I'd call myself an atheist; athough of course there is a possibility of an existence of God(s)- as much as I don't believe it and find it ridiclious, it's insular to say never, ever, ever.
I find that religious fundamentalism is another type of fascism or communism; an extremely disctorial way of telling people how to behave.
In the 21st century, 2012, there are people who are brought up or converted to religion as the salutary sanctuary of life. But I find it intolerable that one can argue or convert to another that the existence of God(s) is ''an actualization, a reality'' without testing, without evidence. An uneducated preacher would argue this as the case (for fear of Hell or their divine power, above); but this is just prejudice & just stupidity, in my opinion. Another idiotic religious reaction to this is that ''but how can you believe in evolution and science as the be all and end all?''. With the sort answer being: I've witnessed evolution 'etc' happening around me every single day. That's more evidence than 'seeing God', witnessing something inconceivable, a miricle; as well as what an old book that has contradicted itself time and time again has to say. Don't get me wrong, the stories and teaching can be extremely valuable and helpful & I can honestly say I feel slightly doltish saying all this without having read through it completely...
(Again, not to say this is 100% fact, the theory of evolution is a theory)..
''Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science''
- Charles Darwin.
People bring others into the world, teach them morals, rights and wrongs. Like teaching your child a simplicity like why you shouldn't run with knifes (couldn't say carry 'cuz of 'dem sikhs) is similar as the affirmation & forced teaching of God(s) & their existence. The 'main reason' for wars and acts of extreme violence (take 9/11 for an example) is to do with or because of religion. Which is one reason why I argue in religion's plain silliness. 99% of religious fundamentalism and worship is based on 'one' thing, fear, with a lot of greed mixed in. Thus when people are scared or their fear something they worship it to the point that if others disagree or fuel an argument against it- they attack it (like I see timelessly between Atheists and Christians on these forums).
Religious fundamentalism being just another type of fascism or communism? The point is that religion is a tool for power, to keep people in place so that in power can keep power. And how do you become powerful apart from being a good 'talk-the-talker' and persuader.. monies!!! This can be seen through all areas of religion. Not to say that the Pope should be as poor and should live the the same lifestyle as the unemployed drunk that comes to God for guidance while he shoots up in the confession booth, but through any religious sect, you can see all the abuse of humanity through 'taking their money'. To buy new Bibles and replace the old building of a Church, the pastor or reverend ask for donations from the people, who of course blindly donate; not to say that's wrong.
Giving money, or giving anything for that fact is a great feeling. To give a loved one a gift on Christmas, Hanukkah or Eid al-Adha (lol) just to make them happy is a fantastic feeling. But the truth of the corruptness is that religious groups (small and large) abuse people's consciences. Asking someone to pay to 'help' can be just manipulation (yes, money does go into helping the religion run in every way shape and form & yes, religions do great work for charities etc) but the amount it seems that goes to help the riches of those up the hierarchy seems completely infelicitously incongruous. Bleugh.
People do things because they learn through their lives what is right & wrong to believe. Why I made the point about bringing a life into the world then teaching it only that there is (for example) one Christian God & why I have a lot of negativity towards 'rents that do this. In extreme cases, well, we can see the results of this. It goes without saying, yes, the good in the world (in this argument caused by religious related acts) is shadowed by the bad and that we over-look the good. However, I see religion as just like a democracy of power. Made to control and greater ones grasp of power and wealth over others, something man has been doing to animals and each other for thousands of years, evolution, eh. Survival of the fittest, the one who can adapt to change and gain control to secure a future. This is happening all around us, day to day, not only in religious sense but through work and lifestyle.
Religion will always exist because of evolution, if you can see what I was saying...
Anyway, brain is tired from talking possibly a huge amount of crap, I haven't read up on what I've been saying. But hopefully it'll make some sense etc and will make you think and react.
''I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created parasitic wasps with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars''- Darwin. Lol.
P.S Any ''LOL Didn't Reads'' will just confirm to me and others (hopefully yourselves although this is unlikely) that you're plainly, an idiot. You're wasting your own time making yourself feel better about not being educated enough to either: read and come up with an insightful reply or; be witty enough to insult properly...
Thanks!
... Now go get Kony
. .
http://www.secularhumanism.org/index...ge=cragun_32_4