Originally posted by FlyingIrishMan
One step at a time. If there is something pointless that causes so much hate, wars, and crime then get rid of it.
I don't see wars happening over politics, except in cases in the middle east where there was extremely corrupt dictators and what did the people do? They got rid of them. And I would argue that people who don't believe in God share the same morals or have even better morals.
And please, explain how I am ignorant for thinking something that causes pointless wars, hate crimes, murder etc. should be done away?
Or even just not have parents force a religion onto their children, let the children make up their own mind when they are older.
I guarantee that most people would continue being atheist if at the age of 18 they were first taught about religion.
You see, religion isn't the cause. This is the very basis of my argument. And you're missing it. You're completely ignoring my statements. Take away the subject of the war. Whether the war be started over religion, race, or morals, take that away. What are you left with? You are left with people disagreeing because they are too small to have an understanding of the other side. I'm truly not sure why you are so stuck on religion being the sole cause. The subject matter isn't the main influence here. It is inability of individuals to have an understanding of opinions different than their own. I can understand your opinion. Has religion been the subject behind many wars? Yes, it has. I understand what you're trying to get across to me. Now understand me. Religion is not the sole cause of war or any kind of disagreement. You cannot blame religion for starting a war. It is inanimate. It does not make decisions. It does not make choices. Men do. Men like you and me. So, we can either choose to be just as ignorant as the men that start the wars, or we can be bigger than that and have an understanding of things outside of our belief or opinion. I can see you are against war. So why use religion as your sole justification for being against them? Why can you not broaden your perspective and see that these wars are the result of selfish men. They are result of those who are hungry for power. Religion does not lead these men to start wars. Their ignorance does. These deaths. This hate. The disgusting state of the world is due to a lack of understanding.
And I did not intend to make any statement against your morals. I was not claiming that you as an atheist do not have morals on standard with mine or anyone elses. In my opinion morals exist outside of religion. People are capable of forming the own morals independent of their religion. Within religion, morals differ. Within all of man, morals differ.
I know I have made comments against you. Calling you ignorant. Stupid. That was wrong of me. I can never expect you to understand me when I am speaking to you that way. My goal is not to beat you down, or prove you wrong. I understand you may never understand where I'm coming from, but I will attempt to help you do so.