[Dion]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

If you mean worthless in the sense of defining our morals, or our understanding of the universe, then I would say that I stand behind that. I don't see how a text that attempts to explain our existence by leveraging the concept of a being whose basic existence cannot be demonstrated to begin with provides any value.

As Carl Sagan once said, "In many cultures, the customary answer is that a god or gods created the universe out of nothing. But if we wish to pursue this question courageously, we must - of course - ask the next question, 'Where did God come from?' If we decide that this is an unanswerable question, why not save a step and conclude that the origin of the universe is an unanswerable question? Or if we decide that God always existed, why not save a step and conclude that the universe always existed?"

I see no harm in answering a question with "We don't know yet", but what I do see harm with is making up an answer for the sake of comfort, and closing the investigation. Religion promotes this lack of questioning, and it is something I see not only lacking value, but harmful in one's endeavour to gain a deeper understanding of our world.

Similarly, a text which contains such a vast array of contradictions throughout its pages would not serve to be a very useful guide on any subject, nevermind one that is purported by many to provide an objective moral framework. You and I do agree on something, that morality is undoubtedly subjective.


BUT, if you mean the books have value simply as a collection of texts, then I suppose that depends on who is the one reading them. I don't read Harlequin romance novels, but my grandmother sure seemed to enjoy them when she was alive. I read the Bible and it only served to push me further away from the beliefs I was once indoctrinated with.

Come to think of it, maybe the Bible does have value....

I spent 10 years in an Evangelical church before I left. Mostly due to questioning that was promoted within my church. Question it and come to your conclusions was what was taught every Sunday morn. We were never asked to take what was preached as the absolute truth. I left because of the hypocriscy within organised religion and have never gone back.