefs. Those who preached ideas that didn't conform to the catholic church were slaughtered mercilessly. And I'm not saying Christians did this because not all of them did, it was almost specifically the catholic church during this time and history.

And as for the Ben Franklin and the Catholic church, all they did was say that his lightning rods were bad because they messed with god's wrath (lightning) and they forbade people from having them.

[Konigballer]

well I respect your points ubooze, and I do agree with you that many people are "lost" in some way.