[Merged]All religions are idiocy

DanishDynamite

Penultimate Amazing
DanishDynamite
Joined
Aug 10, 2001
Messages
10,752
It boggles my mind that anyone could believe in any religion anywhere.

Could a believer please explain why and what he/she believes in?
 
I'm not a believer, but I recognize that I am in the vast minority.

But humans are very fearful organisms with this big brain that keeps thinking up all sorts of scary and very creative scenarios. It may be quite natural that they also think up some protection against these scenarios. There is some evidence that susceptibility to religious thought may even be part of our biological makeup.

No, it is not logical. Logic is a fairly recent addition to our mental arsenal.
 
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Well, I'm a Buddhist. Thank you for calling me an idiot. Is there anything else you'd like to call me?

If you want to know what I believe in, that's a pretty insulting way to ask. Go look it up on Wikipedia instead, or check out www.4truths.com.
 
Ryokan said:
Well, I'm a Buddhist. Thank you for calling me an idiot. Is there anything else you'd like to call me?

If you want to know what I believe in, that's a pretty insulting way to ask. Go look it up on Wikipedia instead, or check out www.4truths.com.
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This is an interesting response, as The Atheist and I had an argument a disagreement about a year ago as to whether or not Buddhism (and Taoism) is (are) religion(s). :)
 
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Ryokan said:
Well, I'm a Buddhist. Thank you for calling me an idiot. Is there anything else you'd like to call me?

If you want to know what I believe in, that's a pretty insulting way to ask. Go look it up on Wikipedia instead, or check out www.4truths.com.
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LOL. I thought Buddhism wasn't a religion? No gods, right? So it's just a philosophy. Yeah, I know it gets called a religion, but so does atheism, so don't get your toga in a wad.:D

***
ETA:
And damn Hokulele for beating me to the punch.
 
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Hokulele said:
This is an interesting response, as The Atheist and I had an argument a disagreement about a year ago as to whether or not Buddhism (and Taoism) is (are) religion(s). :)
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Well, yes, it could be argued that they are philosophies rather than religions, although some forms of Buddhism, like Tibetan Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are quite clearly religions.

However, if asked what my religion is, I will answer Buddhism.

Tricky said:
LOL. I thought Buddhism wasn't a religion? No gods, right? So it's just a philosophy. Yeah, I know it gets called a religion, but so does atheism, so don't get your toga in a wad.:D
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Well, a lot of religions don't have gods, especially eastern ones. I think. At least, the consensus is that they're religion. But I have never seen a definition of religion that will fit with both Christianity and Buddhism.

Anyway, many forms of Buddhism do have gods or other supernatural elements.

My point? I have no idea. It's all off topic, anyway.

Back to DanishDynamite telling people they are idiots and then explain to him what they believe.
 
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I believe in religions, there is ample evidence that they exist. Do you mean belief in God is idiocy? Because that does not include all religions.
If you really do mean 'religions' - I believe that they are a powerful force in the world, and whether they are clever or idiotic depends on what side you are on, like patriotism.

If you mean god: it depends on the individual, but if thinking that there is someone watching over you lowers your stress level and helps you function in society, it would not be idiotic to believe. I would argue that we believe lots of crazy things because it makes us feel better. For example, I am certain that many of us are in denial about how dangerous driving a car really is. Since we have to drive, it would not be helpful to be freaking out and updating our will everytime we went anywhere.
 
I can't really remember what the final verdict was, but the two methods of determining religion vs. philosophy that were proposed were whether or not it was listed as a religion on a government census form (which would technically make atheism a religion in the USA), or how the practitioner felt about it.

I wonder how DD views this question . . .

ETA: This was addressed to Ryokan and the OP, I didn't notice Smackety posting while I was composing, and Tricky is not deserving of a response.
 
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Ryokan said:
Well, I'm a Buddhist. Thank you for calling me an idiot. Is there anything else you'd like to call me?
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If you are religious, you are an idiot. My understanding of Buddishm is that it isn't a religion, though. Perhaps I'm wrong?
If you want to know what I believe in, that's a pretty insulting way to ask. Go look it up on Wikipedia instead, or check out www.4truths.com.
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Do you believe in any form of God?
 
Ryokan said:
Well, yes, it could be argued that they are philosophies rather than religions, although some forms of Buddhism, like Tibetan Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism are quite clearly religions.

However, if asked what my religion is, I will answer Buddhism.



Well, a lot of religions don't have gods, especially eastern ones. I think. At least, the consensus is that they're religion. But I have never seen a definition of religion that will fit with both Christianity and Buddhism.

Anyway, many forms of Buddhism do have gods or other supernatural elements.

My point? I have no idea. It's all off topic, anyway.

Back to DanishDynamite telling people they are idiots and then explain to him what they believe.
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Do you believe in some form of God? Simple question.
 
Smackety said:
I believe in religions, there is ample evidence that they exist. Do you mean belief in God is idiocy?
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Yes, in any form at all.
Because that does not include all religions.
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Name one.
If you really do mean 'religions' - I believe that they are a powerful force in the world, and whether they are clever or idiotic depends on what side you are on, like patriotism.

If you mean god: it depends on the individual, but if thinking that there is someone watching over you lowers your stress level and helps you function in society, it would not be idiotic to believe. I would argue that we believe lots of crazy things because it makes us feel better. For example, I am certain that many of us are in denial about how dangerous driving a car really is. Since we have to drive, it would not be helpful to be freaking out and updating our will everytime we went anywhere.
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I mean believing in any form of god. Which is of course idiocy.
 
Hokulele said:
I can't really remember what the final verdict was, but the two methods of determining religion vs. philosophy that were proposed were whether or not it was listed as a religion on a government census form (which would technically make atheism a religion in the USA), or how the practitioner felt about it.

I wonder how DD views this question . . .

ETA: This was addressed to Ryokan and the OP, I didn't notice Smackety posting while I was composing, and Tricky is not deserving of a response.
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If any form of God is involved, with "God" defined as it is in any dictionary, then it is pure idiocy.
 
DanishDynamite said:
Do you believe in any form of God?
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No. I'm an atheist.

Many religions don't have any gods. If it's the theists you're after, then by all means.

DanishDynamite said:
If any form of God is involved, with "God" defined as it is in any dictionary, then it is pure idiocy.
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Now that you've insulted believers again, do you still want them to politely explain to you exactly what they believe?
 
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You know, I have NEVER been able to figure out why so many people have such a poor impression of skeptics and atheists.

Nope, never been able to figure it out.
 
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DanishDynamite said:
If any form of God is involved, with "God" defined as it is in any dictionary, then it is pure idiocy.
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Hmm, so you appear to be more concerned with theism than religion. Got it. It would have been helpful if you had worded your OP to indicate such.

BTW, many practicing Shinto priests would be very surprised to find out they are not religious by your definition, as would many practicing animists . . .

ETA: OK, Ryokan beat me to it this time.
 
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Ryokan said:
No. I'm an atheist.

Many religions don't have any gods. If it's the theists you're after, then by all means.
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If you are an atheist you are not religious. So what is your beef?
Now that you've insulted believers again, do you still want them to politely explain to you exactly what they believe?
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I want them to explain, yes. Whether they are insulted or not isn't relevant.
 
Normal Dude said:
You know, I have NEVER been able to figure out why so many people have such a poor impression of skeptics and atheists.

Nope, never been able to figure it out.
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And I have never understood why believers are believers. I hope they can explain here.
 
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