Do we still need Religion in the 21st Century? (Religion)

Member Name: mathomas13

Product:	Religion
Date:	11/11/08 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Gives you 'purpose'

Disadvantages: Too many to summarise

I love talking to people about religion, and questioning them, playing devils advocate. I used to be fairly passive about all religions, i have as far as i remember been atheist, yet i thought it is nice for people to beleive, feel like their not alone sometimes, and to have hope.

But then i got more cynical.

Why should i not challenge peoples beleifs i think that they are wrong, and indeed alot of their beleif has been scientifically proven wrong? If you were in a pysics lab and got asked how a plug worked, and you replied that your religion says that fairys make it work. Would that be an acceptable answer? Or would you be taught the truth, as it can be proved?

The fact that nobody dares challene someones religion is only one problem i have with this out of many! Obviously there are the more forefronted arguements concerning wars over religion, so i wont delve into that debate, only to say i agree with it!

However, i will give my opinion on those who say that religion hurts nobody, as far as my knowledge goes (which i admit that i am not an expert in all religions, so feel free to correct me), is only true for buddism. Although denominations have changed their beleifs and may seem different, if we look at the religion i am most familiar with, christianity, read the bible, god is a jealous, vindictive sexist. "Love thy neighbour" is often mis translated, and neighbour really only refers to other christians, god doesnt think you should be as nice to other 'non-christians'. (if you dont beleive me, read the bible, particularly the old testiment [before it was changed, as obviously people who reinterpreted it knew jesus/god better]).

One main problem i have with faith is that it is unquestionable, in the sense that if you tell someone of great faith that there is proof something they beleive to be wrong, they will refuse to acknowledge it. This to me is pure ignorance.

Another question i have, which i havent looked into, so if you know the answer, let me know, is why when you become a martyr in Islam, do you get 40 virgins? Why virgins?

I personally think that religion is there to cover what we dont understand. If you saw the program where a tribe from New Guini (i think) came to England, they all thought our technology and churches etc must have been made by god. In this area of scientific discovery, and quest for knowledge, do we have to credit anything not understood to a super power, or can we accept that we just havent unlocked the mystery yet?

To thos suggestions that religion gives you hope, I am hapy that people get something out of religion, and if it makes them happy then fine, but i just think that if you let go, you can be just as, if not more happy.

Anyway, i can feel myself getting into a rant as nobody has stopped me! So if you have a point you would like to leave, please do, and i shall respond to it. Dont hold back! Im a big boy, and I know that i occasionally go over the top in putting a point across!

Summary: Tell me what you think