For most people the reality is bitter. That is the reason why media like cinema and TV have their hey days in today’s world.

Superstitious ideas and poverty are the two main causes for the bitterness seen among people. Religions cause disturbances throughout the world due to alienation they bring about. Ethnicity and castes also are a major source of friction between different sections of people. When all religions preach love and compassion how is that that they fail to unite people of different faiths? Religious teachings are not followed in true letter and spirit. Religious rituals and customs associated with religions are seen as a means of following the religions.
We find that Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs give more importance to physical rituals and customs to exhibit their faith but fail to follow the human values such as universal brotherhood, love and compassion as preached in religious scriptures. This raises a serious question whether religions can unite people at all. Similarly ethnicity and castes have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.
Man is still primitive. Religious doctrines have failed to change his selfish nature. Science has also failed to influence people’s thinking positively.
So, what is needed is to utilize scientific truths to dispel myths about religion, castes, ethnicity etc.
The following may be useful in this respect.
Evolution theory should be highlighted at every opportunity. People should be made to understand that all humans have the same origin and distinctions developed much later because of the survival instinct. Religions were developed by good humans to discipline primitive man but miserably failed. If religions had any positive impact on human behaviour the world would be free of conflicts by now.
Similarly castes in India have kept alive the discrimination and poverty. Mitochondrial DNA studies have established that the people of the world are a mixed one. This truth should be highlighted in schools and colleges to help the young minds to shed their myths about religions, castes etc.
The historical truth of mixing of different religious, racial and caste groups must be taught in colleges.

//Reality is bitter//

Depends which vinegar taster you ask.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinegar_tasters

The objective world as we perceive it, is not the Reality and yes, it is bitter for nothing of it will remain forever.

Religion is there to return us to the only Reality - God and thus free us from the shackles of this bitter world.

Different organisations that call themselves "religious" are only partially, to varying degrees, successful in actually leading people towards God, away from the false worldly, bitter "reality" and its fake compensations such as the media and science.

God, how did he/she let so many have that name? God that is, it is said man invented near 4.000 of them, and just about every one it is said created all we see, does that say then God let us hate and kill each other in his/her name? could we,, in time, become one humanity if we had no God?

Dear Belly,

«it is said man invented near 4.000 of them»

Man only invented that many REPRESENTATIONS of God in order to have more convenient access to God - and will continue to invent more representations as the need arises. God Him/Her/Itself is neither of these representations.

«could we,, in time, become one humanity if we had no God?»

You cannot become anything that you not already are. We are all one anyway, for we are God.

sorry Ezhil evolution is the most irrational superstitous belief system one could find. You need to learn the simple fact that saying lies often enough does not make it true. The history of those embracing such a death culture speaks for itself. In the West we murder millions of unborn by ignoring biology and simple truth. Evolution just allows man to think he has his own destiny in his hands. Visit any cemetry and you will see the stupidity of man's arrogance. Talk about the belief in fairytales.

It is up to the collective action of people to make
changes. Ultimately once people no longer take their
world for granted, but instead understand the social
authorship of their lives and futures, they can become
a force in history. Whether we choose to destroy our
civilisation or save it is a collective decision.

If more and more nuclear weapons are built, and if more
sophisticated means of delivering them are devised, and if
more and more nations get control of these vile devices,
then we surely risk our own destruction.

If ways are found to reverse that process, then we can
divert unprecedented energy and resources to the real
problems that face us, including poverty, disease,
over-population, injustice, oppression and the
devastation of our natural environment.

Ultimately the prospect of doing this depends on the
collective action of ordinary people. This may seem
paradoxical at first for individuals often feel
powerless in the face of distant governments and
mighty arsenals. Yet modern society relies on the
support of individuals. For example if a society goes
to war, it's not because the leaders have opted for
war, but because the people have implicitly or
explicitly done so also - or at least they haven't opted
for peace.

Therefore we may hope and trust that our ultimate choice will
in the future be to enhance the life on our planet and
not continue to destroy it. We need to ensure that our
world leaders will start taking notice of the vast army
of experts who are willing and able to guide us through the
coming difficult years. A better world is possible. It will
take effort. It will be difficult. But it will be worth it.

O by the way Ezhil.In your version of the evolution fantasy are the aboriginals less evolved than the British? Just wondering. It was the predominant view among the hardline evolution not long back.

Students of science understand evolution.It is the well accepted concept in biology.Man has not evolved from nowhere.

Evolution gets my vote.

It's amazing that some people cannot accept the remote possibility of evolution (or science generally) but willingly believe that a 500 year old man built a boat and filled it with animals to escape a global flood, not to mention talking donkeys.

