Religion shoud be outlawed

[Zorkorist]

Religion is another form of Government, one that has been proven wrong throughout history. It does not allow for questioning it's rules or beliefs, it does not allow for trial by a jury of your peers, in short, it's 1300 to 2000 years old.

Isn't it time that we outlaw it, in the face of Government, which is a superior moderator of society?

The two can't coexist.

There are millions of people crushed by Religion today, and if America had a strict no religion policy, they could have hopes, that a Government would some day be there, and Religion would be squashed.

-John

 

[Infohawk]

Religions should not be tax-exempt. Religion should not be a protected class like race, gender, and national origin which people have no control over. People choose their religion. What we have now is just an excuse for people to do what they want, even when harmful to others, under the pretense of religious freedom. One could make up a ridiculous religion to justify any beliefs but you'd have to bow down to them in the name of religious freedom.

 

[Zorkorist]

It is time that Religion loses it's moral authority, as it really doesn't have any; they lose their perception of charity, as they aren't really compassionate, and they lose their great gift of hope in an afterlife, because there isn't any.

-John

 

[nonlnear]

Religion is another form of Government, one that has been proven wrong throughout history. It does not allow for questioning it's rules or beliefs, it does not allow for trial by a jury of your peers, in short, it's 1300 to 2000 years old.

Isn't it time that we outlaw it, in the face of Government, which is a superior moderator of society?

The two can't coexist.

There are millions of people crushed by Religion today, and if America had a strict no religion policy, they could have hopes, that a Government would some day be there, and Religion would be squashed.

-John

Actually government is a form of religion. One of the cleverest tricks statists ever pulled off was kicking the systematized superstitions out the door and convincing everyone that the state was now "secular". Never mind that its legitimacy still rested on shifting sands of mythology. Wisely they finally gave up on the whole social contract idea when they realized that 99% of the people didn't really need to be told a convincing myth to substantiate the authority that they conjured out of nowhere... (That and a priori justifications for the legitimacy of a "state" - like social contract theory and other lame attempts - don't seem to hold up very well under philosophical scrutiny unless you are an avowed pragmatist - in which case you don't much care for philosophy anyways!)

An atheist who believes in the moral legitimacy of the state is no atheist at all. Just because you have decided to ignore the more elaborate superstitions doesn't mean you've eradicated them all. In fact, the most pervasive superstition throughout human history is the collectivist superstition that the will of the enshrined powers has moral force which trumps individual conscience.

Now I wouldn't go so far as to say that all "true" atheists must be anarchists (blech!), as there are good self serving reasons to play along with the farce that is government. There are even reasons to believe that government can affect some things for good. However I always get a kick out of people who believe that they don't believe in a deity, and yet put so many of their hopes and aspirations for themselves, for humanity, and for the future on an abstraction which is no more (or less) real than His Noodliness.

Cliffs: The clergy, the legitimizing mythology, and the complicity of the laity are the deity. Now repeat that a hundred times and then look at D.C. with fresh eyes.

 

[Fear No Evil]

We definitely should ban the Global Warming/Climate Change religion.

 

[CycloWizard]

To abolish religion is to outlaw thought. While this is probably an attractive approach for the control freaks out there, it's a bit impractical. If you want to outlaw organized religion, on the other hand, then you simply need to do away with pesky things like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. In the end, the effort to ban religion (either in the abstract or organized sense) is simply another tactic to squash dissent. Whichever faction is in power when it is accomplished will simply be substituting their own belief system for reality and killing anyone who dares to question the proffered reality.

 

[nonlnear]

To abolish religion is to outlaw thought. While this is probably an attractive approach for the control freaks out there, it's a bit impractical. If you want to outlaw organized religion, on the other hand, then you simply need to do away with pesky things like freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. In the end, the effort to ban religion (either in the abstract or organized sense) is simply another tactic to squash dissent. Whichever faction is in power when it is accomplished will simply be substituting their own belief system for reality and killing anyone who dares to question the proffered reality.

Actually, to abolish religion by force of law is to create it. What delicious irony! After all, what is the authority of law except a myth*?

* Here I mean it in the more broader sociological sense (a narrative designed to create social hegemony, and legitimize some institution or cultural norm), not the pedestrian meaning of "fictional".

 

[Infohawk]

We definitely should ban the Global Warming/Climate Change religion.

The difference between religion and science is that science changes to reflect evidence.

 

[Kirby]

Are you retarded, OP?

 

[superccs]

Religion is another form of Government, one that has been proven wrong throughout history. It does not allow for questioning it's rules or beliefs, it does not allow for trial by a jury of your peers, in short, it's 1300 to 2000 years old.

Isn't it time that we outlaw it, in the face of Government, which is a superior moderator of society?

The two can't coexist.

There are millions of people crushed by Religion today, and if America had a strict no religion policy, they could have hopes, that a Government would some day be there, and Religion would be squashed.

-John

Harrumph!

 

[shortylickens]

I think religion causes more problems than it fixes, but in America I believe the right of people to practice it freely is more important than anything else.
As soon as we start banning things because "we know whats best for people" then we quickly head down that scary Orwellian road.

 

[Murloc]

religious institutions shouldn't have any facilitation.

I think that everyone should be free to choose the religion he wants, and to aggregate with others, but this shouldn't be institutionalized like it is now (see catholic church)
beliefs should come from the person, not from a teacher or something who tells you what to believe in.

 

[ShawnD1]

Are you retarded, OP?

