Are there any Atheists like me who, when they think of the hindrance of religion on our progress, almost cry?

Question

Technological advancement is like a wheel rolling along a narrow track – once the wheel has started rolling, it can’t be stopped. The diameter of the wheel keeps growing as our technology increases. Anything that retards the wheels advancement risks causing irrevocable death wobbles.

By its inherent nature, religion retards advancement of any kind. When I think of how much religion has hindered our progression throughout history and how much it still infuriatingly continues to do, it brings a tear to my eye.

Answer 1

religion prevented us from stem cell research, it causes suicide bombers, it caused slavory, it killed a whole bunch of people in the spanish inquisition, and Bush used religion to become president again, it also causes wars.

to all religious people.......the next time you get sick, or break your leg, or need surgery, please dont go to the hospital....instead pray to your god to heal you....lets see if it works....lets see if god can give u surgery or make your leg better.......

Answer 2

Sorry but I wouldn't go that far.

There are some social developments that were incredibly hindered by religion, such as women's rights, gay rights and slavery, all the movements were impeded by religious opposition claiming holy authority to keep things the same.

But technology is now seperate from church. no longer are scientists put under house arrest for their theories, there is a large comunity and huge funding. Even if Gallileo had been given his full credit, we probably wouldn't have gone to the moon any sooner.

Finally, while I don't support religion imposing it's beliefs on others, science does ee dto step up on regarding what is morally acceptable. In the cases of human cloning and so on there's a complicated debate, and the scientists aren't levelling their full share of the moral side of the argument. If science could show that they don't need religion to make good moral decisions then that might loosen it's hold a little.

Answer 3

It is balance in a society that keeps it from going extreme and if nothing else religion keeps science in line. You think that science is totally objective and infalible, and it is not. There are many flaws in the system and in the ethics and values. Like any other phylosophy of life it needs controls also. Religion will "retard" any advancement that steps on moral values or ethical standards or just simply tries to prove a view without considering all angles. Science is very narrowminded in the hands of narrowminded scientists. There is an unbelieveable amount of evidence to show that the natural realm is not all there is. There are spiritual and physic events taking place all the time that are totally documented but science closes its eyes to it because it is not 'in the natural realm. Science needs controls too.

Answer 4

Generally speaking, I think technology is rolling along reasonably well in most parts of the world. Possibly even too fast.

I'm much more concerned about how ancient irrational beliefs retard our ability to think sensibly and morally about the world around us - including the ramfications of the technologies we have developed.

Answer 5

Yes, It's sad, but without religion, there wouldn't be as much of a balance.. Think about it, think of the wars that happened b/c of religion, but ended up pushing us further in the furture... Around this time though? No, religion can leave.



http://stupidevilbastard.com/Images2/sciencevsfaith.png

Answer 6

As a fellow Atheist I share your feeling and opinion. In my view the more educated and less indoctrinated people become, religion loses its power. It took millenniums to fool the masses, it will take hundreds of years before religion is unlearned. But look at the [western and asian] educated societies and see a significant drop in religion. Many people are mute, but once a critical mass has reached, religion and it's false gods start crubling. Be good be nice

Answer 7

As a Mormon, I feel strong pain at the hindrances religion has put on our lives.

Even moreso, I grieve the loss of enjoyment of life foisted upon everyone (atheist & otherwise) by our current culture's avarice and how thoroughly and subtly it is incorporated into our lives.

I went into a grocery store the other day...saw at least 20 'thank you signs' drawn by elementary school kids. Each sign thanked the store for providing to the needy. Kids spent TIME in school being taught the lesson of dependence on corporate entities to deal with social needs (shouldn't they be learning math, science, creativity, dignity, appreciation of life, art, music, etc while in skewl?). It angered me, especially since I know the value of service-learning as a tool to teach kids to feel empowered to create change in their environments. To me, this is another example of the 'cattle chute' in action...

No wonder we lack 'free thinkers'!

Ironic how people complain about about the 1x a year that two Mormon missionaries come to their house to talk about Latter Day Saints, but they're willing to live with 20+ minutes of commercials per hour on TV/Radio, etc EVERY day....

To me, our biggest hurdles as a culture is the 'force feeding of entertainment (ie, Roger Waters "Amused to Death") and the out-of-control consumption/greed (Karl Marx's Kapital and the notion of 'selling the future')

These are by-products of technology. Technology is benign,, as Einstein noted. But what we do with it is craaazy...

Does Religion have a causation/correlation with the two areas of concern I mentioned? I don't know...might be a good question to ask this forum sometime....

Answer 8

I totally agree with you. Just take a look at the Amish.

Hey Krissy I don't think you Daddy or Grandma would like what you are wearing in your photo and I also don't think they would like you posting it on the Internet for the whole world to see you posing in an of the shoulder number like that one

Answer 9

Religion has it's benefit for some people.

What I ascertain about religion, is I don't need it, to connect with God. ADVANCEMENT direct prayer to God is faster.

Well I must be a nut case if I am communicating with God.
faith... is the key~!~
Someday you will understand the truth.

Answer 10

Times are changing.. I think people will soon grow up to let go of dogma and superstitions and allow science, philosophy & ethics dictate how we live our lives constructively. Yes, religion has held back mankind drastically, it's sad.