Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
Oh wow...that's a topic for a whole other thread, but surely you can't possibly be so naive that you're unaware of all the terrible crimes that have been and continue to be committed because of religion.
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No kidding!
To boil the list down - when I look at the "value" of religion, I ask one simple question.
Does it treat everyone as equal? Or does it promote discrimination?
i.e. - Can a woman be the head of the organization? Is open homosexuality tolerated?
Usually the answer is "no" (although not always). In the face of open and ongoing discrimination, I don't really care how successful your organization was in the past. You no longer should have a place in modern society.
If any company in Canada preached the same sorts of values as many churches do they would very quickly be out of business. Things we take for granted as basic rights we somehow give a pass to for religious reasons.
I rather liked the comment about the Magical Space Fairy above. It reminds me of an earlier thread where many were scoffing at Scientology for having a belief in volcano dwelling aliens, but got upset when it was pointed out they had an equal basis as Christianity for having faith in their diety. I feel exactly the same way about "god" as I do Santa Claus. I see no reason that I should automatically give respect to a concept with no known basis in fact.
I'm not sorry if characterizing your deity as a fantasy offends you. Just as soon as the slightest shred of proof is provided, I will yield the point. Until then, I will continue to characterize your beliefs as exactly what they have proven to be thus far - make believe.
If that seems militant and rude - just imagine what it is like for people who don't share your beliefs to be confronted constantly by references to it in everyday life. From doing nativity scenes every year in school while growing up, to reading about God on every piece of money we carry.
I think belief in a supreme being is a lie, and I will happily continue to confront that lie at every opportunity. As soon as elements of society stop pushing that lie (and thankfully it is waning with every generation), I will be happy to "live and let live."