David G.

You are absolutely correct.

However, if they didn't do it in the name of god, they would be doing it in the name of some other ...

"In the name of god" may be the excuse, but most often it isn't the real reason.

'runner..said..<<..Isn't heaven nothing but..a larger-scale temptation and..
isn't hell nothing..but a larger-scale..place of purification?>> '

oug

I did. That is really news to me.

Dear David,

I agree with Danielle.

That people pretend to be religious, or are themselves deluded that they are, just because they pay lip-service to God in their prayers before going out to war, doesn't imply that they are religious indeed and is no ground to attack religion itself, only those hypocrites.

Dear Ojnab,

<<Atheists are peace loving people>>

Go tell that to Mao and Stalin.

Dear Runner,

<<Isn't heaven nothing but a larger-scale temptation and isn't hell nothing but a larger-scale place of purification>>

It was I who wrote so, then OUG attributed it by mistake to you.

I do hope, though, that you would agree with me that the goal of religion is to attain God, rather than to have a pleasant time in heaven and avoid the pains of hell.

Yuyutsu,

So are you saying that anyone who can eliminate their mind and ego (whatever that means) is morally justified in inflicting evil?

[Remember, I’m not just talking about pain here, and if you are, then we’re wasting our time. However, I'd still be interested in your response with a clarification of what you are encompassing in your use of the word "pain".]

<<That people pretend to be religious … doesn't imply that they are religious>>

That’s not what Danielle was saying at all.

And this is the ‘No true Scotsman’ fallacy, too, by the way.

Danielle,

<<However, if they didn't do it in the name of god, they would be doing it in the name of some other.>>

This is the old, "It's not religion that's to blame, it's people", argument that so many theists use. Myself included, when I was a theist.

It’s convenient that theists are so quick attribute charitable works to religion, yet as soon as we spot negative effects, religion’s just an excuse that could easily be replaced by anything else. By doing this, theists commit similar fallacies to those that grateful committed in being so quick to attribute only the good to his god.

It’s important to remember that the actions of many religious extremists would be unintelligible without religion. Lack of education and poverty are often blamed instead, yet those so often committing the worst acts are the more educated and wealthy (e.g. 9/11 hijackers).

The Abrahamic religions tear people down and then build them back up again (c.f. Amazing Grace) with themselves at the centre of what makes that person feel good about themselves. It becomes a part of their identity in a way that nothing else could. To brush-off the unique effects that religion has on people, by claiming that just any ol’ belief or condition could take its place to justify bad deeds, is naive to say the least.

The best non-religious parallel to religion one could find - and one for which there is nothing within atheism to support - would be communism. However, communism is more of a pseudo-religion. Just look at North Korea for example; the last Stalinist country left: their president is a dead man that must be worshipped (his descendants were and are only heads of the communist party and the military); Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are said to have had miraculous births; it has a trinity of sorts; there is round-the-clock-surveillance; and they have their own form of ‘original sin’ in which prison sentences may span over generations.

But at least with North Korea you can get out by dying.

david..what you say is undeniable..true..men done it
and danielle..is right too..if there/is..no god..[even..if we/are god]

so..how do/we fix this
[is there..an atheist..'anti-christ'..that..helps destroy..the vermin..in..the temple..[do atheists/hold..the father guilty..of the works..of the son?

i..can prove..for/you..there is..NO..'god'
would that help?

i can/prove the majority..of christians..really believe
jesus.is god..[i can..refute this/but so..too..*you]

do/we..close the..unholy temples[or all/of them]
would we..have too swear/lies true..on..the bible?

i..have so..many questions
im..over govt watching..me surf the web..and..my/following links..
so can we avoid..AUTHORITY..like/that and indicate..where i..can get these answers..[normally i would/do it..myself..but my computer..has picked up a bug]..and i prefer..a wrong answer..[but..in your own word..than..some authoritative..'quote'..i appreciate..your honesty

oj..<<>>..OUG,..Atheists..are peace/loving people,..not
like..yourself..who wants.to create..a WAR..*of words<<..

i...agree..but mate...im..now..on YOUR side

i..KNOW..there is no..god..i spent..over 24 years reading/THEIR..holy texts..i rekon..i know..what they..really are saying..[collectively} is more..re..that..theW*holy spirit..[ie every*thing=..E]..

*but no..abrahamic vengeful/disciplin-arian..patriarch..who hates sex..and harm-lees fun..[that..some]..would call..god..[BUT.. IS/not*...the holy spirit]..

if..their god=one..their wrong..
[that..they would..call god..is..a place
/a location..[her name is ana]

just/the true name.reveals she has ego..[thus..cannot..'be'.god]..i got the info..of the 7th/himself..[her name..means alpha/negative alpha..but she=the sun[e]..the holy spirit..is channeled..through..all the suns

so..if ana..=god..the.sky is full..[of gods]
regardless anna..did set up life./.on..this realm..but she is just one..of many..'gods]..[heck..we ARE ALL*DESTINED..to..become suns of the holly spirit]..we each..will indeed..have our OWN..let there 'be..light[e]..moment..so 'god'..is far from..one..and far from unique..

we have christians..[so/what..would an anti-christ 'do]
i make war..[with words]..[even..*sacred/words..[s/words][sharp*s-words]

//<<war seems to be,..whether in battle..or on OLO
to be..in every religious persons mind,..kill them,>>

hangon..i -thought i was with..them
ass..i..knoow there is no..'god///[kill the head...the body dies
[but they lead innocents..NO..KILLING..the god..[of life on earth],, [ana]..sustains..life..she wont take it..[ever]

<<>propped up..by books/that were written
centuries ago..with no truth..in them what so ever...>>

sorry your wrong there
im not into..book0burning..THESE BO0KS..ARE HOLY
they were written..[largly]..by man-kinds best minds..their preservation..[across time]..is an act..of supreme..love..worthy..of true suns..of the holy spirit[E]..

im..not looking for peace
i..just want/to..end war

<<..you will..never find it..in the Bible>>..

thats the problem
i did..[plus many..other holy texts..besides..
together they reveal..the true picture..[a messenger was sent..to..every nation]..but....they NEEDED..a certain..god../.but who=they?

im..not into..witch-hunts
i cant..be led easilly..and refuse to..lead..sheep..or men.