Religion's Purpose [1/2] - The Atheist Experience #673

Jen and Matt talk about the purpose of religion (part 1 of 2).
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEwNyv2Rjrc

This is an edited clip from The Atheist Experience #673 of September 5, 2010 with Matt Dillahunty and Jen Peeples. This entire episode (topic: "Purpose of Religion?") is archived on Blip.tv and Ustream.tv:

► http://www.blip.tv/file/4089522 (TV broadcast)
► http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/9383303 (webcast)


WHAT IS THE ATHEIST EXPERIENCE?

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[ninijacob]

religion is obsolete. we have science now and don't need religion for that sense of community. Some ppl just cant let it go tho.

[GodlessFurry]

religion is a tool of control

[snaforfun]

@Terry1212 watch?v=JGY6Ta293Yc

[Terry1212]

I wish I was raised an atheist. I'm having a hard time going from believing in a god for 25 years to not. I now understand what atheists mean when they say that most theists are brainwashed when they are children. There's a sense of loss even though there was nothing to really lose and it's depressing. I wish my parents were atheists.

[mentalphysicalism]

The basis of religion is tribalism. Religion is a bond to a group and the group

identity. The function of religion is to bind a group together and the function of science

is to discover how the world works. Religion is prescriptive and science is descriptive.

[LinearMusiKHD]

@GodlessFurry Marx said that; "religion is the opium of the people"

[thescorpionking2020]

religion is failed bronze age science

[itsuyo211]

@Madkite agreed. the idea of existing forever used to literally scare me when i was a kid. nonexistence is fine by me.

[ufjazzman97]

Ricky Gervais made a great point: god is the invisible babysitter who watches over you when your parents can't.

[M3t4lManiac]

@ninijacob if anything, it's harmful.

[jungsbodyguard]

@no1hoopsman She's talking about how religion first occured in society.

[Madkite]

Generally when religion is not being exploited for control and politics. It serves as a personal explanation for the unexplained. God whatever the definition being an explain all. It also allows wishful thinking to allay evolved fears such as death.

Giving up such wishful thinking and accepting your almost certain total end is highly unappealing to the religious as it takes away comforts that soften reality.

Personally the idea of being nothing one day is quite a comforting peaceful idea.