Any Good in Religion? - Christopher Hitchens

[desasterz]

No normal perosn would do it? Is Marine Le Pen religious?

[weetabicks1]

Destroyed!

[TheSpassy]

Did the questioner in the beginning of this video call Christopher HITCHENS "Hitchins"? Now that is quite rude, if you're going to partake in a Q&A you should at least pronounce the surname of the person in question correctly.

[paularenas26]

Put an end to all religion. Begin a relationship with Jesus Christ. You need to repent. Moreover, you should ask God for eternal forgiveness through applying the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to your life of sin within the quietness of your bedroom tonight. As an unrepentant sinner myself, I made this decision around 15 years ago. This is the most important decision that you could ever make. - Romans 10:9-10

[BenjaminGoose]

@paularenas26 How can you have a relationship with someone that is either dead or never existed in the first place?

[Pchlster]

@paularenas26 Put an end to irrational thinking. Begin a relationship with reason. You need to think. Moreover, you should seek to understand the world through applying rational inquiry to things in your life. As an unrepentant free-thinker myself, I make this decision every day. This is the most important decision you'll ever make.

[enisylo]

What a fantastic question.

[daskalaka]

Thanks for the upload. RIP Christopher

[Jcdoyel]

Where can I see the full video of this?

[bluexepnos]

90% of americans are religious my ass. just look at the ratings for all of these videos

[sadmachine]

ASK THE QUESTION, DUMMY! q&a stinks.

[swimswet]

I disagree, lightandbesutiful. I would go further. Gay activist have so diluted of mind they have no longer understand limits. I am a Christian and gay. I've been with my partner for 20 years. I disavowed the gay rights movement from the beginning as I see it as having been led into debauchery and lewdness. Attacking Christians at a mass is unconscionable. I refuse to support such a void of truth movement. As a gay and a Christian I understand I may very well be in sin by being heat I am, but I

[ddrddrddrddr]

@swimswet So you what? You basically admitted that you are going to hell. In case you're one of those people who believe belief in Jesus is all that is needed, then what need is there for Christian morality? If morality is required, then again you're condemned. Calling yourself a gay and a Christian is like saying you're a pacifist soldier (excluding engineer and medic).

[carlylespicks]

Am I the only one who thinks this guys sounds and looks so arrogant? He has no more respect from me than the christian radicals do. Only difference is he doesn't looks crazy, just not trustworthy. He also evades the point and talks in circles sometimes using fancy words which seem pretentious. Reminds me of those people screaming at me with bibles in the subway.

[silverstream314]

@carlylespicks Seeing as you are a christian, you are hardly impartial in the matter, are you?

Then again, neither am I.

While I will agree that he is confrontational, I do believe that a certain amount of arrogance is called for when one side of an argument carries all the evidence while the other has non what so ever to offer. Respect for no good reason is stupid.

[carlylespicks]

@silverstream314 On the contrary. You will find it REALLY hard to find anyone as impartial as I am. I see things as they truly are with limited distortions born of preconceived notions. I see both the ignorance and evasiveness of many atheist, same as I do see the ignorance, hypocrisy and shear lunacy of radical Christians. I'm on the side of TRUTH, not scientific speculation or religious creative interpretation of scripture.

[silverstream314]

@carlylespicks Then how come that I, who also consider myself as 'seeing the truth', come to a different conclusion?

[carlylespicks]

@silverstream314 Simple. Because neither of us truly KNOWS what the truth is. When I say I'm on the side of truth, I mean I'm a truth seeker. As such, I dismiss people who's only point is "The Bible says so" and also people like Hitchens who evaded the question of the possibility of "something from nothing" and also seems just as rude and arrogant as people who say they love God, but then are hateful. I assume you have sided with Hitchens? Well..I've sided with no one. I'm open to new ideas.

[silverstream314]

@carlylespicks However, being open to new ideas is not the same as being on the fence with regards to a question. I am an atheist, but would change my mind in light of new evidence.

[carlylespicks]

@silverstream314 Ahh! How refreshing to be speaking to somebody who is not brain dead or brainwashed or both! Many people are usually so die hard in their beliefs that they would not accept your side even after you proved it to them. I think people like us are in the better position being that we don't close our minds to contrary positions. If you have something intelligent to say about aliens from space, then I'll listen. All I require is that you speak AND LISTEN intelligently. :)

[silverstream314]

@carlylespicks However, that's the position that most people claim to hold. To me it seems to be the only option. I can't choose what I believe. Based on the knowledge acquired during my life so far, things add up to form a world view based on this. I can't just choose to ignore this and change my belief to something else. I don't think that beliefs are voluntary.

