Can someone explain to me how religion...

[Nihilistmisanthrope]

Hi my name is Christian which you will find to be quite ironic by the time you finish reading this post. I was raised a christian, grew up around a christian atmosphere and listen to christian tunes and even went to church where i could slowly but surely walk my way up the ladder. I am now older, but not too old only 16 years of age. I grew out of my theist shell and started to ask questions and stopped looking at myself and my christian brothers as superior beings. I began to think for myself and I started becoming less selfish and self involved.

There's a miniscule and partial summary of my life, but that is quite irrelevant and really all it is is babble because I didn't know how to start this little post off. I want to debate with christians how anyone can keep a straight face and say religion has caused more good then bad for the inhabitants of this planet. Now please don't tattle on me because i share a different oppinion from you that would only add to my frustration. I want to have a debate not only to try to open some eyes, but maybe to open my eyes. I won't curse or show any malice so please reply with some answers, thank you buhbye

[JDIBe]

<Straight face> Religion has caused more good than bad for the inhabitants of this planet.

What parts of the NT do you feel (Jesus' commands or Apostles' doctrine from God) have caused more harm than good for yourself and humanity?

[Splayd]

Granted there have been countless atrocities committed in the name of religion but is that symptomatic of religion or man generally? I'd suggest the latter.

Most athiests like to tout the notion that religion is responsible for so many mass killings, but it's a ludicrous point if one examines it more carefully.

Firstly - it's worth noting that most of the "religious wars" were religious only in name and not in nature. The true issue was seldom about religion and would have occured anyway under another banner were religion not available.

Secondly - the atrocities committed in the name of religion are mostly inconsistent with the religion they represent. Anyone sincerely following Christ's teaching can't justify commiting those sorts of crimes. In short - they aren't really followers of the religion they claim to represent.

Thirdly - Man's never really needed religion as an excuse to do that stuff. Hitler, Stalin and Mao Zedong were all anti-religious athiests and between them there have been many many more deaths than all of the "Christian" atrocities combined.

Peace

[Splayd]

Now please don't tattle on me because i share a different oppinion from you that would only add to my frustration. I want to have a debate not only to try to open some eyes, but maybe to open my eyes.Not to be a stickler, but's it's worth mentioning that if you aren't really a christian then you really shouldn't use the christian icon. Mostly because it's not even necessary and only draws into question your integrity and credibility anyway. What you could do is ask a mod to change your icon and move the discussion here (http://www.christianforums.com/f9-discussion-debate.html). I'd be happy to continue discussing things with you there and you'll also get arguments from christians and non-christians alike in that area.

If I've misunderstood your stance and the christian icon is absolutely legit then I apologise. Just trying to steer you in a direction that will help you the most.

Peace

[WesWoodell]

Hmmm.

I would say that 'religion' likely has caused more bad than good in this world.

And I'm a Christian.

I guess the question we need to ask ourselves is what is religion, and what did Jesus represent?

If Jesus and His life and His character represented "just another religion" - then it was pretty worthless, wasn't it?

But if there's more to it than that - if Jesus is real, and if God the Father and the Holy Spirit are real, and if what they say is true, and if we really can be transformed into something so much more than we are, then who in the world are we to let "religion" get in the way? And what does it matter if others have done horrible things in the name of "religion"?

We can't allow ourselves to be manipulated by other's sin and horrible attitudes - we must do what's right because its right regardless of what others have done.

The Bible teachings that real religion - religion that God approves of - is about love, caring for others, service, and taking care of people who can't take care of themselves.

Others have made it into something it is not, and you're allowing their sin to manipulate your attitude toward the truth.

Stop it - not only for yourself - but also for the people you'll influence in your life.

[GoldSolThumpkin]

My opinion is that religion has caused more harm that good. The reason is that harmful religion has been entirely created by mankind's imagination. Christianity is not a religion.

Having said that, I feel its a moot point. The question is irrelevant to me as I'm one of the good guys (aka Christian). The more people we have, the better. I doubt we can outweigh the bad guys until Jesus comes again, but I'm preparing for that day.

[crawfish]

I say no.

Religion is just a tool. It can be a tool for good or evil. It can be a highly effective tool for either one, but hardly required. It has been hijacked many times by evil men who want to bend it for their own purposes.

However, I do believe that religion gives an underpinning of morality that, at the very least, makes society act more orderly and better than it would without religion. So, overall, I think it's a positive.

[Mick116]

The Christian religion teaches us to live in peace with all men, and to love even our enemies... which part of that makes the world nasty place?