Shouldn't society do more to condemn all religion?
925954
Hopefully it will just go away quietly soon enough.  Not until the majority of people are taught a bit about critical thinking though.
789470
Well people are screwed up so even if we all had the same religion we would criticize the way the people around us are practicing. People need something in there life to fight against so if we all had the same religion i think we would be a bit more peaceful but we would live like we were in tribes separated from other people that practice are religion a different way
461709
If people sat back and realized just how similar most beliefs really are they'd be surprised. I think all religion is virtually the same and all religions taut the same things. All people want the same things regardless of religion or non-religion. We all want peace, love, a better tolerant world for our children, a better life for ourselves. Its when we start to claim we're one particular religion and start spouting from a sacred book that we take literally instead of as a guideline and start shoving it down other people's throats that's when the problem starts. \n\nWhen people stop evangelizing, take care of their own life but show compassion without price, live by example, avoid harassing others to convert, and spread the fundamental beliefs without all the extraneous trivial details exclusive to one religion or another.....then we'll start to see some real improvement.
859491
aren't all religions infallible ? just not the people .
1086409
I sin every day, and I'm not so insecure about death that I have to go sit in a box with some priest, and beg for forgiveness while he reads a magazine on the other side. Everyone tells lies... It's human nature. Organized religion, the bible, and the ridiculous concept of a deity was created by man for the sole purpose of control. The same reason why Santa Claus was created for children to be on their best behavior. Out of all the religions, I'd have to say through personal experience that Christianity is quite possibly the worst with tolerance, and the acceptance of others with differing beliefs. In their mind, they see their "way" as the only way, and they'll refuse to see differently, so they'll spout rhetoric and scripture as a means to intimidate, and convert others. Hence, why the word "Christianize" exists.
385423
Religion is not sensible at all.\n\nFree speech is far more important.\n\nWhat if my religion involves raping young girls? Do you want to protect it? Why not? It's the word of god! (See how silly religion is? it's whatever I say it is!)
877062
America would definitly benefit more from a pluralistic, interfaith harmony. The "my religion" attitude is, well, selfish, and will only lead to, as you said, religious conflict. It'll be inevitable. Look at the current "culture wars". Red state vs Blue state. Democrat vs Republican. Liberal vs Conservative. Religious vs Non Religious. If we don't find balance and harmony, yeah, we're gonna destroy ourselves.\n\nAs far as those ministers go, who say that all other religions are "wrong" are the ones who are truly wrong. They need to get out in the world, experience a different point of view and see that people can be happy without believing in the same God as said minister professes to believe in. They don't understand about the religions they're condemning and probably fear them, so rather than taking a risk and learning something new about someone else, they'd rather preach hate and fear.\n\nWhich is a shame, because the best way to conquer fear is to face it and learn about that which scares you. After all, there was a President that once said "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." Face fear, and you'll have none, because you'll know why it scares you. :)
711512
no. all religion makes you burn
1154848
I hear you!  A little more tolerance would go a long way towards a much more peaceful world.  Unfortunately, many people just can't seem to see beyond their own limited point of view.  They have taken the word of someone who has taught them their religion like sheep instead of doing any real research on their own to find out what it is that they personally believe.
119619
I think religion often hurts humanity. If people took the core message of "treating others the way they would like to be treated" and got away from the "us vs. them" mentality the world would be a much better place...\nAs for the second part of your question, I believe the moment you go a notch above BASIC Catholicism (Born Again), Judaism (Orthodox- Ultra or Modern) or Islam (fundamental) I'd say you're flirting with fanaticism....
1003376
Just another scapegoat to blame society's problems on, and a way to divide people. There is a massive misconception in the US today that this is a "Christian" nation and that certain people/behaviors should be condemned. Funny thing, historically speaking every time a single religion comes to power that nations folds in on itself.
218284
My goodness, do you realize you are blaming religions, the one set of groups who are really trying to change these conditions?  If we removed all religion and their followers, would you really trust the remnent of mankind to run things?\n\nOh, I agree, religions are often superstitious short-cuts to what could be a reasoned, scientific, socially conscious life.  However, I don't trust you are most human beings to live such a life.  I suspect you would revert to "me, Me, ME!", and without the social constraints of religion would put little thought into your own behavior.\n\nI'd love an ordered, reasoned society.\n\nI don't think we are ready for it.  Religions are a great bandaid until we get a real cure.\n\nGive them credit for the last couple of milenium.
624001
False, I think, on the hypocrisy count.  Religion has certainly contributed to a lot of rotten sorts of abuses by groups of people.  Anytime someone thinks they are carrying around "truth" in their front pocket, abuse and hypocrisy are absolutely certain to occur.\n\nHowever, I don't think that's all religions contribute to the human experience.  After all, believing anything about anything creates hypocrites.  (Republicans believe in minimal government, but create more of it.  Democrats believe in helping poor people but regularly increase sales taxes in localities.  Any belief makes hypocrisy apparent and maybe necessary).\n\nReligion, though, is important.  It mobilizes people to act altruistically, for instance.  If you go to a homeless shelter, most of the people working their (and likely running the place) are people of faith.  Furthermore, religions create consistent opportunities for people to think about the part of them that isn't just matter and (even if you don't believe in souls) to think about matters above and beyond mere survival.\n\nSo, even though I would wish for people, and by extension religion, to behave better, I do think religion offers society more than just hypocrisy.
316750
I don't know that you can do that. People are going to believe what they believe, no matter what  you DO about it. The only way to truly affect change is to BE what it is you profess. If you condemn them, that gives them the right to condemn you and that only leads to conflict which will worsen matters.
747863
I know what you mean. In this country is is the Christian way or you are thought of as a Sinner or Worse. I find that slowly as more and more people of all different faiths get to see that just because someone is not Their faith does not mean that they are bad. Often not even different. Really it is all the same just some are more devoted to theirs than others. That can be a good thing or a bad thing. I do think you would like it more if religion was left in Private life and not so much in public life. IE not shoved down our throats. I have friends who wonder how I can say it is everywhere. They are so use to it that they don't see the 8 christian channels on 24/7 or the Sunday mornings where that # just tripled. They don't see the people saying oh I will pray for you and so on. It's not that I say no don't pray for me. I just smile and go on knowing they mean me well but not knowing it bothers me.\nThat is being tolerant. I think we should all remember to be tolerant in all we do not just the bucket of God we have dumped on us at any given day or time
1147984
It's funny -- the only people who think that religion causes so much trouble are the people who don't practice one!\n\nThey also conveniently ignore all the good that religion does  --  all the charitable acts, all the positive influence it has on millions of lives, and so on.
741758
This is very true. The problem is people using religion to justify their actions. It is very easy to say that I did what I did because God wanted that way; include a few bible verses that are compatible with your actions, and you are good to go. How can anybody that believes in God try to argue?\n\nBy the way, you see this all over the bible. God said attack and kill all. God said keep the virgins. God said to kill a bunch of kids. Some of the most terrible things in history were based on religious grounds. \n\nWe do not want to go back to those days, because then everyone will have a reason to go against everyone.