[carlylespicks]

@silverstream314 I don't think so. Most people I see are either die hard for or against Christianity. A LOT of talking a LITTLE listening. Thats my experience anyway.

[carlylespicks]

@silverstream314 I don't think so. Most people I see are either die hard for or against Christianity. A LOT of talking a LITTLE listening. Thats my experience anyway.

[silverstream314]

@carlylespicks That is probably the case, but I am fairly certain that if you would ask these people if they are 'open to new ideas' they would answer yes. Very few people see themselves as closeminded, even though they might be. The interesting follow-up to this is to ask how one can tell if this is true of oneself.

[standingontruth1]

Are you ready?

Have u lied? Have u stolen? Jesus said if you look at a women with lust you have committed adultery with here in your heart?

If God judge’s u by the Ten Commandments will u be innocent or guilty? Does this concern you? The Bible says despise the value of your eye compared to the value of your soul. would u sell your i for a million dollars? And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. needgod.com

[jimmydaneable]

@standingontruth1

Sure, just send the million dollars my way, and I will gladly sell you my soul... we can put it in writing if you wish. Fair warning: I think you'll be disappointed :)

[UnitedEuropa]

Religion is the same thing as Stockholm syndrome.

[jasionowicz99]

Science flies you to the moon. Religion flies you into buildings.

[Archangel866]

There is good in religion; Christianity for example teaches the "Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy", teaching about the 10 Commandments, the Beatitudes etc. 

[jimmydaneable]

@Archangel866

Doesn't count if it's plagiarized from human consciousness.

[johnycannuk]

@Archangel866 There is nothing moral about the 10 commandants. Most of them have nothing to do with morality.

why not "no human shall own another"? why not "no treating women like chattel"? Even a little "no buggering choir boys"

Nonsense. Christianity teaches the immoral doctrine of vicarious redemption.It teaches blind unquestioning faith rather than critical thinking.

Christianity is the slogan of tyrants and the creed of slaves...

[Archangel866]

@johnycannuk --you've obviously never read the decalogue.

[johnycannuk]

@Archangel866 I have many times. Clearly you haven't if yo think its the basis for any kind of morality.

[SissingPyd]

Christopher Hitchens can pitch his asnwers at any level.

[HConstantine]

The good Samaritan story is actually a Pythagorean story much older than the NT.

[writersblock26]

@HConstantine Really? Do you have the reference? By the way, I'm not arguing with you; I'm simply interested.

[HConstantine]

@writersblock26 In Iamblichus' Life of Pythagoras (preserving a pre-NT source), a follower of Pythagoras dies in an inn. the owner pays for the doctor, then the funeral. before he dies, he draws a secret symbol on the inn. Later another Pythagorean sees it, and settles the bill, giving the innkeeper a large bonus for his generosity. Like many Pythagorean stories, it circulated as a folk tale. its often cited as a source for the NT parable, though there are obvious differences.

[writersblock26]

@HConstantine Hmm...interesting.

[slowmopoke]

Credulity is a state of willingness to believe in one or many people or things in the absence of reasonable proof or knowledge.

Credulity is not simply belief in something that may be false. The subject of the belief may even be correct, but a credulous person will believe it without good evidence.

[lunda2222]

Is there any good in religion?

I'd say so, yes.

Is there any good which religion has a monopoly to?

I don't know of anything.

Is there anybody who can?

[unamaxify]

@lunda2222

well if there is no good that can only be attributed to religion.

then there really isn't any good in religion.

This good is merely coexisting with religion.

With religions only merit being not having wiped out this good.

[lunda2222]

@unamaxify

Yup

[ForYeensSake]

Hitchens <3

[writersblock26]

Thank you for posting this, silverstream314.

[MrBeautifulba1]

Dear Baby Jesus, Please give me the mental super powers of Mr. Hitchens so that I can out argue him and then believe in you again. I don't understand why you had to make my brain so inefficient in recalling information. If you would "heal" this problem then I could out wit Mr. Hitchens and then I can believe in you and richard nixon again.

[fdasherv]

@TRUNDLETHOR Stand up for them or stand with them, any way you slice it you have a lot of work to do rationalizing insane Bronze Age beliefs to a modern post-religious culture.

