Religion
Now, I know this is going to be controversial, but the biggest disappointment in my life has to be religion. Simply because it has the potential to be so much better.

Religion, at it's most basic, is a moral code that we all should live our lives by. If there was ever a religion that stated, "Accept other people. It doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you're a good person. Do good things for others, and they will do good things for you" then I would sign up as a minister in a second.

There are good messages in most religions, but they are often mixed in with sexism, bigotry, fanaticism and racism. Modern day religions also seem stuck in the past - religion should be adaptable, it should be relevant. It certainly shouldn't make a stand on issues such as abortion. I firmly believe that all life is sacred, and that includes the life of the expectant mother. She should be free to decide what's best for herself - no-one should try and tell her what to do.

And the whole issue of sex before marriage is ridiculous. Why is that still relevant in today's world? And yet many religions have firmly-held beliefs that it's morally wrong. Beliefs should adapt with time - the whole of life is a learning process.

The whole issue with God pisses me off - I believe that if there was some kind of creator being, it would be too vast to comprehend. It would be like an ant trying to visualise a human being - it would visualise a giant ant, with ant-like tendencies and values. And yet people insist on giving 'God' human characteristics.

I genuinely believe it is time for a new world religion - one to fit the times. One that doesn't get hung up on what you actually believe, as long as you share a basic set of human principles, ones designed around helping other people and bettering yourself. 'The Church of Tolerance.'

Apparently, you only need something like 50,000 signatures to become a recognized religion (it's a fact I heard in the pub, so it may not be totally accurate). Anyone interested in joining?
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Sun 29 Jun 2008, 23:40, 12 replies)

Religion?
Well, the issue with religion has more to do with how humankind interpret God. Some Muslims might suggest that the way to get in with God is to go suicide bombing. Other Muslims might stress that their God likes people who preach tolerance and peace.

Then there's the Catholic God who demands obedience and betrothed procreation, while other Catholics demand that God is mindful of the risks of AIDS and sheds tears for everyone struck by the virus.

Some others insist that the signature of God exists in the distant decimals of PI in base 11...

The issue with God is the interpretor. You've no way of knowing what's what so I figure the best scripture is "Do as you will as long as it harms no-one".

Either that or join the church of CHCB.
(Bicycle Repairman "you're also a bit of a wanker", Sun 29 Jun 2008, 23:55, closed)

I am 100% with you.
Ironically enough, I was discussing my dislike of organised religion with a friend only this morning.
My main gripe is with the notion that you can be a complete bastard your whole life, yet as long as you go to church/mosque/temple/etc and say your prayers every night, you're guaranteed a happy afterlife. Madness.
(Uncle Comrade, Sun 29 Jun 2008, 23:57, closed)

I've found you one
"If there was ever a religion that stated, "Accept other people. It doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you're a good person. Do good things for others, and they will do good things for you" then I would sign up as a minister in a second."

Try budhism. I went to see that Dalai Lama last month and that was his response to being asked about other religions.
(hal9001, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 0:03, closed)

@PJM
I totally agree with you - what 'God' is, and whether he even exists is a question that shouldn't be relevant. It makes no difference to the way we should live our lives. Too many religions fail to realize that, and some even advocate harming people who disagree with their exact interpretation of God. It's insane.

There should be a religion without a God - it shouldn't matter what you believe. But I think human beings have a need to believe something. With the decline of religion came horroscopes, faith healing, crystals, and other cosmic nonsense. I think if human beings choose to believe in religion, that religion has a duty to spread the right message, and not get caught up in ridiculous issues that shouldnj't concern them. And while "Do as you will as long as it harms no-one" is a good piece of scripture, it's a little too open to interpretation. If religion is going to spread a message, it should be a message of peace and helping one another.

What was it Bill Hicks said? "Take all that money we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace." Now that's a scripture
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 0:11, closed)

@ hal9001
Funnily enough, Buddhism is one religion I do have a lot of respect for. The mysticism side of it has always turned me off, though
(Pavlov's Frog figures no-one really reads sigs anyway, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 0:13, closed)

Phew
I am glad you can spell it.
(hal9001, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 0:18, closed)

Consider Atheism.
Religions have had their day. So has God. He's dead anyway, even if he ever existed in the first place.

Once religion has no more influence in a moral code which we all live by, I honestly believe the world will be a much better place.

Without a religious influence on the world, things could be so much better.

A universal moral code could begin to emerge, one that suited human kind. One based on the real world, on evidence, facts and reason.

Not on an ancient fucking book, written by many different people, at different times, in different places. Think about a universal game of chinese whispers, and question how this book has formed some of the rules we live by.



I completely agree with you, except for the religion part. A new moral code is needed. An adaptable one, which can evolve. One which fits. One which allows your "human principles" to shine through.

Not religious principles, human principles. Made by humans, for humans. Ones that fit the world we live in.

Sign me up.
(Stevie Ruggling, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 0:26, closed)

@Stevie
Human principles are as varied, exploitable, and capable of evil as well as good, as religious principles are.
( idonthaveafunnynickname Drink-Aware? Sure. I'm aware I want another drink., Mon 30 Jun 2008, 1:15, closed)

Hmmm...
You're wrong about religion being a moral code: there's no reason why that should be the case, and though most (all?) religions have a moral code in some sense, that's not the same thing. Nor is your "acceptance" mantra anything beyond a vague Western liberal wooliness. Sorry. (Look: imagine, for the nonce, that god exists, but that he's morally indifferent, or a bastard. What's to say that god isn't a violent homophobic racist? There's no reason to expect him to be a Guardian reader...)

The idea of setting up a religion to reflect the times is a non-starter. Religious people have an account of the way the world ought to be: the way it is need make no odds to them at all.

You also need to give an account of "basic principles" if your idea is to have legs. Why is "helping other people" so important, and what counts as help? (To give a loose analogy - the Tories and Labour both claim to be helping people, but based on a radically different account of what that is.) And, by the same token, what does "bettering yourself" mean? What standard are you using? And why does any of this have to be cast in religious terms anyway?



Can't stay - work to do. *sigh*
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 9:19, closed)

Erm...
Do what you can, enjoy it while you can.

Have sex as much as possible but take care. And it's a million times better with someone you love.

Get pissed but don't get pissed off.

Whether it turns out to be right or wrong...make a decision...do it based on the good intention that you will at least try to leave the world a better place than it was when you found it.

But above all...have fun. Please.

(Did I mention drinking and shagging?)

If anyone wants to embrace 'The Pooflake Groove', there are plenty of chapels, temples and churches near you...

They're called pubs. Drop in anytime. No pressure
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Mon 30 Jun 2008, 10:01, closed)

Oh, hello religious discussion :)
Anti-religion is also dangerous. Look at Pekka-Eric Auvinen, and the principles of Social Darwinism.

A lot of people are non-religious, but still manage to find justification for their actions.

Personally, I'm not religious. I don't think the world would be better without religion. On the contrary, the world would be better if everyone belonged to the same religion. But that's not going to happen. Nor are the people of Israel going to abandon Judaism, nor are the Saudis going to abandon Islam, nor the Vatican Catholicism.

Anyway.. Enzyme's quite right, I agree with his reply completely.

A modern-day religion is bound to fall into the same traps as the ancient ones. People will inevitably disagree on what is "good", what is "bad", whether or not they use God as justification.
( Thinker, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 10:21, closed)

The name of the thing you are proposing is...
"Humanism"
( Amish Information Systems hates misplaced, commas, Mon 30 Jun 2008, 11:08, closed)