Discussion of religion in the context of LGBTQ+ rights is only allowed in this thread.
Discussion of religion in any other context is off topic in all of the "LGBTQ+ rights..." threads.
Attempting to bait others into bringing up religion is also not allowed.
Edited by Mrph1 on Dec 1st 2023 at 6:52:14 PM
As long as religion is around, though, I'd expect people to organise themselves into small groups just to meet with others of the same faith, and these to grow and communicate, and so on; therefore, getting rid of organised religion in some senses may not work. Would, say, Buddhism be considered an organised religion, though? What about tiny denominations of Christianity?
That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.I want theistic religion to die out. Not because I have any problem with religion, but because I find it inaccurate, and I want inaccurate beliefs to die out, so I want theistic religion to die out, just as I want creationism to die out. That being said, I don't think we should legislate against religion. Instead, we should teach people how to be skeptical and how to apply that to everything, even religion.
Why would I want religion to die out? I don't want the Babylon Five fanbase to die out, and I hold both in about equal regard.
edited 12th Dec '12 9:52:26 AM by RadicalTaoist
Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.Dont forget that some mainline Christian denominations actually perform same-sex marriages, such as the United Church of Christ. The Episcopal Church doesn't do that yet, but it's pretty obvious to me that they are heading that way. Don't give up on organized Xianity just yet.
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.Just let sci fi fandoms be treated as sci fi fandoms geeze.
(This includes their separation from politics. I'm not voting for a bad candidate just because he's a fellow Browncoat.)
Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.I'm simply pointing out that the same-sex marriage issue by itself isn't necessarily a reason to write of all Christianity just yet. Attendance at non-fundamentalist churches is falling, said churches are in competition for members, I have a feeling various denomination are going to come around.
As for comparing Xianity to belief in ghosts, or sci-fi, that's an interesting debate, but off topic here. The final epic battle between the people of the faith and the "Secular Militant" will have to wait.
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.This is true. There are plenty of other reasons. The biggest for me being "I'm not sure your god exists, or if I would worship him if he did." That's a pretty important prerequisite from my experience.
I doubt the world would be a better place without religion. People who follow religion are capable of using it for good things, and it can uplift people to better themselves, and help others. It can foster communities, and provide spiritual, and mental comfort to people who badly need it.
On the same side, religion can be used to justify all of the dark, negative desires and hatred that we all, religious, gay, straight, white, black, whatever, all humans possess. That's the kind of religion that no sane person likes. Religion isn't an excuse for bigotry, or it shouldn't be.
The sad thing is, even without religion, people would find a new scapegoat, something to put the blame on to justify their darker side. Religion is really just a tool.
(
Heh. Yeah.)
edited 12th Dec '12 11:53:54 AM by DrTentacles
@Morg: By "write off" I meant "give up on as eternally antagonistic to homosexuals". Should have been clearer. I'm making the assumption that many people would have less of a problem with Xianity if more churches conducted same-sex marriages. I'm not expecting massive conversion, just a lessening of mutual hostilities.
@Dr.: Presuming you meant "without"?
edited 12th Dec '12 11:47:14 AM by DeMarquis
I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.not-sure-if-slight-against-Babylon-5-fans.jpg
edited 12th Dec '12 2:58:06 PM by pagad
With cannon shot and gun blast smash the alien. With laser beam and searing plasma scatter the alien to the stars.I would like for everyone to have the opportunity to become a god.
I vowed, and so did you: Beyond this wall- we would make it through.@pagad: If I used Twilight, which was what came to mind first, I would derail the thread even more than it already is.
SO BOUT THEM HOMOSEXUALS
Share it so that people can get into this conversation, 'cause we're not the only ones who think like this.Please keep in mind that there are people who hold their religious beliefs very close to their heart, so much so that walking up to one and telling them that you want religion to die out would be akin to walking up to them and telling them that you want their pet/child/parents/siblings to die. Those who want religious views to die out are not considering the emotions and feelings of the religious, similar to how those who want atheism to die out are not considering the emotions and feelings of the non-theistic.
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Yeah. I think it's a bit rude, but at least they're honest about it. I'm staunchly atheist, but I think wishing religion to die is a bit much. I'd like everyone to believe in what gives them the most happiest, while hurting others the least. In some cases, that's religion.
I also think the Bible, the Koran, and other religious books are such an important part of our culture, that we'd all be made the less for their removal. If you take the time to read them, it's easy to be impressed on a purely artistic level, thinking of all the history and work that humans put into these things. Pretty much all holy books are Epic in the original sense of the word.
edited 12th Dec '12 4:47:49 PM by DrTentacles
I was unsure of where to put this. Since this will have an effect on religion in one way or another as well as politics I thought I would share it here and in the U.S. Politics thread.
Strong possiblity that proof that our genes and how they are expressed are linked to sexual orientation
Further testing is needed but it looks like there is a good chance this might be proven.
If anything, I find the "let the poor religious people believe what they believe, they cannot handle the truth" perspective rather more offensive: I'm not Christian because I'm too weak-minded to cope with the idea of a godless universe, I'm Christian because I think that Christianity is true.
Similarly, I do wish that atheism and modern materialism would disappear; and if there were people who held that Babylon 5 is a factual account, I'd most certainly wish them to learn that that's not the case.
Concern for other people's feelings is a fine thing, but it should never trump one's concern for truth.
EDIT: Back to homosexuality and religion: this
is making me very angry. Long story short, a teenager who posted on facebook in support of same-sex marriage has been denied the Sacrament of Confirmation from his parish. As a Catholic, I find this deeply concerning.
edited 12th Dec '12 7:50:17 PM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.I would like for religion to die out. Nobody worships the Babylonian, Egyptian, Aztec or Roman gods anymore. Really, the only difference between atheists and monotheists is that monotheists believe in one god, and atheists believe in none. Humanity has worshipped thousands of gods, after all.
Good. The more people that churches reject, the fewer people there are who mindlessly follow whatever their preachers say.
edited 12th Dec '12 7:42:26 PM by Lawyerdude
What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly.edited 12th Dec '12 7:46:49 PM by Carciofus
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.You can be a catholic without agreeing on all their stances.
I'm one of those. I am specifically catholic, but I don't agree with my original church's stance on homosexuality. And even if I still supported them in general, I would just agree with certain parts.
It depends if the bad outweighs the good or not in this case. Only refusing to marry a homosexual couple alone would not be enough to denounce it all. Unless they went beyond that to actually hurt homosexuals in some way. It's a matter of context more than just "I don't like that stance." It's not black and white.
Quest 64 thread

I only want organized religion gone. People should settle conflicts of faith and morality with themselves, not on the words of a charismatic preacher or a thousand year out of date book.