@bugschivers

Religion is NOT considered the prime source of social evils, it is categorised alongside the Media.

From the article:

"But the question people of faith need to ask is why the public today are so distrustful of religious believers. One answer to that question is the public's perception of religious people as Victorian nay-sayers who oppose scientific progress and bemoan the diversity we now see in so much of our society."


Religion may not be the PRIME source, as you suggest. I'm wondering (from your perspective) why you think "the public today are so distrustful of religious believers?"

One respondent in the study said: "Faith in supernatural phenomena...

@bugschivers

Religion is NOT considered the prime source of social evils, it is categorised alongside the Media.

From the article:

"But the question people of faith need to ask is why the public today are so distrustful of religious believers. One answer to that question is the public's perception of religious people as Victorian nay-sayers who oppose scientific progress and bemoan the diversity we now see in so much of our society."


Religion may not be the PRIME source, as you suggest. I'm wondering (from your perspective) why you think "the public today are so distrustful of religious believers?"

One respondent in the study said: "Faith in supernatural phenomena inspires hatred and prejudice throughout the world, and is commonly used as justification for persecution of women, gays and people who do not have faith."

Where do you think the distrust comes from? Or do you think it's true at all?


From the poll:

"A poll by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation uncovered a widespread belief that
faith - not just in its extreme form - was intolerant, irrational and used
to justify persecution."

Are you suggesting that religion is getting a bad rap?

I'm suggesting that maybe the article chose to go after religion when it is plain to read in the article that people also considered the Government and the Media and Big Businesses to blame. I'm fed up, personally, of every ill being blamed on Religion as if everything else that goes on in the world is irrelevant. Yes, the religious can be intolerant, but I think that some of the stuff that people write about Religion is equally intolerant. I'm not a particular supporter of Religion, but I'd like to see some balance, it seems like it's currently fair game to go after Religion and in particular the Jesus crew and blame them for every woe known to mankind. If people want a better world there...

I'm suggesting that maybe the article chose to go after religion when it is plain to read in the article that people also considered the Government and the Media and Big Businesses to blame. I'm fed up, personally, of every ill being blamed on Religion as if everything else that goes on in the world is irrelevant. Yes, the religious can be intolerant, but I think that some of the stuff that people write about Religion is equally intolerant. I'm not a particular supporter of Religion, but I'd like to see some balance, it seems like it's currently fair game to go after Religion and in particular the Jesus crew and blame them for every woe known to mankind. If people want a better world there is more that can be changed than ridding the world of religion. How about voting in Govenments that work for the people or actually all of us getting off our collective bottoms and going and spending time with some other human beings for a change? Religion is a soft and easy target, what riled me most about this particular article was it's obvious sensationalist approach, which completely missed the point of the whole study. If you think that debating the pro's and cons of Religion will change the world, or even make it a better place, well have fun, because it's about as useful as an ice fire surround.

Bugs

If the belief of errors not morally bad did no mischief, it would make no part of the moral duty of man to oppose and remove them. There was no moral ill in believing the earth was flat like a trencher, any more than there was moral virtue in believing it was round like a globe; neither was there any moral ill in believing that the Creator made no other world than this, any more than there was moral virtue in believing that he made millions, and that the infinity of space is filled with worlds. But when a system of religion is made to grow out of a supposed system of creation that is not true, and to unite itself therewith in a manner almost inseparable therefrom, the case assumes an entirel...

If the belief of errors not morally bad did no mischief, it would make no part of the moral duty of man to oppose and remove them. There was no moral ill in believing the earth was flat like a trencher, any more than there was moral virtue in believing it was round like a globe; neither was there any moral ill in believing that the Creator made no other world than this, any more than there was moral virtue in believing that he made millions, and that the infinity of space is filled with worlds. But when a system of religion is made to grow out of a supposed system of creation that is not true, and to unite itself therewith in a manner almost inseparable therefrom, the case assumes an entirely different ground. It is then that errors, not morally bad, become fraught with the same mischiefs as if they were.
Thomas Paine

The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries, that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called revelation, or revealed religion. It has been the most dishonourable belief against the character of the divinity, the most destructive to morality, and the peace and happiness of man, that ever was propagated since man began to exist. It is better, far better, that we admitted, if it were possible, a thousand devils to roam at large, and to preach publicly the doctrine of devils, if there were any such, than that we permitted one such impostor and monster as Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and the Bible prophets, to come with the pretende...

The most detestable wickedness, the most horrid cruelties, and the greatest miseries, that have afflicted the human race have had their origin in this thing called revelation, or revealed religion. It has been the most dishonourable belief against the character of the divinity, the most destructive to morality, and the peace and happiness of man, that ever was propagated since man began to exist. It is better, far better, that we admitted, if it were possible, a thousand devils to roam at large, and to preach publicly the doctrine of devils, if there were any such, than that we permitted one such impostor and monster as Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and the Bible prophets, to come with the pretended word of God in his mouth, and have credit among us.
Thomas Paine

@bugschivers

it seems like it's currently fair game to go after Religion and in particular the Jesus crew and blame them for every woe known to mankind.

Perhaps the sentiment of Thomas Paine (see comments above) is evidence that this has been recognized for centuries by others, but by you only just now because of the mass electronic media making it available to you.

This is by no means a current phenomenon. Imagine being born during the Inquisition and not being a believer in Christianity.

Imagine not being a Muslim today while being brought up in the culture of Islam.

Perhaps you are fed up because you are safe against the intolerance yourself, and you have the freedom t...

@bugschivers

it seems like it's currently fair game to go after Religion and in particular the Jesus crew and blame them for every woe known to mankind.

Perhaps the sentiment of Thomas Paine (see comments above) is evidence that this has been recognized for centuries by others, but by you only just now because of the mass electronic media making it available to you.

This is by no means a current phenomenon. Imagine being born during the Inquisition and not being a believer in Christianity.

Imagine not being a Muslim today while being brought up in the culture of Islam.

Perhaps you are fed up because you are safe against the intolerance yourself, and you have the freedom to discuss it.

Countless others right now are suffering as we speak, even being stoned to death or beaten to death from religious intolerance.

Perhaps your parents weren't faithful enough to watch you die, instead of taking you to a hospital when you got the measles.

Perhaps you are "fed up, personally, of every ill being blamed on Religion" because this "social evil" is becoming less taboo to discuss publicly.

All I know is that it won't go away until we see it for what it is, discuss it out in the open, and do something about it. It's been killing us and enslaving us for centuries.

Only now is it getting a voice loud enough for people to hear.

(A young college student is getting the death penalty for downloading material that could be interpreted as blasphemous against Islam and the prophet Mohamed. If it were your son, or you... would you still be fed-up? )