Think about it. The Crusades, the Iraq war (right now {was caused by extremists crashing into the twin towers}), would the world be better off without religion?
-from an athiest.
2007-11-30 15:33:30 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You're commiting the perfectionist fallacy.
Just because we have religion doesn't mean that if we didn't have religion everything would be perfect.
It's like the lighthouse effect. There's a light for boats at night and people still crashed and had accidents. That doesn't mean the lighthouse is useless. If you took away the lighthouse you're not sure if more people would just crash. It still may be deterring a lot more than you can imagine.
2007-11-30 20:30:05 · answer #1 · answered by lol 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi
Um, that's a myth.
If you are an atheist because you think that God/Religion is a "myth", then you must be interested in objective facts.
Von Clausewitz stated that "war is the extension of politics".
I think that if you objectively examine the history of war, that you will find political objectives motivating men and nations to go to war.
Religion is a convenient veil for the dark political ambitions of men.
Some of the answers you've gotten have been flippant and some have mentioned Hitler, and Stalin, (good examples of politically motivated war mongers) but there are even more and better instances of war being falsely attributed to religion.
You mentioned the Crusades. That would be Medieval Christian Europe, fighting to regain the Holy lands back from the Muslim Kingdoms, correct?
Sounds like a religious war on the surface of it, but...
The financing for the crusades came from the wealthy kingdoms of Europe who made sure to send the sons of nobility to claim land and establish their own kingdoms in the middle east. They may have gone to war "in the name of religion" but they were motivated by personal and political gain. (in fact some of the Christian knights converted to Islam rather than surrender territories that they were able to conquer)
As for Muslim extremists and 9-11. Who can know what evil is in the hearts of terrorists? I've heard that they were promised by their leaders that if they killed infidels (which is a corruption of the Koran) an afterlife with 79 virgins. But did you notice that their leaders, Osama bin laden, and others, do not participate in what they advocate? Rather they offer video taped messages with political justifications and condemnations of other Islamic regimes who are politically allied with the west. Hardly what you would call a devout religious concern.
Maybe you want to believe in myths.
Well justifying atheism with this myth is a pathetically weak form of reasoning, but you might as well hold on to it, as it's no better than anything else your bound to come up with.
I suspect that you're question was an attempt at validating your religious belief, and that a cogent refutation is not something that you appreciate or understand, so I won't be suprised if you do not pick mine for best answer. But I know that some of the other readers of YA are more objective and erudite and I count on them to click the "thumbs up" in support of reasoned fact and logic. Even other atheists.
anyway...to ALL... who read this,
GB u always.
Thin~Q vry mch.
2007-12-01 00:44:26 · answer #2 · answered by whoopswhatever 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Even one war it has caused is too many. People need to get into the informartion age and learn there is no reason to believe in God and especially no reason to fight for one. Many wars arent about religion (WW1 for instance), but the fact that some are is pathetic. ( Such as the Talibans reasoning for attacking us).
Most wars are not Religion based, but yes, you are correct about thinking that the world would be better off without Religion.
Atheist Peace.
2007-11-30 23:42:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dude... it is spelled ATHEIST!
and any seasoned atheist knows that critiquing does not accomplish anything and it shows how little of a thinker you are.
it is more about creating a broader use of logic and reasoning when dealing with the world around us and encouraging others to be skeptical about things (not just religion) and bring a more critical thought process into your lifestyle.
lazy atheists just go around bashing Christians and other religions and don't accomplish anything but lighting fires under determined theists.
2007-12-01 00:08:29 · answer #4 · answered by TOMMYBOY 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes religion can cause wars.
I can't imagine what it would be like to have no Savior in my life, no prayer, no word. It would be so useless.
We become better people when God is in control.
From: A Christian.
2007-12-01 00:31:01 · answer #5 · answered by NJ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, intolerance and greed cause wars, people just drape religion over it to make it seem justified.
2007-11-30 23:37:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Religions yes....God no. Man has made the religions and man fights the wars.
2007-11-30 23:37:38 · answer #7 · answered by Poohcat1 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes it would.
But it would be better than that if the world had a personal relationship with God.
2007-11-30 23:38:08 · answer #8 · answered by 2telldatruth 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Methinks you are wrong. Using your logic it would be valid to ask the question "Doesn't marriage cause divorce?" "And wouldn't the world be better off without marriage?"
2007-11-30 23:39:49 · answer #9 · answered by Mr Answer 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No, economics does.
I'm an atheist also.
Mr. Answer: That's not logical AT ALL.
2007-11-30 23:48:37 · answer #10 · answered by David Carrington Jr. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