[silverstream314]

@TRUNDLETHOR Jesus christ. Since when is not believing in something more a more outrageous assumption than belief in something with no tangible evidence? Never, is when... (I'm just going to ignore your mirepresentation of atheism/agnosticism, since it's been beaten to death already)

[fdasherv]

@TRUNDLETHOR I'd say that christ made you this stupid, but since he doesn't exist, you'll have to take the credit for your stupidity all on your own.

[twooffour]

Looks like Heath Ledger! :)

[ndrthrdr1]

We will not find out what happens after we die because our brains will no longer be functioning. We will die, and elaborate fairy tales of the imaginary friends of a tribe of Bronze Age Jews will have no effect on the laws of physics. Think you can defy these laws with prayer? Jump off a cliff and pray that you won't splat. We all know what will happen. Gods are imaginary.

[allendoc1000]

he is a likeable guy but that being said there is a god we will all find out i am into jesus some our into buda and hindu and on and on we all have a choice this is what i pick but keep doing what your doing i mean we got more arguments more temptations true but it was never like that untill we got to where we are at and maybe we are supose to like i said will all find out.

[GiantSandles]

@TRUNDLETHOR Atheism is based on the lack of any evidence for God's existence, or arguments which aren't terrible and haven't been repudiated. I hate to give the cliché examples, but the same applies to God as applies to fairies or ghosts. TECHNICALLY, we're all agnostics in that regard, as there's no way to disprove any of those things. However, we've no reason to believe that those propositions are true.

[ILoveYourMumAndChips]

@TRUNDLETHOR If atheism is based on assumption what is Christianity based on? The gospels can't agree on any important facts. There is no proof for God but there is equally no proof to disprove. The difference is, a huge majority of Atheists would accept proof of God whilst the opposite would be true for proof that God doesn't exist. Science changes according to the facts and evidence presented, it is the best possible truth at that time. Religion only changes when it outrages society.

[benniquaid]

You can tell that guy inflated his question to make himself sound more intelligent.

[jtizz711]

I believe socialist ideals come from the teachings of Jesus Christ. Capitalism comes from athiesm. Hence the united states was created as a secular state....think about it.

[BelfastAtheist]

@jtizz711

Quit being high, drink some coffee and calm down.

[cruelzeppelin666]

@TRUNDLETHOR It sounds like you're trying to make the "It takes faith to be an Atheist" argument.

If that is the case, let me ask you this: Do you think it is wiser to believe something until it is disproven, or refuse to believe something until it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt? (I say beyond a REASONABLE doubt because I can't technically prove that anything exists outside of my mind, and niether can you.)

[peppersdog1]

the day man exepts the fact that god does not exhist will be the greatest day in history..its a fairy tale get a life

[Flamesfan7]

I actually think Hitchens didn't adequately address the 2nd half of the question here. Considering Hitchens is a big Jefferson fan, I would've focused more on the statement of Jefferson acknowledging a place for God in society rather than the tangent he ended up on...or maybe I'm missing the boat myself.

[Noisegator]

Get well soon Christopher! Humanity needs you.

[LILHANSEN1]

@Noisegator he died :(

[Nickondeweb]

Why this question can be answered so simply:

-There is good in the book 'Mein Kampf'.

-There is good in the phrase: "You are a prick and I want you dead, but you do have nice hair".

-There is good in the bible, and thus, the believers in the bible.

If you cannot see where I'm going with this, then there’s no point trying to explain.

Then you've got Hitchens legendary answers which Hitchslap anyone left.

[KandTIC]

3:39 - What a BITCH...leaving half way through...

[UnderlordZ]

@KandTIC Ever think maybe she just had to pee? Or maybe her phone was ringing on vibrate.

[xn117]

@KandTIC why did she leave?

[protorobsmos]

yyyyes it is

[TheOutspokenman1]

I wish i could be as eloquent in my comments as sam51092 but the only thing i can say is,Christopher Hitchens freakin OWNS!!!!!

[mmeasy123]

Smart young guy and excellent question.

[benniquaid]

Hitchens interrupts everybody hahaaha

[ziggy471961]

Gotta love this guy.

[TaNgLeD2121]

why have i nor herd of this guy befor he rocks!! 5 stars and fav'd

[jacobins3000]

Im surprised Hitchens had nothing to say about the claim that Saddam was a secular leader, since during the Iraq debate he spent a lot of time trying to portray Saddam as some kind of Islamic fundamentalist, and that his supposed secularism was some kind nasty lie spread by the Stalinist anti-war movement.