Their "proof" is a carefully selected group of Bronze age writings that existed long before the age of science, yet gladly use the product of evolved technology to spread their views.

There are some Christian groups who modify this to say that black people evolved from apes but white men were made by God (except for Jews - who were made by Satan)but otherwise share the same beliefs and the rest - except for Mormons.

They certainly live in their own version of reality but somehow always seem angry and bitter about something and also with a kind of persecution complex.

runner's question highlights a misunderstanding among creationists: they think scientists view evolution as a process of advancement, with some species (and some populations of the same species) being more evolved than others. But that sort of evolution is almost as much of a fantasy as they think it is.

In reality, natural selection favours traits that are best suited to the local environment. Depending on the environment, it can favour simplicity or complexity. Sometimes it favours specialisation; sometimes more general, multi purpose adaptations are favoured. Different environments favour different traits - for example high latitudes favour light skin to combat vitamin D deficiency, while low latitudes favour dark skin to protect against sunburn and skin cancer.

Evolution is normally a very gradual process, however major changes in the environment can sometimes favour abnormalities, enabling more rapid changes to occur.

So the premiss is that without religion, life will be better. It will not be bitter. And to further this conclusion the idea is to spearhead education to discredit and disprove religion.

However is this something to conclude on how to make life better? It's part of the beginning statements that neither religion nor science have removed man's selfishness or negitivity.

The truth is that the world is bigger then our solutions. It's problems are crime related, poverty related, and greed related, among many other things that factor into it. And having a better understanding, whether religous or scientific are not going to change this.

However, there are things within the scopes of the world that do change people. Equal hardships bring about compassion to each other. Hardships, rebuke our plans and make us re-evaluate our priorities. And sorrow for one person can make them wiser through it, and help another going through a simular pain that they went through.

These are the bitternesses of the world but they also are a bitter pill for us all to change us. Without at least some hardship, I think the dominate quality of selfishness and greed would be unchallenged in anyone. Instead compassion comes not because of our better understanding, but because of our love for eachother.

(Continued)

(Continued)

Take this into account when discussing how to make the world a better place. Before devising a plan on how to convince people your ideals are right and the other philosophies and theologies are wrong. Because that might only encourage the divisiveness of what you observe to be a decisive world.

....Which unfortunately is an unavoidable aspect of seeking and spreading the truth on any matter. It is divisive. Separating what is right from what is pure bs. At first this is only divisive, with competing "truths" trying to fight for superiority, and philosophies clash. But the truth should be sought after. On smaller things like misconceptions, misunderstandings and uncovering lies, as well as sought after for the larger things of injustice, crime, and the great harms that plague our world; so that justice and solutions can be sought after, first truth needs to be sought after.

(truths is in quotes because the truth is not relative, it doesn't change. Our understanding, priorities, and likes change. But if truth exists, it is unchanging).

One issue is that what is right and what is true is not agreed on, so offering up a new "truth" won't fix this issue, even if seeking the truth is a worthy cause for other reasons and can contribute to a better world in the longer term. Going out on a war against religion only spreads a new dogma of philosophy. It does nothing to correct the world or make it a better place. Especially if the philosophies against religion are in error. (Which is a possibility that is often ignored, even when pointed out specific errors).

(Continued)

(Continued)

So what will make the world a better place? If not knowledge and understanding then what? Compassion and the golden rule. Treat others the way you want to be treated will solve many of the great crimes and bitter situations we put on ourselves. And compassion will invoke in us to take on each others burdens and even forgive each other's wrongs. These two things can be accomplished without being educated about them, and they can be strengthened by education as well. However, regardless if there is any truth in evolution or not, it will not help make the world better and less bitter. Seek the truth on that for other reasons then to fix the greater issues of injustice, crime, and greed.

What I have suggested is that crime, injustice etc are committed in the name of religion, ethnicity , castes, nations etc. People are killed in the name of religion without any guilt feeling. One group or nation doses not bother about another group's or nation's suffering because of these irrational social concepts. Superstitious ideas certainly makes the life of millions miserable. Let us strive to eliminate these aspects by teaching the future generations the truth about history, folly of religions etc.

are the aboriginals less evolved than the British?
runner,
Please clarify, then or now & which country?

Dear Ezhill,

On the one hand you say:

«crime, injustice etc are committed in the name of religion»
«People are killed in the name of religion»

On the other, you recommend:

«Let us strive to eliminate these aspects by teaching the future generations the truth about history, folly of religions»

So while bad things are done IN THE NAME of religion, you ask to blame religion itself. Suppose someone stole your identity to go on a crime spree, would you agree that you need to go to jail for their crimes?

