Athiests: Would you end all religion??

[KindBudz]

I've been lurkin around here for a little while now and thought I would ask this..

Mostly to athiests but anyone can respond if they like.

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up? Not to mention interesting to see what we would come up with next :)

I think there are quite a few fanatics around that are held in check by fear of GOD. There could be some havoc..

What do you all think?

[Marduk]

No, inflicting or forcing my views on others is unacceptable, one of the traits of many religions I dislike. Don’t wanna be like them. Besides it would suck, nothing to talk about in this forum then. :)
And, yes, it would be a bad idea, millions of mean spirited morons let loose, all at once, the horror, the horror. :eek:

[Biff the unclean]

If I could I would end all con jobs of every sort from selling suckers the Brooklyn Bridge to selling them "salvation."

I think belief in God is what causes fanatics to do awful things, not prevent them from doing them.

[Landis]

Would you end all religion??

Yes. Delusion is useless.

[David B]

I've been lurkin around here for a little while now and thought I would ask this..

Mostly to athiests but anyone can respond if they like.

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up? Not to mention interesting to see what we would come up with next :)

I think there are quite a few fanatics around that are held in check by fear of GOD. There could be some havoc..

What do you all think?

Can this not be paraphrased as 'What would you do with the world if you have godlike powers'.

You would need godlike powers to do as you suggest..

I don't think that there is any being that has godlike powers (though maybe, if there is a civilisation somewhere in the universe a long way more technically advanced than us, some of their powers may appear godlike)

but let's pretend! I would have multiple experiments running, one of which would be earth, and perhaps another would be a world in which religion were never allowed to raise its ugly head.

David B (suspects that a hypothetical god who was omniscient about whatever has happened, is happening or will happen would commit suicide, out of boredom)

[Enlighten Me]

Would I end all religion? Heck, no! It seems to be the means by which a great many people control their impulses to rape, murder, and steal...

[screwtape]

Religion is simply myth and superstition. Either one are, by themselves, harmless. Each makes for good story telling through fictional tales. It is when myth and superstition are believed as, respectively, fact and science that humans needlessly suffer. However, one cannot "end" religion as it is intangible and infinite in its existence. It is akin to ending "thought". It is the human heart and mind that needs to change. When that happens, people will think differently (and perhaps actually start to "think"), which will eliminate the need for superstition, henceforth ending any need for religion. To ask me whether I would cause such an event to occur if I could with nothing more than a wish, thereby causing the human heart and mind to change forever is akin to asking me if I could end all hate, violence and fear from this earth - an impossible task for any one person. Even your god with all his mythical powers, which powers we create for him and cause him to be infinite, has failed in the latter task. What can I, a mere tangible being, do?

S.

[Matt the Medic]

Would I end all religion? Heck, no! It seems to be the means by which a great many people control their impulses to rape, murder, and steal...

This seems to be the bittersweet truth, as evidenced in several recent threads. :eek:

[KindBudz]

No, inflicting or forcing my views on others is unacceptable, one of the traits of many religions I dislike. Don’t wanna be like them. Besides it would suck, nothing to talk about in this forum then. :)
And, yes, it would be a bad idea, millions of mean spirited morons let loose, all at once, the horror, the horror. :eek:


lol yea I would mostly have to agree :D

But the forceing of views on others is a time honored tradition :devil3:

thanks for all the replies everyone

Im not too sure what i would pick at this point.. Do people get their morals from their holy books or do they just fit the book to please their own version of what society has taught them of morals? I would have to say alot is the latter. So would most people not change, but the fanatics would find something new to obssese over and be just as dangerous?

[DISSIDENT AGGRESSOR]

No. Like it has been pointed out some people do use religion to keep their murderous impulses in check. Plus I'm sure some poor soul derives actual pleasure in the idea that I'll spend my afterlife burning in hell, the basement furnace of their ideal Heaven. At least they'll keep warm unless their gods/God cuts my heart out before casting me in...

[KindBudz]

No. Like it has been pointed out some people do use religion to keep their murderous impulses in check. Plus I'm sure some poor soul derives actual pleasure in the idea that I'll spend my afterlife burning in hell, the basement furnace of their ideal Heaven. At least they'll keep warm unless their gods/God cuts my heart out before casting me in...

Good Point :(

[Aetas]

I wouldn't because they must come to it and realise that it doesn't exist themselves or else they will find some other form of belief again and it will be for nothing.

Besides, i agree with not forcing my view on other people...somewhat, some people must be educated!

[dendrast]

It seems that religion is a world view thing. That is to say it's an attempt to explain the world to oneself or some other sucker. It, however, is not based in logic, like science, another way to explain the way of the world. I seriously doubt that religion would be gone for long, because all it would take would be one or two faulty steps of logic and the gates of Hell (or Heaven) would once again yawn open. So, I doubt one could.
That is not to say that there aren't religions that shouldn't be deleted from the great playlist in the sky.

