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.

[waterboatman]

Throughout history religion as been the bigger cause of conflict than anything else. Hundreds of them, each claiming to be the True one.

[Mozz71]

I still say religion itself isn't damaging. It can bring great comfort and solace to some people.

Unfortunately, some people are just plain stupid and let it take over their lives, to the point that it blinds them to reality, or they are taken advantage of by an evangelist or cultist.

[beso]

Religion is a serious mental illness. Unfortunately it can often be contagious.

[beso]

nailit //I would love to see the day when every pile of filth that masquerades as 'holy' books were burnt and gone from history.//

That would be a tragic waste of paper. Far better to recycle the religious books as toilet paper.

[Khandro]

naomi; I have been called many things in my long life but never before a coward, - I demand satisfaction!
I challenge you to a duel. Be present with your seconds tomorrow at 7:00am in Regents Park for a tap-dancing contest.

[Theland]

Name calling is in her DNA

[naomi24]

Khandro, //I have been called many things in my long life but never before a coward//

Stop pussyfooting around and pretending you don't understand then. That is cowardly.

Theland, you just can't help yourself.

[Theland]

Stop name calling.
A poor advertisement for atheism.

[rowanwitch]

Religion created by man to attain control over the lives of others
Sounds like a weapon to me
I know people who find joy and comfort in their faith but mostly not the hard core fundamentalist types. A danger to some, a cruelty to the gullible, and in your friends case a poison marked drink me.

[naomi24]

Theland, don't be ridiculous.

[naomi24]

Rowan, I too know people who find joy and comfort in their faith. My friends found that when all was hunky-dory with their lives.

[rowanwitch]

It's supposed to be when you are in the bad times faith is the best help, never seen it myself, just adds to the fear , doubts and loss of control. Unless you can accept it as your imaginary friends 'will'

[Theland]

Naomi - tell your friend there is nothing in the bible that prevents a woman divorcing an abusive, uncaring deserting husband.
Her pastor should have known this.

[Khandro]

Theland it seems this 'victim of religion' doesn't go to her pastor for guidance; where does she go? naomi of course, a radical atheist, hmmm

[naomi24]

Theland, Are you kidding? Why would I use the bible to console my friend? Her daughter doesn’t need permission from the bible to live her life in any way she feels appropriate and I’m certainly not going to endorse the notion that she does.

Furthermore, as far as the marriage goes, she’s not concerned about what’s in the bible. She’s concerned because a vow that she considers was taken before ‘God’ has been broken.

[naomi24]

Khandro, It's already been said that she finds no comfort in speaking to her pastor. He's a nutty as she is where religion is concerned. She comes to me for rationality - and strangely enough always goes away feeling better. Same happened when her son announced he was gay. Funny that.

[Khandro]

naomi; //she is destined for hell - and nothing but nothing will convince her otherwise. She is in misery.// (from the OP)

& yet; //She comes to me for rationality - and strangely enough always goes away feeling better.//


Which is it?

[naomi24]

It's both, Khandro. Given a little rational thought she stops crying - but the fear remains.

[rowanwitch]

If her daughters husband was cruel or abusive he broke the vow first therefore she was not bound by it at the time she left.... From Christian friend.

[naomi24]

Rowan, thanks for that, but I won't use a Christian argument - or any religious argument - to attempt to console her. For one thing she would say, as Theland does, that any view on religion that isn't hers is wrong, and from my point of view I would consider any argument from a religious perspective to be tantamount to endorsing superstition.