MVWRX

iTrader: (1)

Or maybe the mental disease is wanting to be exactly the same as everyone else and either becoming moderate or not caring.

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

They are all your choice. So are you saying society would be fine if EVERYONE ignored them?

MVWRX

iTrader: (1)

I'm saying you don't need to have ever been religious to realize what's right and wrong. In fact, in my experience people who are not religious and do not even know all 10 of the comandments conduct themselves in a more civil, understanding, and moral manor than anyone I know who is religious.

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

Agreed, but it just so happens that our country was founded by men from certain particular RELIGIOUS beliefs, whether they were practicing protestants, catholics, or whatever. That background is particularly relevant in our political foundation and laws, and the core belief in a "Christian God" made our country unique.

This sense of morality and society were the underpinnings that made our coutry great. I don't see how anyone could ignore it....seeing how our political documents are filled with the word "God." They most certainly weren't talking about Budah (sp?).

Morality and social acceptance will determine the future of our country, so I think it's ovious we are headed downhill =).

EricDaRed81

iTrader: (10)

Am I mistaken that the basis of our country was suppose to be religious freedom not a "Christian God"?

slvrsubywgn

iTrader: (7)

I think you must first understand that all religions do not believe in God. Sure, most religions worship some sort of Supernatural Being, popular to each respective sect. But religion is, in essence, a philosophy or a way of living one's life based on moral belief. So to say that you can live a life in a moral, upright manner without religion is incorrect, because THAT IS the foundation of religion.

EricDaRed81

iTrader: (10)

Well then your just talking about semantics. He was probably talking about organized religion.

slvrsubywgn

iTrader: (7)

He might've been...but then again all 'organized religion' is is 2 or more people with similar moral beliefs coming together and accepting each other as such, right?

EricDaRed81

iTrader: (10)

Sure, you are right, everyone is religious. Now having any type of discussion takes 5 min longer to explain what everyone means.

MVWRX

iTrader: (1)

So the foundation of religion is morals. And the religion is the building. You're saying you can't have the foundation without the building. That's bulls***. I can build a basement and then cover it with dirt. Then I'd have the foundation (the morals) without the building (the religion).
Symantics are one of religious people's strongest tools because it can be made to make anything and everything that isn't religious seem immoral, and everything that is religious seem perfectly moral. It's a trick.

HellaDumb

iTrader: (3)

Due you mean "the purpose of," or "the foundation of?"

They certainly did not want "a state church," nor the church/govt meddling in each-other's affairs, hence the separation of church and state. However, it does not lessen the fact that our country came about out of Christian influence, to say the least.

MVWRX

iTrader: (1)

Who cares what religion they were or how they came to decide on the moral values of the country. Maybe that's important for a history lesson, but beyond that it shouldn't impact anything. Furthermore, your argument earlier in the thread that the word "God" on money etc... is proof of our fore fathers religious perposes...no, that's more proof that they didn't really get the seperation of church and state right yet. We should improve on what they did and make the seperation more obvious.

EricDaRed81

iTrader: (10)

Yes, most of the people that started this country did it from their Christian views. But that doesn't mean that we should start governing by them.

MVWRX

iTrader: (1)

Actually, that's an opinion. No one really knows why religion started, but I believe that it is much more likely to have started as a way to explain phenomenon that humans didn't understand. Like the aurora borealis. And waves. And clouds. Stuff that we do understand now.
Furthermore, religion has been most comonly used as a means of social control, than it has as a 'moral guide'.
Finally, the very idea of a superior being whom's existance you have to take on faith is irrelevant to the fact that most people who are religious are religious for their own salvation, not for the good of others. This fact by itself shows how religion is not a great way to encourage morals. Appreciation and respect for other humans is the only way to have true morals. Give the people credit, not some mythological book/god/savior.

slvrsubywgn

iTrader: (7)

MVWRX, don't jump to conclusions so quickly. Do some research on religion yourself and you will find that morality is what constitutes a religion. I'm talking about a foundation here, not a basement. I'm a contractor so don't try to 'bend' my statement. There is a distinct difference between a basement and a foundation. A basement is part of the building, which has its own foundation underneath that. So if you were to build a foundation it would do you no good to not put a house or even a basement on top of it. Call it symantics, call it what you want. It's called research as far as I'm concerned.