If religion creates harm, how can we avoid humiliating religious people, but challenge the root problem?

Question

"Ad hominem" attacks (tactics that focus on the person instead of the idea) are distracting, unkind, and usually suggest the attacker has a weak or poorly thought-out argument. In this forum, calling Christians "idiots" only provokes useless verbal fights that don't win any ground and leave everyone feeling more cut off from one another than before.

So how can we address the real core of the harmful ideas of religion without resorting to "slash & burn" tactics?

Answer 1

From what I understand, Sam Harris' new book "Letter To A Christian Nation" does exactly that. I plan to pick up a copy this weekend...

Answer 2

This is a great question. Thanks for asking.

I am a Christian and I feel bad for Christians who attack non Christians. I also feel bad for non Christians who attack Christians.

I do not agree that religion creates harm. There are problems that some people who are religious have. Some religious people also cause problems for others who do not have the same belief system they have.

People who disrespect another person's right to practice the religion of their choice also have certain problems.

The need to control others is a problem. I think that a lack of respect and the need to control is at the root of the problem you have addressed. I see it everywhere I go, in many cultures and lifestyles and in many different types of religions.

Interaction with people who have different opinions than we do can be a very healthy thing to do if it is done respectfully.

Sometimes if we are not healed from childhood abuses no mater how small, other's opinions remind us of our pain and we lash out.

I think that education, inner healing, respect and acceptance will help with the issues you have addressed.

It is refreshing to have a thought-provoking question in the religious section.

Answer 3

By making it clear that you're attacking the problem, not the victims. I often compare religions to a cancer, and believers to people who are ill with it. The problem is that some people inside the church, claim that 'we ARE the church', so that all criticism aimed at the institution is made to be taken 'ad hominem' by many believers. It's those guys who make things blurry. Basically, I think knowing who you are makes the trick. I have a lifetime (well, 35 years, anyway) of hardly attacking religions and of dearly respecting many Christians. On the internet, where most of us don't know each other, it gets more difficult. But it's worth trying.

Answer 4

It's not religion that's the cause of the problems, it's people trying to use it for their own ends. Unfortunately, there's an awful lot of those.

I don't call Christians idiots (I am one), but I have much stronger terms for those pseudo-christians who are obsessed with hate and discrimination.

Read the Bible, read about Jesus with an open mind, and then look at the current crop of shouters and ravers.

Any idiot can claim religion. It needs something special to have Faith.

Any idiot can

Answer 5

Who said "religion creates harm"? Only people that are totally ignorant of what "religion" and Christianity are. Religion and Christianity are not the same thing. Seems to me there are a lot more things in the world that need fixing than trying to "address the harmful ideas of religion" That sounds pretty ominous to me, especially when it's Godless people who are going to do the fixing. Like Germany in 1938.

Answer 6

I think that your premise that religion creates harm is false. I wouldn't go as far to say "religion creates harm" but that "religion can be harmful." Your blanket statment denies the work that so many religious charities and churches have done all the world. Before you can address anything, stop making hasty generalization about relgion, which is also a fallacy.

Answer 7

it's the People, stupid

while they may subscribe to a religion, they still have the power to choose whether or not to give into the compulsions they think are mandated by thier faith

the teachings of religion tends to polarize us and divide us against each other

it's the people that pull the trigger who are to be held responsible

but try and remove the preachers of the ilk or ideas we call religion and that's a whole separate issue...they should be free to speak, but not free to use words to cause harm and division or inspire hate and wars

Answer 8

We can't solve this only God can and it will happen when Jesus returns. It's sad that people who were once in religion cause harm to those who are in religion yet they show that they have no intention of letting religion go. How Sick!
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Answer 9

Religion is a mind virus. We need to attack that virus not it's carriers. The best we can do is to shine a spotlight on the religions and show them for what they are warts and all.

Answer 10

Education.