Religion, A Benefit To Mankind? Or Not?

[jomifl]

Would mankind now be better off had religion not been invented? supporting reasons for your opinion can be as controversial as you think the AB thought police will allow.

[naomi24]

// but I think it safe to assume they had some religious significance...//

And a fat lot of good it did - no one remembers what it was!

[Jeza]

Simple answer to OP...............NOT

[Khandro]

//no one remembers what it was!// Well, as the entire society died out long before these figures were discovered, and as they left no written documentation, that is hardly surprising is it?

[naomi24]

Khandro, so what’s your point in assuming that they were of religious significance? Is that supposed to impress us?

[jomifl]

Xerus, is it not just possible that if cymbals were recorded they were out of sight of the camera?

[Khandro]

^ Might have had something to do with Audacity?

[jim360]

Perhaps we shouldn't be too sceptical, jomifl. After all, it would certainly explain why there's evil and suffering in the world -- God's too busy adding that little extra touch to some sycophantic music...

[pixie373]

You might be "positive", xerus, but clearly mistaken, as it is not possible to record something that isn't there.

[naomi24]

Jom, as I understand it the recording is audio only. It could have been recorded anywhere and at any time.

xerus, //I can't understand why people are so sceptical. //

And I can't understand why people aren't more sceptical. Is this church you go to anything to do with the Living Waters organisation?

[pixie373]

Xerus, what is your interpretation? Does God play the cymbals in his spare time for random CDs?

[pixie373]

Religion only exists on trickery- that's why they do it. It's evidence of manipulative people, not angels.

[naomi24]

xerus, I’ve read about angels in the bible and I've also read about a talking donkey in the bible. Should I believe that donkey’s talk?

As verifiable evidence of a miracle your friend’s experience should have made world headlines – but I’m assuming it didn’t.

You are being conned – and I suspect the people doing the conning are earning a rather good living from it. I'm not for a moment trying to discourage you from believing in a god if that's what you want to do, but don't believe the stories other people tell you. They know no more about gods and miracles and angels than you or anyone else does. Why would they?

[jomifl]

Xerus you astonish me, how does the occurrence of unrelated, unverifiable, incidents that can be explained by memory loss, stupidity and plain cynicism prove anything. The cymbal thing can only prove the existence of something that sounds like cymbals, it doesn't even prove that cymbals exist. You need to apply a little more intellectual rigour to your thinking.

[jomifl]

Khandro, nothing wrong with a bit of audacity....is there?

[RATTER15]

xerus,//There have also been instances of people in these meetings finding golddust in their hair. A friend of mine found herself with gold on her teeth after a worship session and a dentist who examined her later said that there is no way that a dentist would have crowned teeth in this way.//

naive, is not how I would describe you! :-)