Religion: pros and cons?

Question

I believe in a god however I am also a scientist and as such need proof for some things for instance there is irrefutable evidence for evolution and yet some people continue to deny it? Does blind faith benifit anyone? Surely if people did not take faith as seriously there would be fewer wars and many millions of people would still be alive, surely god would want that? Plus why do some people feel they need to shove religion down your thoat and then call you a sinner in the street when you ignore them? I'm sure god or whatever higher being there is would want everyone to get on and make thier own decision?

Linda, I know the difference my undergraduate degree was in biology, however, your reply does not answer the question and looks suspiciously like it's been lifted from an encyclopedia!

Answer 1

all you have to do is invite Jesus into your life and he will give you all the proof you will need.....God Bless<><

Answer 2

I think that there can only be cons for organised religion. It has caused some of the bloodiest wars and persecution of certain groups. I think that there is a major difference between being religious and purely spiritual. You don't need to be religious to be spiritual.

Evolution cannot be denied even though (as many people point out) it is "just" a theory. Creationists cannot come up with any credible answers and those who dabble in "intelligent design" know there is more to blind faith but can't bring themselves to look at the scientific evidence.

Answer 3

hi i beleive theres alot to be said for blind faith but i would encourage people to use both there intellect and there heart in there choice of religion ,while thats not always possible as you could be born into a faith you have to question things when your an age to. How on earth could the faith that uses adam and eve as a primary icon in there religion ever conceed that it has flaws , and accept the evolution theory. Even though it is obvious as evolution is evident in every younger generation. As well as being sketchy about the details of how one man and woman could populate a world , we would have had to be incestuous from the begining .But im not trying to give agruments against christianity because i beleive it will come to light in coming years the extent of misinformation that has been fed to us. Regarding blind faith i think it has a sectrum within it good ,bad and all the shades inbetween,i have faith of our creators work in the world and am constantly reasured of his continued presence in our live with every loving thought towards us and with coincidences that happen and just a friend saying just the right thing at the right time. Also by all the good works that loyal not corrupt church goers do in the world. There faith can crete lots of good for communities with the comunity projects of giving hampers to underpriveliged families and cleaning up litter or restoring a park or garden for the benefit of all ,the world is a better place with them in it.

Answer 4

You're right about the evidence for evolution. But you have to remember that it is only evidence. It's not enough to prove the evolution of man from lower level primates. Yahoo recently listed an article on their webpage that proves evolution took place within the finches on Galapagos Island. Don't know if you caught that or not. The point is that people have the right to believe in whatever they want. If they need to believe that an invisible man is living in the sky, then they have every right to do so. As a fellow scientist and atheist, I can assure you that this issue will not be resolved anytime soon.

Answer 5

one thing you've got wrong...there is no evidence for evolution that is why it is known as the theory of evolution. There never will be any evidence for evolution, when was the last time you saw a fish suddenly jumping out of water and breathing air....sure you may say it take millions of years but you have to draw the line somewhere! Also there is evidence to support speciation, but speciation (yes the Bible does agree with Speciation...how do you think we got the variations of animals after Noah's Ark) is not evolution, evolution is one thing changing to another! How can you say you believe in "a god" and believe in evolution, surely if evolution did occur there would be no need for this "god" which you believe in. I dont mean to insult your inteligence (but my guess is that you have not studied the Bible in depth...no taking religious education in school does not count) but some people would say that scientists are the greatest minds in the world...you need 3 C's in your A-levels to do a science degree, whereas you need an A and 2 B's to study religious education in most institutions...scientists are hardly the greatest minds in the world, they are amongst those with the lowest IQ's, and they are teaching us nonscense!you scientists believe that human beings are an accident is that any way to live?! There is also one more thing you miss, God does not provide irrefutable evidence of his existance because God wants faith, he wants people to have faith in him and not just believe in him for his miracles!

Religion does not cause wars, mislead "religious leaders" cause wars. When you think of terrorists what do you imagine? Me, I see a poor man without an education in a war torn country without a job to feed his children and someone hands him some explosives and an AK-47 and says "go kill white men and you'll have enough to feed your family"...what would you do in his position? what would you do if you had no education but some explosives training you had in national service?

These religious leaders are bound by greed and sin, they are tired of years of oppression by the west, they are blinded and use Allah as an excuse to kill.

But back to the point...

Evolution cannot happen, and it does not...think of the common domestic cat and a lion, if evolution did occur...surely the small cats would have all got larger and better predators like that of a lion, but what do you know we have small cats in our homes.

Don't be blind, don't trust science, it does not explain and prove everything!

Answer 6

You are on the right track.
Your love for science is a great thing. The world owes much to science. However, I'm afraid you will never find any empirical proof for God. As a scientist, you ought to understand that, if the universe was created, then the Creator would be outside of the universe, and not detectable by physical means.
Blind faith benefits no one. Informed faith does. People who claim to believe in Jesus Christ ought to take the time to get to know Him before they go about killing in His name or trying to shove Him down other people's throats. He would not behave in that way, nor does He wish His disciples to. Remember, there are MANY according to Jesus, who call Him Lord, but He has no idea who they are. They don't know Him, and He doesn't recognize them.
Think about it.

Answer 7

As you have not identified which of the many gods available you "believe"in, it is difficult to say whether he would want everyone "to get on and make their own decisions". The big 3, Jehovah, Allah and well, God are all very intolerant of people who doubt their authority, and are hardly examples of free thinking liberals. Perhaps you are making the mistake of making your god in your own image. I have been dammed to eternal hell fire by Christians and 2 acquaintances of mine died in the London bombs, so I am not enamoured of any religion and as a scientist you really should examine the issue a little more closely.IOther than a few artistic artifacts I can not see any "pro", in religion at all, it is all (a) "con".

Answer 8

The ratio of pros and cons are about 1:20. The evolution arguement obviously damages religion that why you get the religious leaders crawling out from under the woodwork railing against it.

Its also quite retarded when people say 'HEY I DIDNT COME FROM A MONKEY, WHAT AN INSULT' As if, just because they dont like the thought of evolution makes it any less true. With that kind of logic we'd all be holocaust deniers.

Answer 9

religion gives someone who believes guidance in their life and can help many people through tough times and tough decisions. yes there is also the argument that God doesn't exist because of all the hate out in the world at the moment but has anyone ever thought that God may be punishing people who have done bad in either this life of a past one?? some people believe and some don't and it's up to each individual ...

Answer 10

I believe that religion exists frm within us.. Pple doin evil deeds believe thatt the Devil or Demon is their God or some other super natural force is their higher power. Or even GUNS & Violence.

It doesnt matter if u're a free thinker as long as u hv a clear conscience & do good. No one has the right to judge someone juz cause they dont wana embrace a religion or say that he or she is a sinner.

Whatever scientific reasoning or happenings are created for us by God to understand how our world work & evolve to what it is today. They maybe signs by God to get us to change our negative ways.

I respect the fact that u believe that there are certain things that science can explain, however without God giving us the intelligence to learn & educate ourselves, we may never know abt how certain things work when we are allow to know it.

Answer 11

your last sentence basically sums it up, although it is more of a statement than a question.it is kind of like being given money or working hard for it. even though in both situations you have money you appreciate it more if you have to work for it than if it is just given to you.Even as a scientist you have to have faith in the data. for in most cases it is the intrepretation of the data that gives the solution. have there been times when scientists have given a solution to a problem that is accepted, only to be proven wrong at a later date? being a christian is intrepreting gods word. sometimes this causes problems, but whatever your view point it is the same for science or religion or whatever. false interpretation brings tragic circumstances.