Religion: Good for the individual. Bad for the world. An opinion.

I don't think it can be denied that religion provides much good to the individual. Those who suffer from addictions, the effects of abuse and loss of loved ones are strengthened and comforted by the religions of the world. Many are comforted by the knowledge that there is more to life than what we see. That helps them deal with the daily trails and tribulations that can all too often discourage us. I don't dispute that. Religions also provide a framework of community that helps people come together to help each other. One need only look to your local churches to find food banks, clothing drives and other altruistic community activities that benefit your less fortunate neighbors. This also is hard to ignore or speak ill of. However, when multiplied by millions or billions of people, certain tenants of religion which are built into the doctrine can become toxic. An analogy… In the late 80s computer technology in the investment industry had given some brokers an edge over their competition. Complicated algorithms would determine the best time to buy and sell stocks. However, as more and more firms got the software the computer systems began to synchronize and it eventually led to wild fluctuations in the market bringing on an automated sell off and the crash of October 19, 1987. See this article for more… It wasn't the only reason for the crash and it's an imperfect analogy, but I think it illustrates my point that small advantages for a few can add up to large problems for many. It's the same with religion. When multiplied by millions you inevitably get conflict between religions and even sub-cults of various religions because of the very nature of elements within the doctrine. These elements are inherent in any successful religion. Here are what I think are the top 5 elements of dogmatic religion that, when multiplied, have created conflict in the world. I don't think I need to provide examples of the kinds of conflicts these elements have created. We are sadly all too familiar with them. 1. The "one true" religion. - This assertion is necessary for religion in order for it to create a cohesive community. Believers must believe that they have found the best possible faith among the many that exist in order for them to commit completely to it. However, when expanded to the world at large it also tends to pit the religion against all others. [More . . . ]

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A doubter’s Christmas story

I am a doubter and a religious skeptic. A few days ago I shot video of a Presbyterian Christmas service. As I entered the church with my equipment I was greeted warmly by many in the congregation. I returned their greeting in kind. Truth be told, I was happy to be there because the officiant was a friend of mine and this video was going to help her get ordained. It was a very moving service, different from the Catholic Mass I grew up experiencing. There was a time for people in the congregation to ask for prayers or give thanks for good fortune. There was beautiful music and many moments of good humor and laughter. Topping it all off was a Christmas pageant in which the children of the community dressed as the familiar biblical characters and recited lines from the Nativity story. Much of it brought a tear to my eye, I am not ashamed to admit. As a well-known doubter you might think that I would have found all of this distasteful. Not at all. The warmth and love in the room was something to be celebrated and I was glad to be a part of it. But, also being the filmmaker that I am, I couldn't help but notice that the moments in which the people in that room glowed most brightly were the moments of interaction between them. As I have noticed in my own Catholic upbringing, the reading and analysis of scripture is often met with polite attention, if not actual boredom. And this seemed to be the case here as well. The moments that were most moving to everyone, and the moments which brought little gasps of joy from the people there, were not the reminders of Jesus' birth and suffering but the little things that people did for each other. [more . . . ]

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Fox reporter Meygn Kelly insults freed Chilean coal miner

Hot, blonde Fox newscaster Meygn Kelly, while reporting on the rescue of one of the trapped Chilean coalminers today, said this upon seeing the live feed as one of the miners emerged and was greeted by his tearful common law wife of 25 years... (I'm paraphrasing from memory)

"There's one of the miners now. Waiting for him is his common law wife. They've been together...living together I should say...for 25 years, but of course they are not married in the eyes of the law...or in the eyes of God."
Well, eff you Meygn! Since when did you get a direct line to God? If "God is love", as believers are so fond of saying, then wouldn't He approve of a love that can withstand 25 years without a government issued paper to force them to stay together? How DARE you diminish the relationship of these two people with your self- righteousness! They've stayed together for 25 YEARS. I know people who have been married by THREE BISHOPS in a CATHEDRAL who didn't last HALF that long. Next time you feel the need to tell us what God is thinking, try to remember that one of the basic rules of journalism is to not inject your personal morality into the story. Oops, I forgot! You're on FOX!

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A failure of faith?

We buried my best friend yesterday. I had known Joe since first grade. He was a believer. I am not. We've had many lively debates over the years and our differences of opinion never affected our friendship. Joe died from neglect. He neglected his own health in favor of taking care of his family which consisted of an aging father, a somewhat schizophrenic brother and his ten year old niece who he had adopted after his sister died of cancer while the child's father was in prison. Six years ago I warned Joe, who was overweight, that in order to take care of his family he must first take care of himself. He needed to start to eat right and exercise. I did this for selfish reasons, I told him. I didn't want to lose my best friend. Selfless as he was, he didn't take my advice. A few years later he developed diabetes and eventually lost a leg. This was his wake-up call, he told me. Everything is going to change, he said, for the sake of the people that were in his care, especially the little girl with no mother. [More . . . ]

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