Bull Ring Is religion the greatest evil that has ever face humanity? RWS vs ding

ding

Confront reality
Oct 25, 2016
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According to RWS religion is the greatest evil that has ever faced humanity.

Does God want us to judge him?

The purpose of this debate is to discuss the merits of this statement.

RWS will debate the position that religion is the greatest evil that has ever faced humanity.

ding will debate the position that by any objective measure religion has been a force for good.

The debate is intended to focus on the world's major religions; Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism and Primal Religions as discussed in Huston Smith's book, The Illustrated World Religions.

Although RWS is free to use examples of any religion he wishes; such as Scientology, Mormonism, People's Temple, Jehovah’s Witnesses

I will ask the mods if they are interested in being judges.

RWS the floor is yours. Please present your case for religion being the greatest evil that has ever face humanity.

Mod Note: Bullring Forum Discussion are designed to be "One on One".. There is a subforum below this one where the peanut gallery can create a Comment thread with a title that identifies the match-up or Title.. Don't get thread-banned. If it's a burning desire -- start a thread in the sub forum "Bullring Discussions and Call-outs".. That subforum is also the place for the contenders to agree on terms and rules before they START a debate...
 
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Religions (esp supernatural) are false. They are intended to create armies of followers, willing to kill and die for the financial gain of the rulers. The people are given false promises of afterlife for their devotion to the ruler, which of course, can never be confirmed afterwards.

It's the ultimate hoax.
 
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Point #1: Religion creates wonderful charities and organizations.

Religious persons and institutions are usually the first source of literacy, education, and healthcare in the poorer regions. Religion has been the source of abundant human services from hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes, and schools, to advocacy on behalf of those with no voice, to supporting cultural outreaches, and seeking always to find ways in which to protect and promote human life and its authentic flourishing
 
Point #1: Religion creates wonderful charities and organizations.

Religious persons and institutions are usually the first source of literacy, education, and healthcare in the poorer regions. Religion has been the source of abundant human services from hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes, and schools, to advocacy on behalf of those with no voice, to supporting cultural outreaches, and seeking always to find ways in which to protect and promote human life and its authentic flourishing
Nowadays, with modern weapons and more cultural awareness, religions have taken on some beneficial roles in order to entice new followers, since they can't threaten and rape and pillage as much anymore. But you cannot erase the past 6000 years with some present-day humanitarian efforts. The religions remain the same. The words remain the same. Nothing was rewritten. All they need is a trigger to revert to their killing/raping/trafficking ways of the past. That's like Hitler (Nazism is also a religion), towards the end of WWII, deciding to make some donations in order to be forgiven.

The evil and misery and suffering that religions have caused, should be a lesson to us. To forgive them, is to allow them to do it again.
 
And nowadays, we have to worry about a religious zealot with access to nuclear weapons, devastating the world based on their belief in the word of their imaginary"God".
 
Point #2: Religion promotes the virtues of thankfulness, forgiveness, humility, chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience and kindness.
 
So does evolution. That's why we're still here.

But what religions have actually promoted over the last few thousand years, is hatred, genocide, rape, torture, human trafficking, child abuse, and the demotion of women. To name a few... There's probably lots more.

Those are the facts. The feel-good Santa Claus religion you think you have today, came from that. And it can easily snap right back to that. All you need is the order to do it again.

If you would not accept the order, then what you have is a faith, not a religion. If you believe in the religion, you will accept the order, once given.

Because the order, would come from "God", through your religious leaders.
 
Point #3: Religion gave us the concept of subsidiarity.
 
Point #4: religion does what no government or other organization can do, teach civility and morality.
 
Point #5: Religion teaches accountability and responsibility.
 
Point #3: Religion gave us the concept of subsidiarity.
That's total BS. They made their religion spread based upon the opposite.
The concept of subsidiarity started with Moses and is the basis for all Christian charities and organizations. Maybe you don't know what subsidiarity actually means.
 
Point #4: religion does what no government or other organization can do, teach civility and morality.
Total BS again. Civility and morality are not a product of religions. You're reaching very far now.
 
Point #4: religion does what no government or other organization can do, teach civility and morality.
Total BS again. Civility and morality are not a product of religions. You're reaching very far now.
I didn't say it was a product. I said religions teach civility and morality.
 
Point #6: Religion teaches that we have a choice in how we behave.

MAJOR NO. If you had a choice, it would be a faith.
The Greek word for repent is "metanoia." Metanoia means to change your mind. Our thoughts, the flow of consciousness which determines our behaviors, can change. Metanoia has to do with moral activity, but goes beyond that. Jesus was teaching that we could change our mind about how we treat people. We don’t have to be unforgiving and cynical. We can change our mind about being negative. We can think positive thoughts and walk in faith instead of doubt. We can change our minds about sin. Rather than being caught in the strongholds of consistent habits of lust or selfishness, for example, we can experience freedom and selflessness. Jesus would not have told us to change unless it was possible and attainable. The Bible is full of words that speak about change. Repentance, metamorphosis, transformation, conversion, resurrection, rebirth, renewal, regeneration, healing and transfiguration.
 
Point #5: Religion teaches accountability and responsibility.
Absolutely not. I missed this one before. Religion teaches absolute belief. And they kill because of it.
 

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