[ghuegel]

The "Hitchens Pause" - Make a statement. Wait for a response. As soon as someone starts up... interrupt and talk over them, often obliterating their counterpoint before they can make it.

He does it all the time... watch for it!

[vysehrad]

I think he's just the rare kind of person who pauses for thought, he does not need to keep a flow of words going for its own sake. When he figures out how to formulate his logical follow-up, he continues. Whereas most people trea any pause in conversation as their cue to take their turn speaking. As a result, you get this phenomenon and the observation you've made; I don't think it's a calculated debate tactic on Hitchens' part.

[ghuegel]

I understand what you're saying, and you might be right. But he too often figures out what to say as soon as the other person starts talking. It happens most often in less formal situations, like when he's on a political talk show... I think this fact points to a tactic.

[boorens18]

@ghuegel what are you talking about...the kids point was completely foolish. He made the obvious fallacy of confusing causation with correlation. I'm surprised Hitches didnt bash him down right off the bat. None of those deaths were "because" of atheism in the sense that the crusades were "because" of christianity. Atheism was no more responsible than the fact that all the leaders had mustaches. Atheism does not provide a motivation to kill. They killed to further their COMMUNIST ideology

[rodinalex]

@boorens18 I kinda like the way Hitch addressed it. Had he made the mustache remark, the questioner could have pitched the question as follows: "Atheism does not provide the motivation for killing, but it does not act as an inhibitor as a good religion would." Now, this is easy to shut down too, but that's extra time:)

[LordEsel88]

As stated by Hitchens, the real problem is credulity. This is a big factor in why we saw these dictatorships rise to power. Without credulity it is very unlikely they would have gotten that far.

The thing is that religions see credulity, faith, as a good thing. If we could somehow remove credulity, religions would probably disappear and dictatorships would not be able to take hold.

[SevenRiderAirForce]

No it's not yes it is no it's not yes it is nooo it's not FORA

lol

[nicksum29]

Shame, the poor boy doesn't have a chance. Christians will not win against people like Hitchens until they start having faith in Christ despite the obvious inaccuracies in scriptures, and not BECAUSE of them.

[petphotog]

Another great Q&A with Christopher Hitchens. I hope to met him some day. even to be on a panel with him.

[oldpiq]

Religion itself can not be either good or evil. It's just a system of beliefs and thoughts motivating different people. Religion doesn't have a mind, people do. If there was no religion, people would find other ways to fuck the world up. It's not about the tools, it's about the person who puts them to use.

[clymbhigh7]

@oldpiq so why give a nailgun to a 3 year old?

[oldpiq]

That's exactly the point. It's all about wrong people handling the tools they aren't supposed to. It doesn't mean that we should destroy all the nail guns. Not that religion is useful or anything. It's not.

[Ramshobraja]

Religion is both good and bad. However it is irrationality at the end of the day.

[Ginnungagap418]

There is only one true religion on earth, Thelema. Its a religion based on personal freedom and liberty. There is no god but man, the universe,the stars and nature its self. It says scientific illumination is the true path of understanding, understand nature through observation and you'll understand the working and true nature of god. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law, the law is love, love under will. The word of sin is restriction, hmmm restriction is the only sin.Dont be a slave

[Rockster969]

I read diary of a drug fiend and can dig that philosophy.

Love is the law,love under will.  :-)

[MrSalamander7]

"That's not actually true."

"Yes it is true."

"No it isn't."

"Yes it is."

funny

[Christisms]

I have friends who are Mormons, but there have been things said that would agree with Hitchens point:

- It is wrong to criticize leaders of the Church, even if the criticism is true.

- Once the prophet has spoken, the thinking has ended.

[jeans1515]

Fan-friggin-tastic video! Way to go Hitchen's. If you haven't read his book, do so.

[thesethreekings]

Which book?

[Nades129]

if i were gay who would I fuck....

Hitchens hands down ;)

[derangius]

yes he is like a chubby james bond

[Dominick629]

haahaaha, derangius, that's hilarious!!!

[llEricBananamanll]

"They got that far and were amazed to be told - that's not cool anymore" -- I love it!

Shame that the Jews and Christians will argue that God has given us all the sense of morality; and so the Jews would have already known its wrong - just hadn't been revealed as a commandment from God.

You can't make a rational claim because they have a theistic answer for everything!

[JQisAwesome]

The fruity boy who asked the question is pissing me off.

