Originally Posted by
Empire
This is a thread, not necessarily defending religion but pointing out the flaw in the general anti-religion argument.
We, as a race, all of us: Do not need religion to do anything.
-But wait! That's anti-religion!? No, it isn't. Religion doesn't dictate what we do.
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This seems so simple yet its constantly overlooked as we blame or praise religion for everything and anything. The concept of personal choices, cause-effect relationships, and simple reality is ignored for this make believe assumption that religion is the root of the situation.
Let me explain clearly so this isn't misinterpreted: Religion did not do anything.
Religion didn't save those people, it didn't start a crusade, and it sure as hell isn't to blame for the actions taken by any individual.
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Let me address 2 major points. Futility and Reality
1. Futility:
-As much as people may hate to admit it, religion is just an idea. A belief, a set of rules, or a cultural habit. If you blame or praise religion what happens to it? Nothing. The core of the problem has never been "you believe this set of rules", its always been about as a whole what people believe. Do you think its ok to kill someone? Well regardless of your religion you are going to do it. Religion is always given this sort of "if its ok" feature and if its not included people think "oh that's why." Nope, that isn't the case. The person is always the case. We are just lazy/ignorant and chalk it up to one feature or another. This is the same with racism, and really any other stereotype you can think of.
2. Reality:
-Humans suck. We, as a whole, are just shit. We delude ourselves in every which way possible so that we feel good, but we are really just awful people. We blame religion because its an easy pass-off. The cause is always going to be humanity is shit. No one wants to hear that so its religion, society, or any other bullshit excuse.
Let me ask you: If we humans create so many atrocities against our own, don't stop them, or just don't care: Why bother blaming religion? What does that even solve? People drop the religion, but the religion was never the cause, so it just happens over and over and over.
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Sorry, I just get tired of hearing "its________ religion's fault" as if people don't want the asshole who suicide bombed to take the blame.