Religion- A net positive or negative for humanity?

[Semi-Sweet]

The verse (from Semi Sweet's quote above) is, I believe, a mistranslation. "On earth peace among men with whom He is pleased. Peace toward men of good will."

I believe you are correct.

The Scriptures were written to God's people.

[Abe]

<snip>
transforms the old man <snip>

I resent that!

[Koushi Shinigami]

I resent that!

Hi Abe.

[Semi-Sweet]

I resent that!

[Abe]

Hi Abe.

Hi Koush; check your messages.

[Koushi Shinigami]

Hi Koush; check your messages.

Reply sent.

How are we supposed to get notified we have a message? I didn't see a flag.

[Long Island Bob]

Reply sent.

How are we supposed to get notified we have a message? I didn't see a flag.

When the carrier pigeon returns it has a message tied to its leg.

[The Infamous Din]

Op,

Jesus is a net positive for humanity. Religion in general - not so much. hehe.

Jesus has changed the way many of us think. He's given us an attitude adjustment.

For instance, if it weren't for Jesus, women would probably still be treated like cattle.

[Drawz]

Op,

Jesus is a net positive for humanity. Religion in general - not so much. hehe.

Jesus has changed the way many of us think. He's given us an attitude adjustment.

For instance, if it weren't for Jesus, women would probably still be treated like cattle.

I don't see how you can reasonably give Jesus credit for that.

[Long Island Bob]

I don't see how you can reasonably give Jesus credit for that.

Well, Jesus brought western religion out of the age of animal sacrifice and stoning adulteresses and into a more modern one.

Whether you believe he is the Messiah or not, He did that, and that's a pretty cool thing to have on one's resume.

[biggles53]

Very difficult to assess whether or not religion has had a net negative or positive effect on human society, due to the fact that religion has been with us, in one form or another, for all of recorded history. We don't really have a period, then, when there was no religion that we can compare with.

Perhaps the best we can do is to make a comparison between those sections of human society where religion plays a lesser or greater role in the day to day lives of the people therein. When this examination is done, there is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that those societies/nations that are relatively free from the influences of organised religions tend to be safer, freer and happier that those wherein religion plays a greater part....

Correlation ---> causation...? Who knows....

[Long Island Bob]

Very difficult to assess whether or not religion has had a net negative or positive effect on human society, due to the fact that religion has been with us, in one form or another, for all of recorded history. We don't really have a period, then, when there was no religion that we can compare with.

Perhaps the best we can do is to make a comparison between those sections of human society where religion plays a lesser or greater role in the day to day lives of the people therein. When this examination is done, there is overwhelming evidence to demonstrate that those societies/nations that are relatively free from the influences of organised religions tend to be safer, freer and happier that those wherein religion plays a greater part....

Correlation ---> causation...? Who knows....

Well Communist China and the old USSR come to mind as places where organized religion plays a small role. Are those places safer, freer happier than Europe or the US? NO

Religion plays a smaller role in many US cities than it does in the US South or Midwest. Are city people safer freer and happier? NO

The US is more religious than Europe. Are Europeans safer freer and happier? Probably not.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a single example where what you said is true.

[Lie Sniper]

Well Communist China and the old USSR come to mind as places where organized religion plays a small role. Are those places safer, freer happier than Europe or the US? NO

Religion plays a smaller role in many US cities than it does in the US South or Midwest. Are city people safer freer and happier? NO

The US is more religious than Europe. Are Europeans safer freer and happier? Probably not.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a single example where what you said is true.

At one point I read somewhere that the Scandinavian countries have a high level of Atheism, but are considered safer and happier then Americans.

[biggles53]

Well Communist China and the old USSR come to mind as places where organized religion plays a small role. Are those places safer, freer happier than Europe or the US? NO

Religion plays a smaller role in many US cities than it does in the US South or Midwest. Are city people safer freer and happier? NO

The US is more religious than Europe. Are Europeans safer freer and happier? Probably not.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a single example where what you said is true.

Sorry to disappoint you Bob, but much of what you say is refuted by the numbers...

Those nations that have higher percentages of atheism/lower percentages of religious affiliation/more secular governments, tend to be characterised by:-

- lower murder rates
- lower incidence of all violent crime
- lower incarceration rates (eg, the US has 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prisoners...!)
- lower suicide rates
- lower divorce rates
- lower rates of unprotected teen sex
- higher scores on 'happiness' index
- higher levels of altruism
- lower levels of racism, anti-Semitism, etc
- reduced support for torture

Here's just one study i chose at random....there are many...

http://www.pitzer.edu/academics/facu...on_Atheism.pdf

[Long Island Bob]

Sorry to disappoint you Bob, but much of what you say is refuted by the numbers...

Those nations that have higher percentages of atheism/lower percentages of religious affiliation/more secular governments, tend to be characterised by:-

- lower murder rates
- lower incidence of all violent crime
- lower incarceration rates (eg, the US has 5% of the world's population, but 25% of the world's prisoners...!)
- lower suicide rates
- lower divorce rates
- lower rates of unprotected teen sex
- higher scores on 'happiness' index
- higher levels of altruism
- lower levels of racism, anti-Semitism, etc
- reduced support for torture

Here's just one study i chose at random....there are many...

http://www.pitzer.edu/academics/facu...on_Atheism.pdf

Oh a study comparing Europe to the US.

Yup.

Religion is the difference. Compared to Europe, we (the US) are a bunch of murdering rapists. It MUST be because of religion. Nothing else could possibly explain it so we must accept that. Yupper.

There were no problems in the USSR. There are problems in the US that are greater than those in Europe. Ergo, religion causes problems.

Well, non peer-reviewed pieces by some PhD who specializes in atheism are like gospel to some people. If it's written, it must be true. (the piece was published in Praeger.) Oh well. It's in writing, it must be true.

I love it when folks accuse me of blind belief and lack of skepticism.