.. wrote:
snip
worryingly, probably more than is good for it to do so. sadly, it's nigh on
impossible to reason with the deluded that following their 'imaginary friend'
and all their crazy rules, rituals and rhetoric may not be the best way to build a
safe and tolerant world (the last 2000 years of christianity proves that let alone
these newly invented cults) the sane must sit back and hope all this bull****
burns it's self out without taking us with it.

I wasn't going to get involved in this thread but since other people
seem to be up for a discussion and Chris Bacon doesn't appear to be
around...

Do you see religion as an entirely bad thing then? Wouldn't that be
ignoring the
hundreds of well-known social reformers who were motivated by their
faith thoughout history. A very brief list: Wilberforce, Booth, Mahatma
Phule, Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Martin Luther King etc etc...

Wouldn't it be ignoring the thousands of faith-based social
organisations
and the hundreds of thousands of people who work for them for low or no
wages. e.g. World Vision, Tear Fund, Christian Aid, Cafod, Pax Christi
etc etc; and the many who started out as faith-based organisations:
(Red Cross, Barnardos, Initiatives of Change etc etc)

Wouldn't it be ignoring the technological and sociotal revolutions
that have come about (or at least been accelerated by) religious
groups. eg. printing, global exploration, universal schooling etc.

Wouldn't it be ignoring the scientific studies that suggest that
believers are (generally speaking) better educated, happier, more
stable, have longer-lasting marriages and have better sex lives!
(Regardless of whether the science shows that it's "all in the mind" or
not)

And wouldn't it be ignoring the thousands of churches and other
faith-based groups thoughout this country who week by week provide
services free of charge that the government can't or won't. eg. pretty
much every church I know of has a mums & tots group, at least one youth
group; ministers of religion provide councelling and practical
assistance to needy people etc etc.

So don't you think you might be giving religious groups an unfairly
hard time?

And before you start spouting about war and religion, may I remind you
of the conflicts
we have been involved in over the last century or so. Boar War, World
War 1, World War 2, Korean War, Falklands, Iraq 1, Iraq 2. Not much
religion there.
Even Kosovo was to do with race and cultural identity rather than
religion....

Not saying all religions are helpful, or that all religious people are
good. But please don't make gross and crass generalisations.

Now, where are Andy Hall and Natural Philosopher?

Regards,

Jon.