What issues about religion are most important to you?

[Unknown Soldier]

For myself, the most important issue about religion is the harm and potential harm it does. A runner-up issue is critiquing the proposed factual and logical bases for religion. Issues that may concern some of you could be separation of church and state, religious freedom, and the cultural impact and cultural importance of religion.

 

[Tigers!]

Is it true of not.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Is it true of not.

That issue would be my "critiquing the proposed factual and logical bases for religion" which I posted in the OP. I just like truth, I suppose.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

The songs, the lame ass and unspiritual songs!

 

[Coleman Smith]

If I sold stocked based on an assertion that if you invest in the company I am selling for you will go to heaven and if you don't you will go to hell should I be prosecuted for fraud.

You get the idea.

 

[Politesse]

You mean issues in the sense of "take issue with"? By far, the co-option of religious narratives to justify hypocritical atrocities such as warfare and class oppression.

 

[Keith&Co.]

You mean issues in the sense of "take issue with"? By far, the co-option of religious narratives to justify hypocritical atrocities such as warfare and class oppression.

This.

 

[FwL]

The fact that the religious can't keep their beliefs to themselves.

 

[steve_bank]

Separation of church and state.
The right to be free from religion.

 

[Elixir]

The fact that the religious can't keep their beliefs to themselves.

That's the fault of religions, rather than The Religious.
They're only doing what they're told to do by... their religion.

 

[Fritz Langwedge]

Is it true of not.

That issue would be my "critiquing the proposed factual and logical bases for religion" which I posted in the OP. I just like truth, I suppose.

I guess I don't look at religion as comprising a set of truth claims. I look at it as a way of life. You may as well ask whether the language someone uses, or their sexuality, is "true."

I find it troublesome that religious identity maps so neatly onto cultural and ethnic divisions, and that demagogues can exploit this in order to motivate pogroms and civil wars.

 

[steve_bank]

Is it true of not.

That issue would be my "critiquing the proposed factual and logical bases for religion" which I posted in the OP. I just like truth, I suppose.

I guess I don't look at religion as comprising a set of truth claims. I look at it as a way of life. You may as well ask whether the language someone uses, or their sexuality, is "true."

I find it troublesome that religious identity maps so neatly onto cultural and ethnic divisions, and that demagogues can exploit this in order to motivate pogroms and civil wars.

A way of life based on assumed religious truths. Such as the resurrection of Jesus and an eternal afterlife.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

You mean issues in the sense of "take issue with"?

Important religious issues involve but are not limited to the following:

• Abortion
• Birth Control
• Sexual Lifestyles and Orientations
• Church Taxation
• Separation of Church and State
• The Efficacy of Prayer
• The Impact of Religion on Physical and Mental Health
• The Existence of God(s)
• Life Beyond Death
• The Credibility of Religious Claims
• The History of Religion
• Science's Impact on Religion
• Creation Versus Evolution
• The Cultural Impact of Religion

By far, the co-option of religious narratives to justify hypocritical atrocities such as warfare and class oppression.

Many Christian apologists bring up this issue. As many people see it, religion cannot be justifiably blamed for violence it appears to incite because those who perpetrate such violence are not truly representing that religion. For example, after 9/11, then President George W. Bush stated publicly that Islam is "a religion of peace" implying that Islam is not to blame for the attacks. Personally, I think Bush said so because he wanted to avoid a holy war with Islam.

 

[Politesse]

Personally, I think Bush said so because he wanted to avoid a holy war with Islam.

I wish all US presidents had such tact.

 

[steve_bank]

There are beliefs, and there are organized regions with agendas. The former I have no issue with, the latter I do.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

The fact that the religious can't keep their beliefs to themselves.

Yes, I've encountered religious evangelists who go after me to convince me that they are right, and when I respond telling them they are wrong, I get criticized for bothering those poor evangelists!

It's like football penalties: It's not the player who hits who gets the penalty but the guy who hits back.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Personally, I think Bush said so because he wanted to avoid a holy war with Islam.

I wish all US presidents had such tact.

So you wish that all US presidents lie about religion.

 

[Fritz Langwedge]

By far, the co-option of religious narratives to justify hypocritical atrocities such as warfare and class oppression.

Many Christian apologists bring up this issue. As many people see it, religion cannot be justifiably blamed for violence it appears to incite because those who perpetrate such violence are not truly representing that religion. For example, after 9/11, then President George W. Bush stated publicly that Islam is "a religion of peace" implying that Islam is not to blame for the attacks. Personally, I think Bush said so because he wanted to avoid a holy war with Islam.

Well, it seems absurd to me to blame violence solely on people's beliefs in The Big G. You may as well blame the murder rate on people's incorrect beliefs about where knife points and bullets belong; it ignores so much cultural and socioeconomic context that it's absurd.

 

[Politesse]

Personally, I think Bush said so because he wanted to avoid a holy war with Islam.

I wish all US presidents had such tact.

So you wish that all US presidents lie about religion.

I disagree that yours is the only interpretation of religious faith, but if it prevents a catastrophic war with no possiblity of meaningful victory? Yes, of course. I'm sorry that his actions contradicted his words. I'm sorry that we're still tied up in these horrifying messes all around the world. I grieve that his base ignored him and carried out attacks on innocents in the weeks that followed. I grieve that he had no sway to begin with over the beliefs of the jihaadi groups that amorally began three decades of violence with a few vicious acts of cruelty. I grieve that my students had to grow up in a world at war, and now sit poised at the edge of another, just as pointless. You've no idea how many "lies" I would happily tell were I in a position to thereby prevent such horrors.

 

[steve_bank]

When GWB met Putin, Putin wore a visible crucifix. Obviosly palying to Bush's well onow beliefs.

GWB said something like he looked into Putin's soul and saw a good person.

It is near impossible in the USA to get elected national without professing a religious faith. Certainly not if you are critical of religion. Without being religious Buttigieg being gay would not have gotten as far as he did running for president.

The film of JFK being questioned by Christians on hispossible allegiance to the pope over the USA may be on line. Getting elected as a Catholic president in the past has been difficult.

In the 90s the pope threatened Catholic politicians with loss of sacraments if they did not vote the Vatican line. More recently there was an attempt to influence Biden.

Organized religion is far from harmless.

Not all Israelis are Zionists, Netanyahu is. He plainly on cameras rationalized colonizing the West Bank based on the idea god gave the land to the Jews.

Hindu vs Muslim, Pakistan vs India. They shoot at each oter once in a while. Shia vs Sunni, Saudia Arabia vs Persia aka Iran. The destruction in Yemen.

Beliefs are fine, throughout human history organized religion has been a source of conflict and oppression.

Ex Brit PM Blair said reilgion shoud not be part of politics.