Religion

LTX

(1,020 posts)

51. Certainly. And I think fear of death plays a large role as one ages.

Sun May 17, 2015, 12:05 PM

May 2015

Which corresponds with survey results showing that religious convictions increase with age.

http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/04/18/belief-god-rises-age-even-atheist-nations

But that seems like only part of the equation. After all, religion isn't exclusively an after-58 phenomenon, and fear of death is notoriously lacking in youth. I tend to think that identity indeed has a significant role to play.

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Reza Aslan: It’s not God’s fault if you use religion to justify hate — you’re just a bigot [View all] cbayer May 2015 OP

Which still fails to address skepticscott May 2015 #1

That's the great thing about the bible. You get to pick and choose which parts to believe Major Nikon May 2015 #10

To be fair, the Bible never says Mariana May 2015 #20

Sure, your children are optional. Other people, not so much. Major Nikon May 2015 #21

The only moral thing to say about slavery Mariana May 2015 #28

So why is religion such a persistent phenomenon? LTX May 2015 #46

Are you going to answer any of my questions? skepticscott May 2015 #48

The obvious answer to all of your leading questions is that religion is completely unnecessary. LTX May 2015 #49

Try fear and guilt for starters skepticscott May 2015 #50

Certainly. And I think fear of death plays a large role as one ages. LTX May 2015 #51

Children can be indoctrinated into fear at a very young age skepticscott May 2015 #66

Case in point skepticscott May 2015 #72

Here's another. rug May 2015 #73

Exactly!! nruthie May 2015 #2

I think many share your view. cbayer May 2015 #4

Welcome to DU, nruthie! calimary May 2015 #6

Yep, and the misogyny found in the bible can be accounted for by the cultural cbayer May 2015 #11

So if "god" didn't write the Bible skepticscott May 2015 #9

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack May 2015 #22

Anti-theists don't need god skepticscott May 2015 #25

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack May 2015 #33

Poor Tack skepticscott May 2015 #39

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack May 2015 #52

Poor Tack skepticscott May 2015 #55

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack May 2015 #61

Poor Tack..Did you really spend all that time skepticscott May 2015 #63

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack May 2015 #64

Greater than 40ft? Rent the house in Italy? Warren Stupidity May 2015 #58

This message was self-deleted by its author Starboard Tack May 2015 #62

And gone.... skepticscott May 2015 #67

Well that was quite the meltdown. Warren Stupidity May 2015 #69

And if that is the case, what's the point of religion? Bluenorthwest May 2015 #3

Diffusion of responsiblity Thor_MN May 2015 #5

The point of religion is spiritual growth and awareness. Maedhros May 2015 #101

without an utmost focus on compassion, respect for difference, BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #7

Do you think that for some, religion provides them with the cbayer May 2015 #13

in religions where the fundamental doctrines are so contradictory, BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #14

Your description of Nichiren Buddhism is really interesting. cbayer May 2015 #15

thanks! I edited...added a paragraph while you were reading. BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #16

Here is the link - rug just posted this. cbayer May 2015 #17

thanks, that was an interesting article! BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #18

Is that the branch that chants "nam myoho renge kyo" before a gohonzon? rug May 2015 #34

yep, that's the core practice. BlancheSplanchnik May 2015 #37

I sat with a few of them when it first became popular in the U.S. rug May 2015 #41

I was told that if you left the religion/practice you'd be cursed for life. haikugal May 2015 #82

I think you mean "identify", mr blur May 2015 #19

People are fooled into thinking that they need "god" for all of that skepticscott May 2015 #27

"If you're a violent misogynist, you will find plenty.... MellowDem May 2015 #8

"If you’re a peaceful feminist, you will find just as much in those scriptures to justify your cbayer May 2015 #12

It's not blindness Leontius May 2015 #23

And yet you argue all the time that people need texts skepticscott May 2015 #26

I honestly don't know what point you're making? MellowDem May 2015 #40

But you do cherry pick, just like you accuse others of doing. cbayer May 2015 #42

I'm not cherry picking... MellowDem May 2015 #43

But it does matter how much good there is. cbayer May 2015 #44

In what situation... MellowDem May 2015 #45

This is where the cherry picking comes in. cbayer May 2015 #47

Yes, where the cherry picking comes in for believers... MellowDem May 2015 #53

The good is not an excuse, it's just a part of it. cbayer May 2015 #54

Being a citizen of a country... MellowDem May 2015 #65

That people can cherry pick is evidence that no text exists that is the direct word of any god. snagglepuss May 2015 #56

Agree and I would take issue with anyone who claims that the texts cbayer May 2015 #57

There is next to nothing in the patriarchal abrahamic religious texts that can honestly Warren Stupidity May 2015 #59

Why would phil89 May 2015 #89

Because it was written down by greatly flawed humans. cbayer May 2015 #90

It's so easy to explain away the parts you don't like! trotsky May 2015 #93

So God didn't inspire phil89 May 2015 #94

I don't really know anything about any god, but I don't cbayer May 2015 #97

Why tack on such a b.s. insult, cbayer? trotsky May 2015 #98

He makes some very good points here. hrmjustin May 2015 #24

Glad you liked it. cbayer May 2015 #29

Agreed and i like his point about crediting religion for its good moments. hrmjustin May 2015 #30

Yes, you can't have it both ways. cbayer May 2015 #31

Agreed! In more ways then one. hrmjustin May 2015 #32

It's not God's fault if Reza Aslan is dishonest. Yorktown May 2015 #35

The Christian bible is worse. Not only must you kill other believers, but their livestock as well. Major Nikon May 2015 #36

Yes, the Torah is one source of the violence of the Quran Yorktown May 2015 #38

yeah but that is just your interpretation of those passages Warren Stupidity May 2015 #60

Yes, it stumps me all the time Yorktown May 2015 #68

Because it's perfectly fine to cherry-pick! trotsky May 2015 #95

And for those who don't like cherries? Yorktown May 2015 #99

I have also phil89 May 2015 #91

Are you an afairyist? Yorktown May 2015 #100

The quote that seems to most apply here... gcomeau May 2015 #70

Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride do the job just as well, if not better. rug May 2015 #71

I never understood the 7 deadly sins thing... Humanist_Activist May 2015 #74

Remove the word "sin" and they are still far from human ideals. rug May 2015 #75

When they interfere with healthy functioning, both for the person who has... Humanist_Activist May 2015 #87

The reasoning behind it Sobax May 2015 #78

Except there's no evidence for a "soul" phil89 May 2015 #92

I'm just explaining their worldview Sobax May 2015 #96

I should also add Sobax May 2015 #79

Reading about how these sins are described by medieval scholars is illuminating... Humanist_Activist May 2015 #85

If free will exists, its scope is very narrow Sobax May 2015 #86

Yes, but those instincts aren't bad, nor necessarily to be avoided... Humanist_Activist May 2015 #88

Right nil desperandum May 2015 #76

Why does credit for evil trump good every time? cbayer May 2015 #77

Indeed nil desperandum May 2015 #80

You are twisting the words. I didn't say we don't hold them accountable. cbayer May 2015 #81

Accountability nil desperandum May 2015 #83

The military service awards project sounds like it would be very challenging. cbayer May 2015 #84