Abe Lenstra

It's the same God wearing a variety of novelty plastic noses. </BLOCKQUOTE>

It is I, Leclerq

Fat Bhoy Tim

It's not the religion, there's a lot of things that are hold overs from the pre and post-Islamic tribal culture. if you go to a lot of non-Arab muslim countries you'll find things are often very different.

JK Galgreefe

Religions per se are not stupid.
They may not make sense, but provide an enormous amount of succour for many people.

The imposition of your belief onto others or the thinking that your belief is better than another is the major problem (the fact that there are number of different "all ruling" gods doesn't help either!!!). </BLOCKQUOTE>

so if something provides succour for a lot of people it can't be considered stupid or incorrect?

i don't think nonsensical stupidity is a necessary quality endemic to any possible religion. i just think that all religions currently available in the world today display that quality.

Retro

Religions per se are not stupid.
They may not make sense, but provide an enormous amount of succour for many people.

The imposition of your belief onto others or the thinking that your belief is better than another is the major problem (the fact that there are number of different "all ruling" gods doesn't help either!!!). </BLOCKQUOTE>

so if something provides succour for a lot of people it can't be considered stupid or incorrect?

i don't think nonsensical stupidity is a necessary quality endemic to any possible religion. i just think that all religions currently available in the world today display that quality. </BLOCKQUOTE>

So you'd like to get rid of all religion?

Bliss Seeker

This is what I have problem with:

Why are we so keen to give twats like this a medium to spout their **** to the world?

It's pointless. Exactly my problem with Osama Bigbeard. What's the point of printing his words in every newspaper on 11/09!? A simple 'in other news, Osama Bigbeard has released a new video' would suffice. It's just pointless. It's very unimportant and all it does is put people's backs up.

Fat Bhoy Tim

Because fear is good for the economic interests for a lot of people.

Retro

Because fear is good for the economic interests for a lot of people. </BLOCKQUOTE>
American Government you mean?

Fat Bhoy Tim

Because fear is good for the economic interests for a lot of people. </BLOCKQUOTE>
American Government you mean? </BLOCKQUOTE>

More like those in various industries that ensure the political situation is one good for business.

Docker

Not a religion. </BLOCKQUOTE>
As I understand it, that's at least contentious.

And yes, I know it's a set of teachings. </BLOCKQUOTE>

I think that is what sets it apart, it is a doctrine set in regards to human emotions rather than rules that have been supposedly told by a "supreme being".

In regards to the stupidity point, that is purely an opinion, which I am guessing the billions of believers around the world will disagree with.

You have to look at religion from two points.
Point 1 is the "chronicled" story and religious rules that come from it.
Point 2 is the way of life that these rules lead you live.
There is a huge amount of commonality between all religions, which to an Atheist make perfect sense without the need to wrap it up with doctrine, but to a religious person give their life meaning and purpose.
Would you advocate the taking away of this on the basis of Point 1?

Docker

Because fear is good for the economic interests for a lot of people. </BLOCKQUOTE>
American Government you mean? </BLOCKQUOTE>

Fahrenheit 9/11 anyone?