[screwtape]

...or perhaps religion will end when science figures it all out and answers the timeless questions that cause the alleged need for religion....wouldn't that be a hoot.

[Mace]

Yes, I'm sick of the strife, the arguements, the pain that religion has caused to many. Not just to me, but there are kids out there that Bible Thumping Mothers actually kill because they believe God told them to do it.

Religion is just not for the best in my opinion.

[TruthPrevails]

Earlier, cannabalism and human sacrifice was prevalent.
Then humanity was weaned off such horror practices.

It is very unfortunate that humanity is still at that stage of evolution that the majority need that religious 'dummy' to suck.
It is hard-wired.

Just as cannabalism was weaned off, it will now be the
turn of religion to be wean off.
It looks like it will take some time.
Note that 'shorty texan' at the top of the heap is still sucking it.

I am a non-theist, but have sufficient empathy not to stop or condemn anyone, even parents, relatives, brothers, sisters, sons or daughters wanting to suck that religious "dummy".

[Bill B]

Yes. Regretably, there exists a titanic struggle in the world today between faith and reason. If faith (i.e. religion) wins the struggle, human progress and understanding will come to a halt.

Those of us who value reason and scientific progress simply cannot let religion win, and we cannot let mushy, muddle-headed thinking about the natural world distort a quest for the truth. We simply cannot afford to lose this titanic battle.

[espritch]

I would rather just eliminate fanaticism and fundamentalism.

[sharon45]

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up? Not to mention interesting to see what we would come up with next :)First of all, there never should have been any religions from the very beginning.

As your latter points seems to allude this as being a temporary occurrence, I still see not too much value in partaking in such an experiment for what would conclude as a reckless decision for almost simply entertainment purposes. Instead this is very serious and with real lives at stake.

I think there are quite a few fanatics around that are held in check by fear of GOD. There could be some havoc..Fanatics on both sides have held this world down in chaos for far too long as it is. This is mainly why I see it as logical that people give up the fantasy and start trying to understand, learn, and live with what is actually presented instead of so much focus on what could be.

[Mickie]

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?

By force? No, it is counter productive. It would have to be approached like weaning your child away from the security blanket.

I wouldn't want to remove the evidence or history of religion, that just leaves it open to repeating itself (as you state) since we wouldn't be able to learn from history.

What I would like, if I had this sort of godlike ability, is to remove the blinders that make people justify or excuse things when people of their own religion, using their religion as justification, commit atrocities (Not a True Christian(tm)).

[seebs]

I think my answer would depend on how you defined "religion".

[_Naturalist_]

Would I end all religion? Heck, no! It seems to be the means by which a great many people control their impulses to rape, murder, and steal...
Except for those who do all those things in the name of religion.

[Norseman]

I've been lurkin around here for a little while now and thought I would ask this..

Mostly to athiests but anyone can respond if they like.

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up? Not to mention interesting to see what we would come up with next :)

I think there are quite a few fanatics around that are held in check by fear of GOD. There could be some havoc..

What do you all think?

Hmm. Interesting question. I think I'd have to say no, if for nothing else than because I wouldn't want a Christian to do that to me (the other way around), given they had the power to do it. I'd be fine if a Christian proved that God exists to me, but I'd hate just being given a belief with no reason to believe it, and indeed, I'd probably just deconvert (I've done it once already prior to even knowing the word atheist, so doing it again, even if I never knew I was previously an atheist shouldn't be too hard).

I do think that atheism is the way to go. I think atheism is better for mankind in the long run. But the means of doing it that you propose I find unacceptable. I also do not think that getting rid of religions would solve all the world's problems. I believe science would flourish, but charity would be almost non-existant without organized religion (this could be fixed by the state, of course).

As for religions that would sprout up, I doubt that would happen very quickly. Deism maybe. But someone trying to pull off a Jesus in a thoroughly atheistic world would find it extremely hard to evade the scrutiny of the community. Small cults might form, in secluded areas away from scientific scrutiny. I could never see a cult growing very much in this era unless they had a flawless history without bloodshed, without ostracism, and filled with humanitarian works. But of course, if such a religion formed, I'd welcome it even if I didn't believe in it.

[Killer Mike]

Its naive to think religion can be eliminated. The human brain is "hardwired" to be predisposed to belief in religion and/or spirituality. Religion evolved as a survival mechanism. It provides group control and safety. Some people believe in god as it gives them strength in dealing with lifes pressures. The brain is also hardwired to yield "religious experiences". Like dreams, religious experiences are "real" but are products of the brain.