'are the aboriginals less evolved than the British?
runner,
Please clarify, then or now & which country?'

Individual

you would need to have checked out British museums to see skulls of aboriginals and Africans as 'proof' of the missing link. One of my aboriginal friends actually went to London to pick one of them up a number of years ago.

Then more fairytales such as the fraudulent Piltdown man was put into school text books. The lie was told often enough for the gullible to believe. Oh well ignore the plain truth you are bound to be handed over to a corrupt mind. Evolutionist have certainly be shown this to be true. Bit like the gw alarmist. Tell the lie often enough but keep changing the 'facts'. Nothing new under the sun as Solomon said.

It is hard to keep up with the number of revisions and lies that need to cover over the previous ones. I suppose thats

runner,
no missing links around here only shackle-pins.

Yuyutsu
It is a different thing altogether. Let us not argue for the sake argument. Let us contribute to remove confusions.

Many people today no longer believe deeply in
traditional religion, but many haven't found a
satisfying substitute. Lacking commitment
to a shared belief system some tend to pursue
their private interests without regard for their
fellows. Therein lies the problem.

Whatever their source the rituals enacted in any
religion enhance the solidarity of the community
as well as its faith. The rituals (like Baptism,
bar mitzvah, weddings, Sabbath services, Christmas
mass, and funerals) serve to bring people together,
to remind them of their common group membership,
to reaffirm their traditional values, to maintain
prohibitions and taboos, to offer comfort in times
of crisis, and in general, to help transmit the
cultural heritage from one generation to the next.

For many years it was widely felt that as science
progressively provided rational explanations for the
mysteries of the universe, religion would have less
and less of a role to play and would eventually
disappear as nothing more than superstition.

But there are still gaps in our understanding that
science cannot fill. On the meaning and purpose of
life and the nature of morality.

I've written on this subject previously that few
people of modern societies would utterly deny the
possibility of some higher power in the universe,
some supernatural, transcendental realm that lies
beyond the boundaries of ordinary experience, and in
this fundamental sense religion is probably here to
stay.

To Ezhil.

I get that you think that religions are the roots of all the evil in the world. I've heard this philosophy several times, phrased differently, or with a different spin on it or a different tone applied to it. But it is in error.

You probabley won't believe me on this, but God is real. He is not a superstition. If you can, understand this principle first. If God is real then He is not a superstition. The next questions seek answers for is who or what God is; and if any religions (or at least their texts and prophets) come from God.

The error in the philosophy that all religions are the source of the evil in the world is wrong for three reasons. The first I already addressed, that God is real. The second is that it's in error because it doesn't recoginize the differences within the religions of the world, and so it is not of value to place crimes or wrongs one religion does as a charge against another religion. With that in mind, if God uses any one religion (or multiple religions) to contact mankind, then the distinguishing aspects between the religions is a worth while point. Which ones are from God and which ones don't line up and say what isn't from God.

(Continued)

(Continued)

The third reason for this error is just as important as the other two. That there is evil done in the world done in the name of religion, as well as evil done in the world that doesn't acknowledge religion at all. With this in mind, we can try to look for a philosophy that has lasted where it's adherents have not commited evil or harm to others.

It is unfortunately my observation that no matter what philosophy a people identify themselves by there is still evil done among them. It is part of who we are as a collective species. Crime is not something done by religion. It's done by people who who either ignore their religion, hold no religion, or are encouraged by their religion to do so. (Again, a good reason to identify the differences among the religions. If one religion has crimes done in it's name and those acts are approved of by that religion, that is very different from crimes done in the name of a religion that that religion forbids that kind of action). Regardless though if it is a condition of mankind, then removing the religions that say it's wrong to lie, cheat, and kill won't help the situation when people find easy excuses to lie to each other; cheat one another; or to kill, harm, or otherwise oppress those they deem in the wrong. (Think politics and civil wars).

Can any one deny the fact that religions cause deep alienation between different sections? They have been the cause for widespread unrest in different parts of the world.

Neighbors physically
but religion makes them
Aliens mentally.
How do you say that god is real?. Please explain. In my opinion gods and religions are man made creations.

One of my aboriginal friends actually went to London to pick one of them up a number of years ago.
runner,
yeah, I've heard of such trips to England. Would be interesting to know if there ever were any such reclaims to pick up the reamains of victims of Aborigines ?

