100 good things about religion.

LS's Thread and the reaction to it disturbed me, This forum needs a love injection my brothers and sisters. I am asking all involved, Atheist and Theist, to contribute to this list. Just write a few of the things you think that are good about religion or good things religion has done for mankind. Sometime soon, probably in five minutes, I am going to create a 100 good things about Atheism topic and I want everyone to list some things that are good about Atheism.

1. Religions promote good values
2. Religions are the cause of much charity
I encourage everyone to contribute.

3. Can act as a source of hope.

4. Gives you salvation.

5. Touchstone for the bereaved

6. Fosters gratitude for life

7. Techniques for setting aside mundane thoughts to engage more directly with experience

8. Awesome architecture

9. Promotes love above all else (most of the time)
10. Creates a caring community for those who join a church

10. Has inspired beautiful works of art.







I highly disagree with #1.. I know I shouldn't say this in this particular thread.. gah..

11. Usually the first source of literacy and education in places lacking both (especially for the poor)

12. Ditto for healthcare

13. Ditto for libraries

14. Ditto for counseling

15. Monks make great booze

16. Provides vocations for those inclined toward spiritual pursuits

17. Is the only reason most of us have ever heard of Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennett and (best of all) Harris.

18. Makes for interesting and in depth debates.

19. helps document and record spiritual teachings. so that the next generation can advance on the spiritual teachings, rather than always having to start at the bottom again.

20. Has inspired some really good music.

21. If taken metaphorically, can help you see things in a wider perspective.

22: Ardent religious persons have been proven to live longer than the normal population.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by psychology student

22: Ardent religious persons have been proven to live longer than the normal population.

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[Citation Needed]

Central to the accomplishments of many:

23. Great leaders
24. Great thinkers
25. Great humanitarians

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Originally Posted by Seismosaur

[Citation Needed]

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If we start that, both threads will come to a grinding halt.

26. Holidays :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by psychology student

22: Ardent religious persons have been proven to live longer than the normal population.

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LOL

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Taosaur

If we start that, both threads will come to a grinding halt.

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In the other thread, people have been using links. If he linked to a source proving religious people lived longer that'd be great.

27. Inspires a sense of wonder at the universe, nature, etc...

28. Helps one feel less alone in the world.

29. Tastes as good as atheism but with half the fact.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mark75

29. Tastes as good as atheism but with half the fact.

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Ha, good one.

I just typed five very smartass listings and then decided to delete it and not screw up the thread. It was so tempting to go the sarcastic route, but screw it.

30. Religion is full of interesting ideas.

31. Religion makes dying easier for a lot of people.

32.:uhm:.... I can't think of anything good actually....

32. It provides great material for South Park, Sarah Silverman, and Monty Python.

33. Inspires love, peace, and happiness. (Disclaimer: May also inspire the opposite.)

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Originally Posted by hyperangel13

33. Inspires love, peace, and happiness. (Disclaimer: May also inspire the opposite.)

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LOL! Love the disclaimer.

34. Gives people with extremely shitty lives a reason to keep going

35. Can be as addictive as drugs or alcohol. ... Which is good because... :uhm: Well look people, addictions are fun. Not that I'm addicted to anything. I uhmm.. :paranoid: *runs away*

36. Despite its frequent abuse by despots, religion has been the justification for fewer deaths in 10,000 years than atheist principles like Modernism, progress and nationalism in the last century.

Probably partly because:

37. The core values naturally counterbalance the vulnerability to corruption

38. United cultures around the world. A spanish person, and a black person, can have many cultural differences, but they have the same religion. They are brothers and sisters as they call it in the church.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Taosaur

37. The core values naturally counterbalance the vulnerability to corruption

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Are you sure about that? When it comes to religious perspective, atheists have the smallest representation in prison compared to the general population. Christians have a much too high percentage of the prison population to suggest your declaration has truth.

Source: http://www.skepticfiles.org/american/prison.htm

^
Because the atheists are those who have access to science, the richer people, who coincidentally tend not to go to jail. Its easy.

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Originally Posted by psychology student

^
Because the atheists are those who have access to science, the richer people, who coincidentally tend not to go to jail. Its easy.

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So science keeps people out of prison? Interesting take on this.

... but I thought religions "core values" were supposed to be able to do this as well. I guess chalk up one more for science!

No, there is a inverse proportionality between socio-economic status and the liklehood of ending up in jail.

Atheism depends on education. It is likely that there is a correlation between the level of education a person has recieved and the socio-economic status of that person.

Understand?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by psychology student

No, there is a inverse proportionality between socio-economic status and the liklehood of ending up in jail.

Atheism depends on education. It is likely that there is a correlation between the level of education a person has recieved and the socio-economic status of that person.

Understand?

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Ah I see. What you're saying is that Atheism means better education, socio-economic status and staying out of prison? Things are looking up for us all the time!

Yes, but it means that there is no inherent qualitative advantage in atheism with regard to morality, as you use your prison statistic to suggest.

