Social conditioning isn't just the household you were brought up in, but the society we all live in here. You would find it hardpressed to find many people who never had a concept of "God" in ANY household. So, when they find a place full of people who accept them and tell them this all-powerful "God" wants them-- VIOLA! Philosophy aside, the psychological aspects are crystal clear here.
Not necessarily. I was just some gothed out Wiccan chick with a nasty attitude when I went to church the night I was saved. I went because I wanted to cheer up my Grandma... Who has not always been saved either. These people all looked at me with disgust (of course, I thought wonderful reflection on your god). But I was saved there anyway. What I had found was solid enough to build a foundation that would save my life, even if it wasn't something concrete you can see. Ethics and morals are things that we must determine for ourselves... These things don't have an absolute truth value either. But I think we need to decide whether certain things are right or wrong. Because, I mean... We could turn into Michael Jackson if we don't. We could justify that we *love* the children, and since we love them, we could... But anyway, Libby... My real point is, cutting Christianity or belief systems out of the picture won't necessarily "fix" all of humanity's problems. You would take away the very thing that gave some decent people the strength to carry on and be productive. Without hope, there is mayhem... We saw what happened in Katrina's aftermath. Chaos, and no shortage of it. Our problem is human nature itself. Even if a genie gave you your wish, and religious systems disappeared tomorrow, the same people who were using their religion as a weapon of control will be using other ideas and philosophies as their new ammo for the same purpose. Because human beings are just crappy like that.
I see that religion does much more to retard progress than to benefit it. It does much more to divide us than to unite us. It does much more to increase war and decrease peace.
Any ideology or opinion can be used as a weapon, though... People need to control themselves in reference to their beliefs and not represent them as an absolute truth with concrete evidence. It's too simplistic just to outlaw religion when the real problem is the individuals wielding the "weapons". Instead of confronting the true source of the problem, we're merely blaming the problem on what they use as their weapon. A gun can't fire itself... It takes another person to squeeze the trigger.
I don't think we should "outlaw" religion, I just think that the more educated a society becomes the less it will need the crutch of religion to give them "purpose" and "meaning". Promote education. Fight speech with speech, not censorship.
I just want to mention that a reasonable person of faith can find purpose and meaning both in and out of their spiritual life... People who have applied faith constructively. Also, education is not a guarantee of success should the subjects in question be unreceptive to the message. I guess I feel that this leaves us at Square One... Fighting human nature. Agreed... This is the marketplace of ideas, and everyone has the right to be a vendor. This kinda goes without saying, but I just wanted to say that, even though we don't see eye-to-eye on everything, I still like ya and think you're a good guy. Not that you necessarily care. But I thought it worth mentioning in a forum where people use disagreement as reason for hate. If I don't see you guys again before I go away Saturday, please take care and have a good weekend. Lotsa Love.... HLS