To Ezhil. You ask if I can deny that religions cause deep alienation and unrest in the world. I don't know the beliefs and teachings of many religions but I can tell you from the two of them that I'm familiar with that they don't teach alienation. That's something we do on our own. Often in spite of values to not do so. Looking at Christianity I see teachings in the bible that God loves the sinner and celebrates when they turn to Him, and turn away from their sins. I see teachings to love your neighbor, love your enemy, and to conquer evil by doing good. I am the most familiar with Christianity, because when I searched for God and found Him helping me read the bible. The second religion I know, I grew up around is Baha'i. And though I don't know the teachings as well from the prophet that started the religion, or the leaders after that time, I can tell you that it does it's best to not be an alienation to the world around it. Teaches about unity and diversity, encourages education and searching for God on your own, and even holds to a teaching to not fight back against religious oppression. (In Iran they have quite a bit of oppression going against them).

I can't speak for all religions. And I again recommend to differentiate between the religions to find more truth and more accuracy in any claim or observation. But with at least two religions that I am aware of, neither teach to hold an us versus them attitude. That attitude is on us as man kind more then it is on religions that say to love one another and to treat others the way you want to be treated.

(Continued)

(Continued)

To make the point on alienation more clear. Have you ever worked at a job that has multiple shifts? Most social situations I see have elements of trying to draw us into a group by differentiating us from another group. Even within a company, people on one shift will hold the other shifts in a negative demeanor. I wish I could say this is not the case, but often people ban together by alienating themselves from another group or groups of people. At least with the two religions I know, this is not taught or encouraged by the teachings of the religion. But it is a tendicy among people.
___________

You also asked about how I know God is real. There are several points to go to for this conclusion. One is because His responses to prayer. (The times there was a response it wasn't always fulfilling a request, but it was a response. Something that I can't deny).

A second reason to know God is real is by the experiences of others and myself. Too many accounts of miracles, answered prayers and other supernatural occurrences with God or angels to be either a lie, a conspiracy told from religious leaders, or only believed by gullible people. If nothing else these should say that there is something else out there, even if e don't know what it is.

(Continued)

(Continued)

Third reason to know God is real is by looking at the world around us. At His handiwork. In a desert of space we live on an oasis of diversity and life. We even find life in the harshest conditions of the world. Looking into it more detailed we see ecosystems that work together like they were crafted in a way to belong. These aren't things that are easily passed off as chance occurrences or random chance, but robust survival and teamwork from species that don't show common attributes except for being near one another. Both with plants and animals studying ecosystems is a sign that God watches over the world and helps us in our place in it. Once again though, looking closer to any animal or any plant, and studying the anatomy of us or the anatomy of anything else in great detail is an area of awe inspiring and fascination to me. And it points very strongly to a designer to these great works of engineering. Going back to space again, I don't know how not to look at the stars without being amazed by God.

Hope these answer your questions.

//One is because His responses to prayer. (The times there was a response it wasn't always fulfilling a request, but it was a response. Something that I can't deny).//

Coincidence and confirmation bias.

//Too many accounts of miracles, answered prayers and other supernatural occurrences with God or angels to be either a lie, a conspiracy told from religious leaders, or only believed by gullible people.//

"No testimony is sufficient to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous than the fact which it endeavors to establish."
- David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

//Third reason to know God is real is by looking at the world around us. At His handiwork.//

That old chestnut, eh? Here's some comedians talking about the argument from design... I particularly like David Mitchell's (he's the one in the purple shirt) point about god also being responsible for all the awful things. Actually, that reminds me of my favourite hymn.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccAxVPI5ydY&t=522s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPriOQkKd6k

To Ezhil.

I hope I've answered your questions well enough for alienation and religion, and how I know God is real. And I hope you'll consider those answers too.

However, I'd also like to ask your view regarding what I said about making the world a better place and less bitter. That we need to have and apply both the golden run and compassion. But unfortunately one of the most common ways these attributes are learned are through hardships. Do you have any other observations where communities hold true to compassion and love; to loving your neighbor, as well as treating each other the way each of them want to be treated? Or is shared hardship the only equalizer to bring about shared compassion?

Or do you agree with any of that at all? Honestly the question of how to make life less bitter and make it better is worth it in my opinion.

Not_Now.Soon,
Am I correct in thinking that God & Allah are in fact the same ? If so is he a schizophrenic ?

'Am I correct in thinking that God & Allah are in fact the same ? If so is he a schizophrenic ?'

no Individual you are naive or ignorant. Ask any Muslim whether the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is Allah. You will get a simple answer.

Dear Individual,

Only the human concepts about God differ across cultures, but the actuality of God is one and the same, no matter how people call Him or what qualities they attribute to Him.