Purpose? Are you sure that is the word you wanted? Maybe result?
Yes I am quite sure purpose is the correct word to convey what I meant. Religious leaders are forever in bed with politicians and they know exactly what they are doing.
They? You include non-denominationals such as Baha'i, and Scientology? You include faiths such as Taoism, Shintoism, Wicca, neo-paganism as being a part of the problem?
My apologies here, you are not used to my posts and I was writing as though you were aware of my position. As I do not know enough about many of these religions, philosophies and (in the case of Scientology) dubious cults I only comment on them very specifically. But though my diatribe is mainly aimed at the worlds major Abrahamic religions it would stand true for each and every one that builds itself on a deliberate fiction. Taoism, at least the non-religious philosophical brand of it, and others of that nature really fall into another category. But if they become a basis for a mythos that engineers any type or flavour of "us and them" thinking then they would certainly receive my scorn.
I was with you up to the word "deliberate".
Deliberate. De-Liberate. I would say it most certainly belongs there. When you on purpose indoctrinate people into a fiction then you take away their freedom of thought. This is what the purpose of impressive palaces of prayer, preachers and faith schools around the world is, and has been since before recorded history. It is deliberate all the way.
Now you seem to be violating what I thought was the purpose of this forum. Overuse of the word "fact" is something I feel that everyone here might want to avoid. Otherwise it just comes across as you preaching your own faith over others. Not really in keeping with your own message is it?
The purpose of this forum is discussion amongst people of all faiths....and none. I have only recently determined that my search for some proof of some intelligent force is at work is a futile one. The evidence against such a notion just became to great and compelling to ignore and the evidence that religions seem to be without exception a product of our imaginations led me to where I am at. I believe firmly that religion is dangerous and detrimental to human society and good governance. It should not be, but it is. Religion is never straight talk. It is all metaphors, interpretations and a large and unhealthy smattering of pure bull****. I state things as facts because a large body of independent studies conducted using the scientific method, peer reviewed without bias or any other purpose than understanding the truth of the matter, all confirm them as facts. We know, for example, without doubt that much of the old testament comes from older polytheist religions of Mesopotamia. We know, without doubt, that shamans or other religious leaders have always enjoyed a privileged and powerful status in their respective cultures. We know, without doubt, that they still enjoy privilege and power today. So I feel entirely justified to call them facts.
Implying that I am preaching the religion of science is a red herring. Science is not a religion it is a methodology of enquiry that searches for truth without a pre-defined set of beliefs to keep propped up. It is not absolutist, unlike the major religions.
"At times I feel that organized religion just gets in the way of being religious."
Gandalf Parker
I do appreciate the sentiment behind that line. It would be amazing, wonderful to find some proof that there was "something". But the truth remains there is not a single tiny shred of evidence to support it is anything more than, at best, wishful thinking.
Tao