[qwertyuiop84913]

"You would have to be nuts"

Actually Stalin was nuts, which is why he killed so many people. He would not have been any less genocidal if he had worshipped 1st century wandering quack healers and their bronze age scriptures. Stalin was very paranoid, very much a reflection of devout Christian Ivan the Terrible.

[formless777]

Hmm... Wandering quack healers... you mean like Rasputin ? Now there's a good example of why religion and politics must not be allowed to mix...

[qwertyuiop84913]

Right. There were many healers in Palestine in Jesus' day. Assuming Jesus existed, it is likely that he used that same sort of folk healing. No miracles needed; placebo effects & fraud go a long way. Look at how many people today, in the modern world, rely solely on alternative medicine, even with modern science. People get scammed today despite high literacy.Only 5% of people in Jesus' day knew how to read. And while Rasputin was famous in his own lifetime, no one in Jesus' day wrote about him.

[Muthsera80]

Some even blame Rasputin for the downfall of the Tsar empire. So yeah I would agree. But people fail to realize what religion is. In the words of Gandhi. Those who think religion have nothing to do with politics knows nothing of religion.

Religion is about how we conduct ourself morally, politics is about the parameters of morals. It is really one and the same. The last 400 years however religion increasingly find its losing out, because it no longer is able to keep up.

[formless777]

You make many valid observations Muthsera80. Once learning was the purview of a religious elite who knew how to read. Since the advent of Science, religious elites have become increasingly irrelevant and the masses have rightly come to question much of the religious propaganda previously used by state religions to justify an unjust status quo.

[autofyrsto]

I love how Hitch asks people questions and then talks over them when they begin to speak....

[jaloshenrykos]

only 1 religion is truth Jehovah witneses

[KajiCarson]

Bullshit. All religion is false. It's all guesswork.

[realoldguy1969]

good one.

[AtheistKang]

I plan on reading Hitchen's book at some time in the future, but I have to hide it from my family.

[publicanimal9]

Your family are cretins!

[AtheistKang]

You wouldn't be able to tell they're religious except by the fact we go to church on Sunday. However, my mother would yell at me (and accuse me of being close-minded) if she caught me reading Hitchens's book.

[publicanimal9]

Accuse you of being 'close-minded' for reading a book??? I think you should disown her...or put her out to pasture with the other farmyard animals! lol

[farvision]

AtheistKang, wow, usually being open minded means to READ the book - and then judge it. Not reading it by judging it beforehand is close minded.

[AtheistKang]

I don't think I'm really that close-minded. A week ago I finished reading a Christian apologetics book by Dinesh D'Souza, and I've spent more than a year on youtube. I've listened to quite a few Christians' videos defending the resurrection, Kalam, and stuff like that. Furthermore, I watch debates between theists and atheists.

[farvision]

AtheistKang, sounds like you are open minded, I didn't mean to imply you were not. Unfortunately your mom seems to be close minded if she would accuse you of being close minded for reading a book!

[baraqiyal]

Tell your parents you're an atheist, but please surreptitiously record the whole confrontation for YouTube.

[AtheistKang]

They already know I'm an atheist, and I don't have a webcam.

[Ron7421]

His thinking and expressing of his thoughts really give a framework of accuarcy and progression.

Instead of bickering he states ideas that are so progressive that they melt illogicalcality in its tracks.

I dare say that he makes me crave true understanding and a command of my own thinking faculties.

I have always like to hear things said like it really is.

refreshing.

[kat1989]

'I dare say that he makes me crave true understanding and a command of my own thinking faculties'... this man has inspired me to go back to uni to try and educate myself to the extent that he is, and i just got accepted last week! hows that for redemptive power, suck on that christianity :) one man seeking truth has inspired me more than any of your dogma ever did.

[PhillyDickinson]

He certainly is an inspiration.

Congrats on getting accepted into uni; uni is great :)

[DavidWillB]

Hitchens is right on that last point.

The Prophet commanded the Latter Day Saints to vote into California law a ban on same sex marriage.

A friend of mine- a girl named Erin- is very compassionate and is not by any stretch against human rights.

She cried about it, but she voted in the ban, just as the Prophet commanded.

[zxslipperz007]

good story, perfect followup to the end of that vid

[DavidWillB]

I wish I didn't have it.

[farvision]

DavidWillB, my jaw dropped. Your friend Erin is a slave. How does one free such a person????

[DavidWillB]

I have no idea. It's really painful to try, too.

