Is there anyway to create religion-free communities?

Question

No matter where you go, where you live, religious establishments are almost certain to be a part of the community.

Its odd because religious people whine about "godlessness" all the time, as if the movement where overtaking the world, when the opposite is true.

Even in the "land of the free" you cannot raise your children in religious free zones.

What if communities were built with deed provisions (equitable servitudes) that tried to purge the deeded lands of religious influence? Anyone know the law on this?

Putting the law aside, imagine the possiblities! Without the narrow-minded cave-strictures of religious influence, we could once again replicate exponetial human achievement and cultural wealth like the tiny civilization of the Greeks.

Only 250,000 at its peek, and their was a genuis at every corner. Imagine today a place the size of Anchorage Alaska kicking out 90% of the worlds intellectual treasures.

I will dream on...

Answer 1

keep dreaming...if that could happen today it would be thousands time better than ancient greece.it sounds like utopia

Answer 2

The answer is no--you cannot have a "religion-free" community. Every society has a system of beliefs--chosen on the basis of values and preference, not proof. And MUST have such a system--as a basis for the social norms and mores that a society has to have to function.

Those belief systems are usually overtly religious. Granted, some extremists take the symbolism too far. And some use the belief system as a way to justify their own fanaticism or lust for power. But that is no less true of the systems that are not "relligious" superficially. Consider the Nazis, the Stalinist purges, China's cultural revolution.

If you don't "believe" in a religion as such, fine--but please stop pretending that a non-religious belief system is somehow "superior." Its simply another set of values--and the evidence ofany supposed "superiority" is decidedly lacking.

Answer 3

You can't create religion-free zones in the United States precicely because of the concept of religious freedom. People are free to adopt whatever religious or philosophical outlook they wish. If you wish to be completely free of religious influence, then simply don't let religion influence you. If you can't stand having it near you, then go somewhere wild, and start your own community. (This would likely need to be outside the United States as prescribing or proscribing any particular religious belief is prohibited)

Find a nice comfortable Island and start something there. Don't bring radios or TV or Internet into commune though, as this will introduce the seemingly feared religious influence.

BTW... The Greeks were religious themselves. They were not by any means free from such influence, and even in their mathematics, they worshiped it as holding some ultimate religious truth. Nor were they alone among the great intellectuals of ancient times. Too, were the Egyptians, the Arabs, the Chinese and others. The word Algebra is actually an Arabian word (or derived from one, I don't remember the etymology off hand).

Your idols had idols.

Answer 4

Religion is a double edged blade, on one hand you have a set of moral that can keep you on a great path all through your life, but then you have communities that go out seeking those that are not the same as them and try and convert them. It's a sort of war of the word going on. Personally the word should be faith and religion should be obsolete. Faith has inspired some of the greatest artistic exploits. So for that you can not hate it. There may never be a full balance, people need more than logic to get through life. But just like a lot of things it looks good on paper until you try. Not to take a shot at anybody, but communism. Good on paper, bad in practice. Human nature is something that you really can't get around.

But we can always just keep trying for the sake of the race.

Answer 5

Interesting that you use the Greeks as an example. The ancient Greeks, although pagans, were very religious people. Don't take my word for it, just read the Iliad, or go to your local museum and look at all the statues. Athens itself is named after the goddess Athena.

Contemplation of our purpose and belief in a diety are among the few things that separate us from animals. In fact, it has been suggested that human beings NEED spiritualism, and that it's a part of our make-up.

Has an atheist culture ever existed, achieved greatness, and had something to offer us? Any at all???

Answer 6

It is easy.

Kill all the religious people.

Been tried, too. Soviet Union, China, Africa, quite a few Socialist countries have slaughtered millions in the name of the "perfect state".

How interesting the results have been!

What interesting allies you have!

Fortunately, I'm not religious. Just relatively well-educated. Not TOO MUCH! After all, the same people slaughtered thousands of educated men and women who saw through what these idealists wanted and disagreed.

But as you say, better to remove everyone that disagrees with you. Who needs freedom of religion! Who needs freedom of opinion! Down with the United States ideals! Each country should have one set of ideals, and everyone has to get out or die!

Sounds good.

Let me know where to send you a ticket once I find the place that wipes out all who value religious bigotry.

Answer 7

Wow there was a genius at every corner, and they still got their butts kicked? Where are they at today?

Poor old dumb Christians - only had one real genius JC. Two thousand years later now there's been about a billion of them.

What is more they have infiltrated science. Maybe you should review the Christian contributions to scientific and mathematical advancement and get rid of all their cave-devices from your home. Guess this is the last time you will use a computer!

Answer 8

Well, in Europe (France) they have freedom "from" religion. Yes there are still religious types around, but they are looked upon as a cultural anomaly. I was a little bothered by this at first, but the more I witnessed it the more I liked it.

Answer 9

Greeks never denied existence of Gods,u mean that they just didnt have as much restrictions as todays religions apply. I believe that our society would have been much more happy having only one religion for all, and that would have kept the world in order-free of wars.

Answer 10

Whatever are you talking about? The Greeks had Gods, temples and their own form of creation mythology. Religion will not end on this Earth until all unknowns become known.

Answer 11

You know what is great about our free country is that you always have the option to leave. There is plenty of room in communist contries for people who are tired of having religion forced upon them.