How secular family values stack up

[STS]

I didn't say they do, and there are obvious many factors involved in how a person gets to a point of committing bad things. But religion is inherently divisive and antagonistic. Religious people who are a55holes also aren't necessarily a55holes because of their religious beliefs, but quite often they are, and their evil deeds are directly a result of their religious beliefs.

but then how is it a cop out saying an ******* is an *******? a crime has various aspects to it, it would be better discussing morality then. in regards to crime and being a bad person, religion does not make you that way, your attitude towards others makes you that way.

religion IS a huge factor in a person's morality, identity and self worth, religious people may think they're better than other people, feel that they're fighting a spiritual war, that they are picked on by society for following strict rules, etc.

 

[grok]

They did studies on suicide bombers and such, and found out they were actually good moral people who thought they were doing the right thing. They could just have easily being your friend in a different environment.

Religion can make nice people commit acts of violence... joyfully. Those that can be lead to believe absurdities can be lead to commit atrocities.

That study is skewed as they probably could only study the unsuccessful ones.

 

[w1z4rd]

That study is skewed as they probably could only study the unsuccessful ones.

I actually managed to find where I found that information.

[video=youtube;uuipt15s08c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuipt15s08c[/video]

 

[OrbitalDawn]

but then how is it a cop out saying an ******* is an *******? a crime has various aspects to it, it would be better discussing morality then. in regards to crime and being a bad person, religion does not make you that way, your attitude towards others makes you that way.

religion IS a huge factor in a person's morality, identity and self worth, religious people may think they're better than other people, feel that they're fighting a spiritual war, that they are picked on by society for following strict rules, etc.

It's a cop out because it ignores the reason behind why religious people can be a55holes because of their religion.

Religion can make you that way. It can inspire otherwise decent folk to commit atrocities or defend them, purely because of religion.

 

[porchrat]

I don't see why, i mean i can understand that many atheist parents may be more skeptical and have more knowledge of the world than many other people, but if you're an *******, you're an *******, no matter our justification for it. a christian killing someone and praying to god for forgiveness and an atheist killing someone because they can are no different, they're beliefs and justification differ but they still get their end result

atheists may also be open minded in regards to belief, but they may be close minded on a lot of other issues. there is no doubt that creating a free, fair and tolerant environment produces better people, but it doesn't mean atheists can't be bad people

edit: or being free of religion makes you free from any bad thoughts

For me personally I feel it is because I base my moral code on rational thinking and empathy always instead of sometimes and then sometimes on a book. I know what I want, what freedoms I am glad for, and I want to ensure that the way I live my life doesn't infringe upon those same freedoms for others.

I also judge whether an act is evil or destructive or not based on actually giving it a good think with regards to the potential harm it can have. I don't simply consider it evil because a book tells me it is evil. Using homosexuality as an example: I doubt you are going to get a single Christian that will be able to tell you why homosexual acts are bad, they just are because their deity says they are.

 

[STS]

It's a cop out because it ignores the reason behind why religious people can be a55holes because of their religion.

Religion can make you that way. It can inspire otherwise decent folk to commit atrocities or defend them, purely because of religion.

Of course, but it also doesn't mean that every christian in jail is there because he is christian. Hardly anyone stones, burns or hangs non-believers/sinners in america any more