The reason atheists are so concerned about religion is because of the negative aspects of belief in it has caused. Everything from the Crusades to the daily cruelties people endure on a day to day basis.

Religion often leads to bigoty and hatred, especially if it is intolerant towards other belief systems. We all remember what happened in Northern Ireland when Catholics and Protestants began pointing fingers at each other. Religion can lead to psychological dependence, cognitive dissociation, guilt, mind control, and fear. Many for example take hell seriously, and that fear turns them into robots.

[Joahan]

The only way to eliminate religon is education. All religious beliefs are based on superstition that there is someone/thing that will zap us if we do wrong. Teaching the reality of how things came to be and what will happen to us if we do not act as we should (eg. over eating = poor health & perhaps death or stealing = imprisonment etc.) might make the world better.

[DougLDS]

Would you end all religion??

Yes. Delusion is useless.

Freud might disagree to a point. Many so-called religious people would slip into deeper psychosis if you just suddenly ripped the illusion of their big-daddy in the sky belief from them.

[DougLDS]

First of all, there never should have been any religions from the very beginning.


That point is moot wouldn't you say?

Dosen't the history human development show that religion originated as a coping mechanism against the forces of nature?

We might be able to say that current psychoses leads to the current maintenance and survival of religion and religious dogmas and people just need to learn how to grow up.

[Jobar]

And replace it with what?

I like to think that humanity is about seven years old; we still cling to our teddy bears, but with the growing realization that good ol' Teddy won't *really* save us from the boogey man. But we're not sure, most of us, that the boogey man really isn't there, so we still cling to our imaginary protectors.

What I *would* do, like Biff, is to string up all the con artists; anyone who tries to make power or money off of the supernatural should be first in line to dance the hempen two-step.

[sharon45]

That point is moot wouldn't you say?I feel it applies and I like to make it clear as much as I can. To me, it is not as important to get rid of religions temporarily, especially while there are enough examples of lasting effects when so much damage has already been done.

The question I pose should have been about a permanent solution and from the very start of history.

Dosen't the history human development show that religion originated as a coping mechanism against the forces of nature?An outright denial of the forces of nature. Humans spent far too long bogged down in illusions and that should have severely delayed a rightful advancement as is still very evident today.

We might be able to say that current psychoses leads to the current maintenance and survival of religion and religious dogmas and people just need to learn how to grow up.That would hardly count when so much in societies do as they want. Also while brand new beliefs are formed and old ones constantly reenergized, everyone has their own personal conception of enlightenment.

[Triple Six]

Of course I would love to see the end of religion, but not by an outright ban and eliminating the historical record.

All I would like to see is religion treated fairly. Don't worry I haven't gone nuts, I mean that the same standards that apply to any other business apply to religious organisations, ie pay tax, be liable for false claims in advertising, subject to anti discrimination and hate crime law and such.

Then lets see how well it goes.

[Heurismus]

As an atheist I couldn't give a damn about religion or the religious.
As a Utopian Socialist, I would love to see all religion disappear forever.
As a humanist, I accept religious delusions as long as your delusions do not threaten the peace, torture and kill innocents or declare Crusades in the pursuit of Petro Dollar security.
As a historian - I can't change history.
As a egalitarian secularist, I'll defend the religious, provided that their priveleged position plays no part in domestic or foreign politics, nor diminishes the lives of non believers.
As a pragmatist I know it's impossible.
As a humourist, the world would be a boring place without religion.
As an eclectic - what the fuck, religion adds to that rich tapestry of human stupidity: I love it, I love it, I love it.

So here's a vote to religion especially Raelianism. (Now if only they had F1 cars instead of horse drawn chariots in Judea - who knows, Pilate might have crucified a mediocre racing driver instead of the messiah.)

So in answer to your question - an emphatic no; I would not ban religion, just keep it in its proper place - in a straightjacket.

[whichphilosophy]

I would rather just eliminate fanaticism and fundamentalism.

It`s not religion itself but individuals who become fanatics or use religion or isms for any excuse.

Likewise Pol Pot, Stalin, Mao did some pretty bad things, bit we don´t say this is what Atheism does. It´s only what some anti social humans do.

[PaperCut]

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up?


As long as there are no alternatives to religion, religious worldviews will persist. However, I believe there are such alternatives out there, and they will inevitably replace religion.

Religious worldviews that augment the natural world with a supernatural realm have merely been one of man’s first attempts to address some valid questions and vital needs.

We all have wondered about life’s persisting questions and have experienced the desire to belong, to be part of something bigger and more permanent than ourselves, and to not feel alone. Religions have tried to answer these questions and satisfy those needs, but like many other first attempts, religious worldviews are far from perfect, and simpleminded.

