Why are you so sure?

Why are you so sure?

Posted Jul 17, 2011 9:16 UTC (Sun) by khim (subscriber, #9252)
In reply to: Stop yelling by kragilkragil2
Parent article: IBM to contribute Symphony to OpenOffice.org

I know that the net result of all religions on this planet is utterly detrimental to mankind (how many wars and genocides have/had strong religous aspects?).

Sorry, but I don't see the logic: how second part is related to the first one? Most technical wonders (both in ancient times and today) are created for the war (the latest, most well-known example is the Internet), so I'm not all that sure religions and wars are somehow "detrimental". And even if you ignore that aspect you must remember that religions do not create or start wars - they are used as justification, sure, but actual reasons are usually deeper. Think Crusades (the original ones: 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries in Europe). They were side-effect of the solution to quite real and acute problem: overpopulation. Rules which governed inheritance were actually quite positive WRT to overall progress of the society, but they created lots of "excess people" who had titles but no land and little money; Crusades neatly tied up this dangerous mass. When another solution to the problem was found Crusades stopped. Religious people still wanted to continue, but society rejected these pleas.

Thus no, I don't think it can be easily said that "the net result of all religions on this planet is utterly detrimental": they play role of "safety valve" and pacify the population (give good, noble, justification for objectively needed atrocities) and in fact it looks like net sum is quite positive indeed.

Human beings in general are hard wired for compassion, love and help etc.

Where such crazy ideas come from? It's just stupid. Yes, humans are capable of compassion, love, help and so on - but to say that are hardwired to do that... Sorry, but not even close. They are hardwired to survive and propagate (just like all other creatures). When compassion, love and other such qualities are helpful (and they often do) - everything is fine and religion takes a backseat, when they are detrimental - you need a religion to justify you actions.

Being guided by the wisdom of your fellow man, facts, reality, by science and by lessons learned from our history would be a much better thing for mankind than hypocritical false religions.

What this has to do with anything? Religions rarely (if ever) actually guide the mankind. Sure, they are used to justify things a lot, but to actually guide? Nope. You've put them on pedestal they don't deserve - no wonder you've gotten wrong impression about them.

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