I have conversations with her and my other Mormon friends about the contradictions within the texts and they don't mind as they have many explanations about how some other verse sheds light on this or that is a metaphor but as soon as I move to the next step of doubting the truth and origin of the texts they react as though I am personally attacking them.

It is very discouraging and seems hopeless- but the faith hurts them- so what can I do?

[farvision]

I don't see anything but keeping on trying to educate people. At some point the light may go on and they will escape their slavery.

[Stoffig27]

I find it amusing that you see it as slavery. Believing in a higher being gives them support and peace of mind. So who are we to take that away?

[sam51092]

I'd say that someone who believes the evangelical message that God has said 'love me, or burn for eternity', and finds in this message of coercion 'peace of mind', is worse than a slave. Slaves can resent their slavery and crave freedom. But someone who LOVES their slavery is nothing short of a masochist.

[DandAinTac]

@sam51092 Exactly! At least a slave can rebel, try to run away, imagine and yearn for freedom, and hate rather than be forced to love as well as fear their masters, and after death they are at least free then. A theistic God is the ultimate slavemaster. An all-powerful, all-knowing God certainly runs against the notion of freedom.

[sam51092]

@DandAinTac Damn straight.

[mrcoolstuff1]

@DandAinTac my first question is were does god say you have to follow him? he does say if you dont you will die in hell... but for the satan worshipers thats good... so ur incorrect in saying that god makes you believe in him... next is when you say that slaves are free after they die, but since your atheist (i'm guessing) then after you die your not "free" your taking a dirt nap for the rest of eternity... does that sound free??? im not trying to argue with you but thats just my opinion.. thx

[idb87]

@mrcoolstuff1

...You shall have no other God than Me.

Which means what? 

[adzug]

@idb87 it means this god is jealous and petty and insecure about "his" power. in short it really means that the men who wrote this were projecting their own problems onto this god.

[DandAinTac]

@mrcoolstuff1 I like your interpretation of saying we don't have to follow him. If you don't though, you are tortured for all eternity. Oh, but you don't really have to follow him! What a crock! It reminds me of The Godfather: "Make him an offer he CAN'T refuse." I hate to break this to you, but we are all doomed to die and take that "dirt nap" you speak of. That's just the price of life. Furthermore, I would rather be free for the span of a human life than be a slave for all eternity.

[funnyapples1]

@sam51092 very good point, sir

[Kan2209]

@sam51092 Well done in parroting Hitchens. You could almost be worthy of a zealous title.

[sam51092]

@Kan2209 I parroted Hitchens? You're too kind. I believe I was parroting a bumper sticker.

[farvision]

It's a false security that leads them to fly airplanes into buildings, be continuously dishonest (in every religion) , to block scientific progress, mess with other people's lives that they have no business with. I object to the theist messing up the world and so it is time to stop it.

[algosha3]

@farvision People whom believe in God (Jesus) do not attempt to stop progress. Have you studied any of the pioneers of science? You are ignorantly spewing non sense.

[farvision]

@algosha3 How can you possibly say that religions do not hinder science? Read about Darwin and Galileo Galilei! Look into how the ID movement is trying to ruin (!) science education in the USA. Just because some scientists presented to the world that they 'believed' 1) doesn't mean they did and 2) probably meant they were forced to by the times. The progress goes on despite the ones who insist that we did not evolve and those who amazingly still think the earth is the center of the universe.

[gary7999]

@farvision Tell me about it.They tell me its not so bad and all I need is medication because I dont want to associate myself with persons that allow politicians that break laws because they believe in god to walk free but wont let bank robbers to walk free.If some thinks the pen is mightier than the sword they may be right.Legislating freedom of religion was one of the worst thing that happened to this country.Only christians.jews,and muslims will be allowed to prosper in America.The three sixes

[BRtankbuster]

I think you need to come off your high horse. People can grow up.

[formless777]

Why do we need to remove religion ? Simple. Human survival depends on having reliable information to work from. Religion is delusion, and worse it leaves people open to exploitation by ruthless sociopaths who prey on their credulity. Peace of mind is complacency, and complacency leads to disaster.

[LeySun]

I propose an ammendment to your statement if I may. I don't think that peace of mind as a means of better dealing with the challenges of life is complacency. Peace of mind derived from a deluded belief in a benevolent overseer, of course, is. But peace of mind can also be attained through philosophical enquiry, self knowledge and investigation. One then can proceed to constantly examine the world thought eyes bereft of fear and with a will determined to cope best.

[ardamels01]

Najs