Religion

trotsky

(49,533 posts)

36. That's a great observation.

Tue Nov 27, 2018, 10:47 AM

Nov 2018

Religion was a way to codify rules of behavior and put some authority behind them. There is no "check" on the usefulness or validity of these rules, the important thing was to make everyone in the group abide by them. Religion was enormously successful in this regard, and got intertwined with the evolution of our brains to live (and thrive) in groups. It reinforced both in-group altruism and out-group hostility. Today we recognize the bigger problems that result from this approach, and while some religions have expanded and do a better job of recognizing that we are ALL the "in-group," most have not - and as I mentioned, there is no guaranteed process by which all religions will engage in this self-correction. Heck, there's not even a way to make sure the religions that ARE more tolerant, continue to stay that way.

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Religion? Your Thoughts? Open Thread. [View all] MineralMan Nov 2018 OP

Yes, I am in favor of religion. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #1

And the bad? What of that? MineralMan Nov 2018 #2

I am opposed to that. guillaumeb Nov 2018 #4

What are the good parts exactly? Major Nikon Nov 2018 #21

Toxic fairytale garbage java108 Nov 2018 #3

Your thoughts Wellstone ruled Nov 2018 #5

OK. I'll bet we have some different ideas, though, MineralMan Nov 2018 #6

To many events in my personal Wellstone ruled Nov 2018 #9

My husband and I are both Unitarians. redstatebluegirl Nov 2018 #7

Thank you for your reply. MineralMan Nov 2018 #8

Mine is my business and yours is yours. mahina Nov 2018 #10

OK. You are under no obligation here. MineralMan Nov 2018 #16

I might not have been been clear. I wasn't saying I didn't want to share my mahina Nov 2018 #19

I hate it Cartoonist Nov 2018 #11

I think many people are given their religious preference by their parents rurallib Nov 2018 #12

Given suggests it may be refused Major Nikon Nov 2018 #22

I do not believe in the white bearded deity some want me to believe.. angstlessk Nov 2018 #13

Families edhopper Nov 2018 #17

On balance: toxic nonsense. Voltaire2 Nov 2018 #14

asked my neighbor if she wants to be forced to listen to religion music 24/7 from msongs Nov 2018 #15

Philosophically edhopper Nov 2018 #18

I differentiate between religion and organized religion Major Nikon Nov 2018 #20

In the aggregate, religion as a practice is terrible Act_of_Reparation Nov 2018 #23

What about all the good parts? Major Nikon Nov 2018 #25

Don't forget "taking all the credit for every centimeter of progress we have ever achieved". Act_of_Reparation Nov 2018 #33

I don't give a hoot what anyone believes Heddi Nov 2018 #24

Religion is a living artifact from our social evolution. IamFortunesFool Nov 2018 #26

Now, that's optimistic. Thanks. MineralMan Nov 2018 #27

I tend to think it's likely we will survive the inevitable bottleneck... IamFortunesFool Nov 2018 #28

That's a great observation. trotsky Nov 2018 #36

This message was self-deleted by its author d_r Nov 2018 #29

I'm an agnostic. marylandblue Nov 2018 #30

For you, at this point in time,---»» 💙 sprinkleeninow Nov 2018 #40

Well, nobody knows what tomorrow will bring. marylandblue Nov 2018 #41

That dint sound exactly charitable, did it? sprinkleeninow Nov 2018 #42

It's okay, I think I knew what you what you meant marylandblue Nov 2018 #43

Special delivery 💌 : sprinkleeninow Nov 2018 #44

Religion is an assault on humanity. For example... Pope George Ringo II Nov 2018 #31

Currently studying Buddism randr Nov 2018 #32

Steven Weinberg said it best, I think. trotsky Nov 2018 #34

He said it well, I think. MineralMan Nov 2018 #35

Reading the tea leaves here Cartoonist Nov 2018 #37

I don't know, really. I just thought I'd post an open thread and MineralMan Nov 2018 #38

I see it mainly as a tool for social control The Genealogist Nov 2018 #39