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LanceHughes -> RE: Why are so many non-Believers so narrow minded? (6/28/2010 5:51:18 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tazzygirl
Great art, charities, support systems (Think 12 step here). While i dont want to listen to some evangelical nut case preach, i do see religions usefullness in society.
A) WARS of every stripe through every century if not decade.
B) Suppression of even greater art through censorship.
C) Missionary works that destroyed indigenous cultures.
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.
D) The killing of witches who were often healers, starting to use REAL medicinal knowledge.
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.
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?
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'
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)
I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y,Z,AA,AB, AC,.... etc. The list is endless.
Open your eyes, little girl..... open your eyes!
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