tazzygirl
Posts: 37833
Joined: 10/12/2007
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A) WARS of every stripe through every century if not decade.
And i suppose no wars were ever waged without the benefit of religion of any sort. I also suppose it may have passed your notice that many of these so called "religious wars" were waged with the goal of someone having an earthly benefit. Hardly what i would call a religious war.
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B) Suppression of even greater art through censorship.
There is suppression now? Define suppression. Then define who is doing the suppression and why. This article... http://www.princeton.edu/culturalpolicy/workpap/WP16%20-%20DiMaggio,%20Cage,%20Robinson,%20Steensland.pdf ... does a good job of defining it in Philadelphia. Might interest you to read.
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C) Missionary works that destroyed indigenous cultures.
Like the native americans who were almost wiped out? Interesting that only the religious do that.
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D) Charitable works tied to religious messages. I'm thinking "Sit through the service. Then we'll give you dinner." Here in Denver, Missionaries of Charity (Mother Theresa's Order) "helps" AIDS sufferers in the most restrictive, inhumane way you can imagine. As a matter of fact, people have said they'd rather commit suicide.
"Inhumane," Lance? Whatever do you mean? - Here's a link to a former Sister's article http://www.secularhumanism.org/library/fi/shields_18_1.html which is titled "Mother Teresa's House of Illusions." The six principles of Missionaries of Charity are "silence, prayer, faith, love, service, and peace." AIDS sufferers are required to be in chapel for 4 hours a day, to be silent the rest of the time while they perform services such as laundry and mopping floors. Food is of the meanest sort. Money contributed is sent to the Mother House as outlined in the article linked to just above.
Did you forget the other charitable works? Pittsburgh Catholic Charities offers medical treatment, dental, eye and hospital bill coverage for people of Alleghney County. Im sure there are equally as many other charities out there that do the same without a requirement of religious affiliation.
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D) The killing of witches who were often healers, starting to use REAL medicinal knowledge.
Many of whom were killed not because of witchcraft, but because some man believed he would lose power. Again, having nothing to do with the religion and everything to do with a man's fear.
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E) 12 step programs that kill self-esteem. An Atheist once sued the courts for being required to attend a religious exercise. (And he won. Article http://www.correctionsone.com/news/1843208-Atheist-sues-Calif-prison-officials-over-12-step-program/) Sure 'nuff, there are similar programs helping people with overcoming their addictions without resorting to nonsense about a "higher power."
Here's an article http://www.bukisa.com/articles/102062_finding-secular-alternatives-to-aa-and-12-step-for-atheists-agnostics-and-non-believers that starts "Drug rehab, be it twelve step or otherwise, is often so stuffed with God you wouldn't be able to tell it apart from church," and then continues to outline alternatives.
While it doesnt work for everyone, a large majority need something bigger than themselves to get through the rough spots. Having a belief in god does nothing to take away from their self esteem. They have no self esteem, otherwise, they wouldnt be in a 12 step program.
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F) Churches do not pay property taxes on their land. That is, non-believing taxpayers pay higher taxes so that church BUILDINGS are covered by police, fire, sewerage, etc. Estimates are at least 25% of LAND tax is exempted. Most businesses with Angelica in their name are owned by the Roman Catholic Church..... why should Angelica Dry-Cleaners not pay their property taxes just as Mom-n-Pop have done so for years?
Churches legally do not pay taxes. Dont like the system, then change it. But dont blame the church for what was given to them.
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G) Spirituality? What a waste of one's talents, believing that there's something out there? Live your life as if YOU are in charge of it, not some cosmic force like the zodiac. Spirituality makes one miss out on the BEST life has to offer, by keeping your head in the sand, performing mumbo-jumbo worthless rituals. Or worse, saying "Oh, I'm spiritual, not religious," when you really haven't thought about wtf that means. I have yet to have anyone give a real-life description of what makes them "spiritual." As defined, the word says "believing in another, other worldly realm. A belief in the super-natural." Sounds like hallucinations to me. And those are usually an indication of mental illness. Just sayin'
No, you arent just sayin... your judging, as usual, you are demeaning people you dont know about things you have no clue about, and you feel smug in your belief. Yes, your belief. Without evidence or proof, thats all you got.
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H) Suppression of scientific advances and truth (a'la Galileo.) GREAT bumper sticker: "The last time religion ruled the world it was called the Dark Ages."
A similar quote: "We would be 1,500 years ahead if it hadn't been for the church dragging science back by its coattails and burning our best minds at the stake." (Catherine Fahringer - you can wiki her)
Yet some of the worlds best scientific minds had a religious bent.
http://www.adherents.com/people/100_scientists.html
Since you like quotes so much... here is one for you...
Erwin Schrodinger. He was the founder of wave mechanics and the originator of what is the most important equation in science, Schrodinger's equation. He says,
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I'm very astonished that the scientific picture of the real world is very deficient. It gives a lot of factual information, puts all our experience in a magnificently consistent order, but it is ghastly silent about all and sundry that is really near to our heart, that really matters to us. It cannot tell us a word about red and blue, bitter and sweet, physical pain and physical delight, knows nothing of beautiful and ugly, good or bad, God and eternity. Science sometimes pretends to answer questions in these domains, but the answers are very often so silly that we are not inclined to take them seriously.
http://acct.tamu.edu/smith/science.htm
As to your command that i open my eyes... they are in fact wide open, to the realities and possibilities. I do not restrain myself or my beliefs, nor do i allow others to form them for me, even atheists who insist they know better without proof.
_____________________________
Telling me to take Midol wont help your butthurt.
RIP, my demon-child 5-16-11
Duchess of Dissent 1
Dont judge me because I sin differently than you.
If you want it sugar coated, dont ask me what i think! It would violate TOS.
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RE: Why are so many non-Believers so narrow minded? - 
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