To think it’s unwise to lose the idea of God(s) in society?

[Digita]

To think it’s unwise to lose the idea of God(s) in society?

Whenever I hear people arguing why faith in any sort of higher being is 'stupid' or 'delusional' I wonder if they've thought through the wider implications of a godless society. It might not be all that it's cracked up to be... the idea of higher beings might be invented but invented for a reason too. Is there a need for a philosophical concept of something more for accountability, law and order?

“Society needs reasons for people to tell the truth even when it is to their disadvantage.” Why swear on a Bible? The Courts have kept swearing an oath on religious texts because there’s still a psychological, moral force behind it.

"Co-operation is a key component in human interaction and also, according to new research from the University of British Columbia, the spread of civilisation. Not because for any altruistic reason, though; instead it might be directly down to a fear of a vengeful god." Fear of punitive gods linked to rise of human civilisation’

‘A new study published in the journal, Nature, tests the theory that communities are fair and cooperate with outsiders because of the fear of divine retribution.’ ‘Moralistic gods, supernatural punishment and the expansion of human sociality’

I am atheist, but I have a huge amount of respect for people with a deep, personal faith and it obviously provides a lot of comfort and direction for people.

I am not so sure about organised religion though. It seems to be open to abuse-historically and contemporarily- and has caused/causes so much conflict.

I don't need a fantasy figure in the sky to tell me that lying is bad, cooperation is necessary, & altruism is a beneficial force.

There! Fixed that for you.

Absolutely not.

I am atheist. People should need to be scared into being good.

‘A new study published in the journal, Nature, tests the theory that communities are fair and cooperate with outsiders because of the fear of divine retribution.’ ‘Moralistic gods, supernatural punishment and the expansion of human sociality’

What does it say about religious communities that e.g. prey on small boys without compunction, then cover up the abuse for decades. OP? Seems those priests fear of divine retribution didn't stop them forcibly sodomising children.

No, faith shouldn’t be pushed on anyone, nor should it lead policy, the design of society etc.

If someone needs a god to be kind, honest etc then that tells us that they are not a nice person, but instead of actually doing something about if they’re hiding behind faith.

If you are only ‘good’ because you fear the consequences or repercussions of an all-seeing ‘God’, then I don’t see that as a good basis for goodness in society. Sense of ‘goodness’ should come from the benefit to others.

YABU. I don't believe in god but still have a moral compass and can tell right from wrong.

You should be a decent person because that's simply the right way to be, not cos you're scared of not getting into heaven or worried about losing the chance to be surrounded by virgins depending on your religion

OP
I do think that belief has had a key role in the development of civilisation- I’m just not sure that we still need it in the same way. It is very interesting though!

Oh do go away & take your links with you.

Utter rubbish. Everything bad in the world is caused by people and their obsession with imaginary men in the sky. When we let go of our childish need for religion then we will move on as a society.

The Soviet Union, North Korea, east Germany (as was) China are all societies which have or had no time for God. Anyone bursting to live there?

Go to North Korea. You will find Utopia there.

I don’t think believing in God = being a good, moral, empathetic and compassionate person. I can’t because I grew up in a Catholic state where the treatment of women and children was awful in the not to distant past and the local religion massively reinforced that.

Personality and upbringing determine whether a person is good or not.

“I am not so sure about organised religion though. It seems to be open to abuse-historically and contemporarily- and has caused/causes so much conflict.”

I hear this a lot about ‘religion’ and I don’t disagree but you must balance this with much of the charity and outreach work done by all religious denominations such as food banks, Langars, charity donations, third world aid programmes, visiting elderly and sick, youth mentoring, homelessness charities etc. Much of this is faith led. I know lots of Christians who quietly give their time, money and energy to serving others - sometimes locally on a small level that nobody would really notice but means a lot to the people they help.

The ‘historical abuse’ argument that gets trotted out on threads like these but seems like a smack in the face to people of faith who are actually doing really good things for others.

So much evil has been carried out in this world - and is still being carried out - in the name of "religion".

There's a quote from the movie Dogma where they're discussing wars, bigotry, genocide and all the other shit carried out in the name of religion or by religious people and they say something like "humanity took a good idea and built a belief structure out of it, you can change an idea but it's much harder to change a belief".

But moral compasses, right and wrong, vary from person to person and situation to situation.

Do you think generations of faith-based communities may have influenced your moral compass?

Go to North Korea. You will find Utopia there

Can't your imaginary friend handle criticism? Does he need you to defend him?

Yes, just as you will in Syria, Iraq, Iran and Pakistan to name a few.

The place where I was born was destroyed and thousands of people were murderer because of religion, oddly enough people aren’t flocking to live there either.

Murdered, not murderer, sorry.

Oh here we go… the ‘imaginary friend’ insults. we get it, you are so intellectually superior to us weak minded religious people 🙄

Russia's main religion is the Russian Orthodoxy branch of Christianity. China recognises five religions including Buddhism and Catholicism. North Korea on paper recognises the right to religious freedom, obviously the reality is different, but there are practicing religions in the country and it could be argued that they cult of the supreme leader is a form of religion.

From what I have seen people use their idea of 'god' to justify their shitty behaviour.

They also belive they can act as they wish because 'god' will forgive them, while they look down their noses at those without faith.

Ime it's those who follow a religion who are the worst kind of person so I'll be glad when it's not a thing anymore.

Oh absolutely and no disrespect intended to all the fantastic charity work that does happen through religious organisations.

However, it cannot be ignored that religion has been the driving force for conflict globally; nor that it has been-and can be-used as a mechanism for abuse-financial, emotional, physical, sexual and spiritual. I am not saying it happens to everyone who is a member of a religious organisation-nor that it is necessarily an expressed aim to do this-but religion is very often used as a mechanism to oppress and control.

I don't think the concept of right and wrong needs to be policed by a monied patriarchal system, no.