the value of religion

[lorca]

Hi all
Could you please comment on one or more of those interrelated issues
As atheists, do you belive that religion has no value at all?
What do you think about such statements: "religion posions every aspect of life" ...

[Charbuque]

No value? Au contraire, I'd give it a negative value. Which leads me nicely on to your second proposition, to which I can give a resounding yes.
That's my view. My views don't change whether I am 'an atheist', 'a motorcyclist', or 'a guitarist'.

[Worldslaziestbusker]

Originally Posted by lorca

Hi all
Could you please comment on one or more of those interrelated issues
As atheists, do you belive that religion has no value at all?
What do you think about such statements: "religion posions every aspect of life" ...

I am involved in a discussion on this very topic at the moment, but rather than repost everything here, have a link. Happy reading.

[Dane]

Does political theory have any value? It depends on just what it contains. No matter what religion, involves faith and denial of inquisitiveness, and faith is gullibility. It's a terrible character trait to laud in this day and age, so I would say religion has no good value. It would have negative value.

Ideas aren't held independent of everything, no matter how well people are at compartmentalising their beliefs. So yes, it does 'affect' quite 'everything', and I would use the term 'poison' in reference to religion because of the above paragraph.

[Seamus]

Originally Posted by lorca

Hi all
Could you please comment on one or more of those interrelated issues
As atheists, do you belive that religion has no value at all?
What do you think about such statements: "religion posions every aspect of life" ...

"As an atheist" I have no opinion on any topic other than the existence of god(s).viz I do believe due to lack of evidence.


As a student of Social Anthropology (in which I have a degree) it's my opinion that religion exists to meet a range human needs.

Because needs vary between individuals,cultures and times, there are a bewildering number of religions and sects.

It is my opinion men invented all religions for men. That believers have always used religion to justify any behaviour whatsoever. That if religions disappeared over night,there would be no discernible difference in human behaviour over all.

[cyclist]

Originally Posted by lorca

Hi all
Could you please comment on one or more of those interrelated issues
As atheists, do you belive that religion has no value at all?
What do you think about such statements: "religion posions every aspect of life" ...

Consider Hitchen's challenge, what good has been done by religion, that can't be done by someone or group that is purely secular?

As others have said, religion only has a negative value, and yes, religion does poison everything.

James

[Bolero]

Originally Posted by cyclist

Consider Hitchen's challenge, what good has been done by religion, that can't be done by someone or group that is purely secular?

As others have said, religion only has a negative value, and yes, religion does poison everything.

James

^ This.

[deesl4e]

Originally Posted by lorca

As atheists, do you belive that religion has no value at all?

And these forums

[Sieveboy]

Originally Posted by lorca

Hi all
Could you please comment on one or more of those interrelated issues
As atheists, do you belive that religion has no value at all?
What do you think about such statements: "religion posions every aspect of life" ...

There are no free lunches (or the cake is a lie). Religion has a cost. It might be a tangible cost in time or money or labour. It might be an intangible cost of confusion, stress, cognitive dissonance or misguided belief. As such religious belief has a value in that to gain acceptance in a religious community costs so much in terms of all the things noted above.

Do these costs represent value for money... No.

I would never state that religion has no value, purely on the above logic. On the other hand watching the mindless waste that religion inspires, it isn't hard to believe that religion poisons everything it touches.

[wearestardust]

I'm inclined to the view that, on balance, religion is a negative. Sure, it makes some people happy, provides comfort, and results in some charitable work. On the other hand, it is not true. What value the Big Lie?

Warning: I'm going to refer to Nazis, but I think in an apposite manner that is no just saying "they're like Hitler". The Nazis fixed the German economy, gave the people of Germany a sense of direction and value, generally forged a close-knit community. Does that excuse Nazism?