10 Reasons you should never have a religion

by Batman89 15 Replies latest jw friends

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  Apognophos

  Unfortunately it's a case of preaching to the choir since the arrogant tone of the article will turn off anyone who is attached to an organized religion. It seems to be better suited for non-religious people who want to pat themselves on the back for being 'smarter' than the common man.

  The statement about "blessed are the poor, hungry, etc." being used to encourage people to donate money might be true now, but it overlooks the original purpose of the statement, made before there was a central Church to donate to. This aspect of Jesus' message was a poverty gospel. In other words, the message was intended to make poor people feel better about their lot in life.

  This is still an important purpose of religion; it's not simply that well-to-do people are too well-educated to believe in religion, it's that people who are disadvantaged feel like they need a friend in a high place just in order to get through life. So it's all well and good to say that people should know better than to believe in God, but I don't see how it helps those who are needy and don't know where else to turn.
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  Dis-Member

  Preaching to the choir is not such a bad thing.. it helps keep them in tune.
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  apostatethunder

  All societies have their own traditions and rituals, even secular ones.

  There is a difference between a religion that educates, dignifies and empowers individuals, families and communities and a philosophy that manipulates, enslaves and degrades human beings sometimes in the name of freedom.

  Our culture is the result of how we understand history, and religion plays a big role in both our history and our self-awareness, (or lack of).

  Sociopaths take advantage of other people's poverty, economic but also intellectual or cultural, that is why they tend to promote it and that is why it is easy to recognize them.

  
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  losingit

  Marked
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  LisaRose

  By putting forth confusing and internally conflicting information, your logical mind (i.e. your neocortex) is overwhelmed. You try in vain to integrate such contradictory beliefs, but it can’t be done. The net effect is that your logical mind disengages because it can’t find a pattern of core truth beneath all the nonsense, so without the help of your neocortex, you devolve to a more primitive (i.e. limbic) mode of thinking. You’re taught that this faith-based approach is a more spiritual and conscious way to live, but in reality it’s precisely the opposite. Getting you to distrust your own cerebral cortex actually makes you dumber and easier to manipulate and control. Karl Marx was right when he said, “Religion is the opiate of the people.”

  Much of this is a bit extreme, but think there is some truth to this. Especially for those in a cult like the JWs, they have so conditioned a person's mind that they cannot adequately reason and see the logical fallacies of their own faith. It explains why otherwise intelligent people can be manipulated just as much as anyone else. The cult induced fear (of Armageddon, apostates, demons, getting disfellowshipped) causes the higher functioning parts of the brain to shut down. It's why even inactive JWs, when faced with something fearful such as a natural disaster or alarming news event, will go scurrying back to the kingdom hall. It doesn't seem logical because it isn't. It's why your JW relatives often shut down and go into fear mode. They may not even be aware of what is making them so uncomfortable.

  I was reading recently about the primitive brain and why it sometimes takes over. When faced with an emergency like a car crash, or even someone cutting you off in traffic, the primitive brain responds much faster than the other parts of your brain, the "flight or fight" response that sends your adrenalin into overdrive. It explains road rage, how otherwise rational people do crazy things. It's something that would have been an evolutionary advantage, but isn't so much of an advantage in today's society.
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  jhine

  Batman 89 , you have read this article , seem to have agreed with it and shared it with the forum . Can I ask why you agreed with it ? What PERSONAL experience do you have with religious groups (other than the Watchtower ) on which you base your agreement with this article ? Indeed to all of the posters who feel that the comments are accurate about all organised religion I would ask the question "what personal experience do have of religion apart from the Watchtower ? "

  If I went into my local Tesco and got really shoddy service from a rude assistant and then told everyone that all Tescos are to be avoided that would be unfair and inacurate .

  I read the OP yesterday and was in the process of doing so when a friend of mine who happens to be a lay reader at my church , the local Anglican , came by . I asked her to read it too . We would both found the points made to be totally at odds with our experience of church life . Indeed of Christian life in general . I am a 40 year member of an organised religion that is not Watchtower . I have never been restricted in my reading , learning , indeed our children are encouraged to go to university and expand their horizons , mixing with those outside of our church group or any aspect of my life .

  I have been a long time in posting because I have been trying to find a polite way to comment on the article . the best I can manage is RUBBISH . Not overly polite I know but alternatives were worse .

  I am speaking from mine (and my friends ) own experience . What is yours , I am genuinely interested .

  Jan