I’m convinced that there will be alternatives to religion, and they will inevitably make God irrelevant and unnecessary in the future. Our dependence on religions will only delay this transition and make it more painful and bloody. This is why we need to grow, put the empty shell we call god behind us, and set out to search for real answers. Answers based on objective observation of the world rather than wishful thinking and ignorance. Answers that will unite human race not divide us, and perhaps most importantly, answers that do not stand between us and our fate (as is written in the laws of physics), because that is futile and it would only cause pointless pain and suffering.

Religions will not go way over night. Instead, this will be a gradual process.
Science and technology, directly and also indirectly by causing us, and making it possible for us, to change and evolve are ending religions one small step at a time.

Scientific progress has been (and will be) chipping away at religions’ credibility for centuries and today many answers provided by religions have been discarded and replaced by scientific explanations. As for abovementioned needs and yearnings with which most of us are familiar; as human civilization evolves, and for example, becomes increasingly more connected, it will become possible to see how alternatives to religion can emerge to satisfy those needs and yearnings.

Perhaps by the time those alternatives become reality, Homo sapiens will have evolved into entirely new life forms, or probably there will not be any individuals in the future and we will all evolve into a single life form.

Either way, one thing’s for sure, even by then Jesus will have not returned! :D


Cheers,
PaperCut

[southernhybrid]

Religion is fascinating, and it helps so many people cope. I would never try to end it, but if I had the power I'd soften it up a bit, get rid of the dangerous bits, give the participants the ability to laugh at themselves, be more tolerant toward the other ingroups, and make all the dieities fun loving creatures that just want everyone to enjoy life as much as possible without harming each other. I guess I'd have to change human nature to do that one, which of course is quite impossible.

It's the nature of the human species that is the problem. If I were omnipotent, I'd evolve that chimp like nature out of the beast and religion would certainly become a much more positive part of the human experience, with or without the supernatural elements. Nice fantasy.

[Haplo]

Instinctively, especially after reading and hearing so much about bomb blasts and suicide bombings from Islamic terrorists, I wanted to say "yes".

However, on second thought, I think not. As the earlier posters mentioned about some people needing religion to keep them from committing crimes...on a smaller scale, it helps to reform some people's lives. case in point would be my sister's friend, who led a promiscuous life before she converted to Catholism..after she converted, she finally reined in her behaviour and even got married soon.

[EverLastingGodStopper]

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?
Ending all religion is not the same thing as creating a world in which no religion existed. Hmm, I don't know how to reply now... to the OP or the title... I wouldn't "end all religions" but I think it would be interesting if superstition was not part of humanity.

[Shven]

Why?

Quite frankly I've yet to see any evidence that religion is better or worse than a lack of religious belief.

You can point out all the fanatics and murderers you like, but fanatics and murderers will always find a justification, be it religion or otherwise.

And yes I'm a theist - but on most moral issues you'll find a side with the non militant atheists

And also: religion is not only used to help people cope - I for one would 'cope' just as well if I had no religious beliefs whatsoever

Shven

[Not-For-Prophet]

I've been lurkin around here for a little while now and thought I would ask this..

Mostly to athiests but anyone can respond if they like.

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up? Not to mention interesting to see what we would come up with next :)

I think there are quite a few fanatics around that are held in check by fear of GOD. There could be some havoc..

What do you all think?

Yes I would, in a hot second. I'd rather deal with the fanatics that will no longer be held in check by fear of god than deal with all the harm done by fanatics in the name of god.

[Yahzi]

If you had the power to remove all religions from the minds (including bibles,churches, ie evidence of religions, etc.) of the worlds population would you?
As quickly as I would remove racism, sexism, and superstition.

How long do you think it would take for religions to pop back up?
17 minutes, 32 seconds.

I think there are quite a few fanatics around that are held in check by fear of GOD.
Not nearly as much havoc as has been caused by those who felt empowered by God.

[ELECTROGOD]

People believe in all sorts of odd things (not always a godbeing) and like Seebs said, you would have to define it better.
I would greatly encourage and teach critical thinking. Then people would understand the whole issue for themselves instead of wandering about taking the word of fools and power hungry crooks.

[Spaam]

Very interesting and very hard question. On one hand I do not believe I have the right to impose my beliefs on others. My views are only a matter of opinion and cannot be seen as "righteous". On the other hand, what with looming nuclear conflicts on the horizon inspired by religion, getting rid of religion could save millions of lives. With that in mind I'd have to say yes, I'd get rid of religion.

I don't think religions would pop up on any major scale. The only way mass scale religion is being maintained today is by massive social control and propaganda by various churches. If you look at places (certain European countries, for instance) where such control does not exist, religion is more or less non-existant.