Constitutions are st00pid. All religion should be banned!!!!1

So basically what the OP is saying is that you're not allowed to form an organization based on similar beliefs. You and your 20 friends believe in sky daddy? Banned. You and 20 friends believe the income tax should be dropped to 20% for a certain income level? Banned. Any kind of group thinking should be banned. This forum should be illegal because it's a place where nerds get together and circle jerk the same ideas all day.

 

[Orignal Earl]

So the pilgrims fled to America to escape religious persecution.
And now your saying it's time for the religious to hit the road again.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

If the time ever comes that people like the OP come to control the government I shall take up arms against it. The tyranny he promotes is far worse than any terrorist fantasy. If I die so be it, but I will not be a slave to his state. He's a fool.

 

[kranky]

It's hard for me to understand why people who have no interest in religion even care about it enough to be against it.

It can't be because they think religion is bad for other people, because to me that seems to be the same thing as a religion in itself.

 

[heyheybooboo]

So the pilgrims fled to America to escape religious persecution.
And now your saying it's time for the religious to hit the road again.

Amen, Brother!

Individuals should be free to assemble and believe whatever they wish.

But they can cork the proselytizing and stay the heck out of government. That's why it's separate.




--

 

[Schadenfroh]

Pesky Bill of Rights, interfering with our ability to ban religion, guns, etc.. Maybe it is time to create a new constitution, afterall... the founding fathers could not foresee The Church of Latter Day Saints backing Prop 8, nor could they foresee assault rifles.

Once we have a new constitution that will allow the government to implement what is best for us, we can even redistrict the states and reduce senatorial representation from the lesser states.

Also, once that "Freedom of Speech" problem is dealt with, we can finally silence man-made global warming skeptics, vaccination advocates and GMO / GE food backers. We can then proceed to save the world from the consequences of industrialization with no fools to rally the masses against our government. Not to mention, with no "Freedom of Assembly," we will never have to see an anti-abortion rally or a tea party again!

 

[child of wonder]

Religions should not be tax-exempt. Religion should not be a protected class like race, gender, and national origin which people have no control over. People choose their religion. What we have now is just an excuse for people to do what they want, even when harmful to others, under the pretense of religious freedom. One could make up a ridiculous religion to justify any beliefs but you'd have to bow down to them in the name of religious freedom.

Agree wholeheartedly.

Religion is a business like any other.

It advertises itself on radio, billboards, TV, and printed media like any other business. It offers products and services (gathering place, meeting people, events, pathway to god, help with eternal salvation, etc.) just like any other business. It owns property and employs workers just like any other business.

And, of course, just like any other business, it would so very much like your money.

One could argue that churches contribute to charity and aren't officially "for profit" as a Wal-Mart or Starbucks, but in the eyes of the government that shouldn't matter.

They should be taxed appropriately just like any other business.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

If the time ever comes that people like the OP come to control the government I shall take up arms against it. The tyranny he promotes is far worse than any terrorist fantasy. If I die so be it, but I will not be a slave to his state. He's a fool.

this
:thumbsup:

 

[CycloWizard]

Agree wholeheartedly.

Religion is a business like any other.

It advertises itself on radio, billboards, TV, and printed media like any other business. It offers products and services (gathering place, meeting people, events, pathway to god, help with eternal salvation, etc.) just like any other business. It owns property and employs workers just like any other business.

And, of course, just like any other business, it would so very much like your money.

One could argue that churches contribute to charity and aren't officially "for profit" as a Wal-Mart or Starbucks, but in the eyes of the government that shouldn't matter.

They should be taxed appropriately just like any other business.

Except that no church that I'm aware of will kick you out even if you're a member for life and never give them a dime. Other than that though, your model is spot on.

 

[Hyraxxx]

Religion is another form of Government,

-John

Right and wrong. If it is a form of government, it is a form of voluntary government. Being that it is voluntary, outlawing it sounds like a dictatorship-ish suggestion. All religions and governments should be voluntary.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Agree wholeheartedly.

Religion is a business like any other.

It advertises itself on radio, billboards, TV, and printed media like any other business. It offers products and services (gathering place, meeting people, events, pathway to god, help with eternal salvation, etc.) just like any other business. It owns property and employs workers just like any other business.

And, of course, just like any other business, it would so very much like your money.

One could argue that churches contribute to charity and aren't officially "for profit" as a Wal-Mart or Starbucks, but in the eyes of the government that shouldn't matter.

They should be taxed appropriately just like any other business.

Churches pay payroll taxes, employment taxes, the employees pay taxes. They pay for and are subject to payroll taxes. In fact they pay a lot of taxes and fees. Where they get a break is mostly on property.

That a church is a business just like Walmart I suggest an experiment. Go to a church and attend a service- their main "product" and leave without paying. No go to Wallyworld and fill a shopping cart with their things. Walk out just like you did with the church and explain to the arresting officer that it's OK. You just came from church. Let us know how that works for you once you post bail.

 

[child of wonder]

Churches pay payroll taxes, employment taxes, the employees pay taxes. They pay for and are subject to payroll taxes. In fact they pay a lot of taxes and fees. Where they get a break is mostly on property.

That a church is a business just like Walmart I suggest an experiment. Go to a church and attend a service- their main "product" and leave without paying. No go to Wallyworld and fill a shopping cart with their things. Walk out just like you did with the church and explain to the arresting officer that it's OK. You just came from church. Let us know how that works for you once you post bail.

Please re-read my post. I specifically said churches are not the same as a "for profit" business and specifically mentioned Wal-Mart.

 

[Elfear]

If the time ever comes that people like the OP come to control the government I shall take up arms against it. The tyranny he promotes is far worse than any terrorist fantasy. If I die so be it, but I will not be a slave to his state. He's a fool.

+1

OP is downright scary.