The only thing that there is, is a social bias towards atheism. Nothing more.

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Originally Posted by skysaw

Ah I see. What you're saying is that Atheism means better education, socio-economic status and staying out of prison? Things are looking up for us all the time!

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Think about causality here?

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Originally Posted by psychology student

Think about causality here?

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I'd love to debate the causality in this situation with you. What is your explanation again? That education causes atheism which causes prosperity which causes a get-out-of-jail-free card when we commit a crime?

Or did I miss something from your previous argument?

Well, I see your avoidant strategy, nonetheless, its all written above.

that's interesting as when i go with my dad to the pub( ugh i hate doing that..), everyone there bar two people are not religious, however..to put it nicely, aren't the sharpest tools in the shed or very cultured.., also there salaries aren't that high( generally manual labor, not plumbing and stuff, i mean lower paid, plumbing pays very very well, much more then researchers).

So i don't think that's necessarily it. However at the same time i don't think those statistics are completely reliable. it;s not that they are false but the large majority of Americans are Christians of some kind, so there are much fewer Atheists about to do the Crimes if that makes sense. Also some prisoners may be Atheist and may pretend to be religious out of fear of persecution, i know of three people on my MSN contact list who are like that, so i am sure other people hide their lack of faith to.

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Originally Posted by cuddleyperson

However at the same time i don't think those statistics are completely reliable. it;s not that they are false but the large majority of Americans are Christians of some kind, so there are much fewer Atheists about to do the Crimes if that makes sense.

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Obviously, that makes sense. However, that's not what the studies are saying.

They say that the number of theists in prison are grossly unproportional to the numbers in the general population. The number of Atheists are thought to be anywhere from 3-8% in the U.S. However, they represent only one tenth of one percent of the prison population. This is a gigantic discrepancy to try and explain in any way other than the obvious assumption.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by skysaw

This is a gigantic discrepancy to try and explain in any way other than the obvious assumption.

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That a lot of people 'get religion' in prison, where religion means more time outside your cell for worship, an appearance of good behavior, more contacts outside the prison (missionaries + clergy), and possibly more esteem/security with inmates and guards? All in a high stress environment where primarily unstable people with little education are subjected to concentrated conversion efforts?

It is kind of obvious now that you point it out.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Taosaur

That a lot of people 'get religion' in prison, where religion means more time outside your cell for worship, an appearance of good behavior, more contacts outside the prison (missionaries + clergy), and possibly more esteem/security with inmates and guards? Also, a high stress environment where primarily unstable people with little education are subjected to concentrated conversion efforts?

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That was a lot more logical than the previous attempt at playing with the numbers. Maybe even worth persuing, if you can think of a way to start some research on it.

I'm sure what you propose may have some effect on the numbers, though I'm doubtful it even begins to account for all of it. Maybe a logical way to find out is to get a anonymous survey on inmates that ask whether or not their "official" affiliation is the one they actually follow.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,11...ichard-Dawkins

Have you read this?

If so you will see documented the strong vibes of anti-atheism in the USA. Even Pres. Bush SR. hates atheists. Atheists are reluctant to admit their beliefs, as a result.

I wonder if they would be more overt about their beliefs in prison? Well it is such a nice place.

This is just another bias to add to the list.

That is not, however, backed up by statistic, where the overall population of non-theists are generally peaceful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by psychology student

http://richarddawkins.net/article,11...ichard-Dawkins

Have you read this?

If so you will see documented the strong vibes of anti-atheism in the USA. Even Pres. Bush SR. hates atheists. Atheists are reluctant to admit their beliefs, as a result.
.

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It is a shame is it not that a supposedly peaceful religion causes so much discrimination and fear....:(. I wonder, is it worse in a Christian household to admit your lack of faith, or that you are homosexual? I'm going to go with homosexual only because they would probably spent time "converting you" of your lack of faith, rather then kicking you out if your gay. Although they have clinic to "cure" homosexuality( electro shock therapy being among the psychical methods..), so i'm unsure. Does anyone here belong to a fully Christian family but has admitted their Atheistic viewpoint/homosexuality?

Hell no.

My dad would lecture me to no end, take my computer away while screaming at me, and then FORCE me to go to Wednesday night Church Group bullshit.

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Originally Posted by Seismosaur

Hell no.

My dad would lecture me to no end, take my computer away while screaming at me, and then FORCE me to go to Wednesday night Church Group bullshit.

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Ah. The kindness and compassion. ;)

39. One more letter than atheism. Take that, science!

40: Promotes positive social activity, meeting other believers e.t.c

41: Can be used as a scape goat (The devil made me do it, or prayer for forgiveness, or that old thing where you would pay $$ for sins). This way if you do something bad you can forgive yourself, though some religions are the opposite.

((I'd like to address the one earlier about "salvation" though, religion is salvation for something it invented...I believe some atheist guy said if religion is the cure, then atheism is the prevention))