Is Religion Damaging?

[naomi24]

A friend distraught and in floods of tears called me today. Her daughter has split from her selfish, uncaring husband. ‘’Good”, you might say, as I did, but no, it isn’t good because my friend is a God-fearing Baptist and now fervently believes that because her beloved daughter vowed before God to remain with the man she married until death, she is destined for hell - and nothing but nothing will convince her otherwise. She is in misery.

Is religion damaging? Yes - indeed it is.

[nailit]

Naomi, this is the very thing that some people on here cannot grasp! The difference between having a nominal religious belief and a fundamental religious belief. Those with a nominal belief (for instance, those who profess a christian faith but DONT really believe the Bible word for word....and who probably havnt read it anyway) CANNOT understand the mindset of someone who has bought into it hook line and sinker.

The Bible, if taken at face value, is horrific, dangerous and damaging, if taken literally (As your post shows)
As a young evangelical believer back in the day, I know the torments that believers go through...
I would love to see the day when every pile of filth that masquerades as 'holy' books were burnt and gone from history.

[MallyJ]

Nailit....I agree totally with you.....the things that are done in the name of religion are just horrifying....

[nailit]

As a young evangelical, I too, spent countless night worrying about my parents 'eternal' state.
Its not enough for God to punish us in this life...he has to punish us in the next as well. For eternity!

SICK!!!

[ludwig]

I believe it has caused more problems that it has prevented or solved.

[nailit]

And how many 'believing' Catholics over the centuries have endured untold heartache believing that their un-christened child was destined to hell or purgatory?

How many people bought up in Protestant Calvenist countries like Switzerland during the reformation lived in horror at dying because they werent 'Elect'?

Is religion damaging....
Without a doubt!!
It fu***d my head up anyway.
Glad to be away from it and educate otherwise!

[gness]

I can't think of anything more damaging and evil in this world than religion.

[237SJ]

Only if you take it too seriously and are a fanatic.

[nailit]

Theland will be along shortly to explain why his religion is right....

[Patsy33]

It's man made rules/ laws, as far as I'm concerned. Just a way of controlling members. It can be emotionally cruel.

[Old_Geezer]

Extreme belief may be damaging. But religion is like a tool, you can use it for good or ill.
Maybe she needs a talk with a more enlightened religious authority figure.

[Theland]

Nailit @ 19:58 - I don't have or follow any "religion."
They are all man made and put a burden on people as Naomi has accurately illustrated.

[Canary42]

Religion is frequently damaging. E.g. Jehovahs Witnesses who deny their progeny blood transfusions.

[Theland]

Naomi - In the case you have described, the bible does not forbid divorce and your friends daughter should get shut of him pronto and make a new life for herself.

[naomi24]

But you, Theland, urge the rest of us to believe for fear of what awaits. Your cries of ‘Not me guv’ don’t work. You are equally culpable. The bottom line is when this lady needed common sense, rational reassurance she came to me - an atheist.

[Theland]

I am not culpable of spreading lies.
Your friend has been lied to by misled people.

[naomi24]

Theland, you have no idea if what you spout is true or not.
You are culpable. This is what people like you, with your arrogant nonsense, do to other people. Does that make you proud?

[Khandro]

n //Her daughter has split from her selfish, uncaring husband. ‘’Good”, you might say, /

Maybe, I don't know the circumstances & we're not told.

//my friend is a God-fearing Baptist and now fervently believes that because her beloved daughter vowed before God to remain with the man she married until death, she is destined for hell//

Which is the most crucial, "God-fearing" or "Baptist"?

I find this a very confusing thread. Are you attacking "religion", "Baptism", your friend's interpretation of them, or is it a seeking for a justification for your own personal prejudices?

[naomi24]

Haha! What an absolute coward you are, Khandro. 'God' forbid you should be honest!!

[Theland]

It makes me sad that you are attacking me on the basis of a misleading teaching from your friends pastor.
The bible does not support that view and I would never tell anybody that.

[david small]

Yes indeed it is damaging. Though an inclination towards spiritual living is in my opinion a good thing. Man made religion’s are anathema to myself.