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Is religion harmful?

Nimos

Well-Known Member
There have been some talk about new atheism and how some think it is wrong and they are just trying to get rid of religions etc.

Im not as such against religions, but I do mind when they become harmful. Now I would like to ask those religious people that either hold the believe that atheism are bad, emotionless and want to dehumanize people to listen to this person's story or maybe if you hold the believe that atheists are just out to bully religious people, because they feel superior.

What do you think about this person's story?
(I have linked it so it start the right place, it is ONLY the second caller, not the whole video for those that want to hear it for themselves. Otherwise there is a resume below.)


Told shortly as I remember it.

Its a women (27 years old) which have been diagnosed with some sort of muscle disease, not sure what it is called, she mentions it, but I don't know what it is. Anyway the disease slowly makes her brain unable to communicate with her body, which obviously causes a lot of issues, not only with control, but also that she have problems sleeping because she occasionally stop breathing etc.

She were raised as part of the church of Christ, I believe it is, which is following Christianity, but apparently it is a bit more extreme than normally. Meaning that women are not allowed to laugh in church or even speak, and they have to wear certain clothing etc.

Anyway, her family follows this and given her disease the topic of death have been discussed, I don't know if that is an unavoidable thing with this disease or if there is medication or procedures to deal with it. Her parents ain't wealthy and she just lost her job and health insurance as a result (she is from the US). She has a close and good relationship with her mother, and have gotten counselling support from one of the organizations or what to call it, that helps people with recovering from religion, because despite being an atheist, she still suffers from the effect of believing in demons and what other nonsense she have been told as a child. However her mother obviously don't agree with her being an atheist and would like her to be a Christian and tells her that she should just read the bible some more and pray etc. Which she apparently told her that she had done countless of times and that it was what made her an atheist.

Her father (stepdad) have shunt her, because she is an atheist and apparently she only have her mother left, as I understand that the rest of her family or her stepdads family either have no contact with her or won't because she is an atheist. She is obviously pretty desperate, as she from what I can understand and as it is common in some of these religious groups is to avoid contact with atheists. And she as she said, don't want to end up as one of those that consider suicide as the only option.

(This is how well I can remember what she told, might have missed out some details.)

So, basically you have a person here, which are not convinced or believe the same as the rest of her family and as a result this is how she is treated, a girl already acknowledged that she is an atheist, but still has to deal with the religious brainwashing in regards to demons and what not.

Keep in mind that im not saying that all religions or religious teachings are like this!!!
 
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JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I think extremism is harmful. And that could be religious extremism, atheist extremism, political extremism... any outlook or ideal that would cause you to put aside anyone else's happiness or safety as not important or not deserved because their views differ from yours.

(You'll have to forgive me for skipping the video; I struggle to pay attention to videos in general.)
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
I think extremism is harmful. And that could be religious extremism, atheist extremism, political extremism... any outlook or ideal that would cause you to put aside anyone else's happiness or safety as not important or not deserved because their views differ from yours.

(You'll have to forgive me for skipping the video; I struggle to pay attention to videos in general.)
Well its more of an pod cast, not really anything to look at except the hosts :D
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
Religion has such a variety of forms that saying it is intrinsically harmful or beneficial is pretty meaningless.

It is harmful when it causes harmful behaviours and beneficial when it causes beneficial behaviours.

Same with anything else.
My point is that I think a lot of people here that are religious, might not really see or be aware of the other side of religion from the perspective of what some atheists have to go through.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
My point is that I think a lot of people here that are religious, might not really see or be aware of the other side of religion from the perspective of what some atheists have to go through.

Its true. But the same can be said for the flipped situation... throw a religious person into a group of atheists, and its not always pretty, either(I've had that experience before).
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
Its true. But the same can be said for the flipped situation... throw a religious person into a group of atheists, and its not always pretty, either(I've had that experience before).
I know you didn't watch the video, so your comment doesn't make a lot of sense in the context of the video I think.
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
@syo @Orbit @sun rise

I guess from the comments being posted, that none of you actually watched the video, but are just making general statements is that correct?
Not that its an issue I just want to be sure?
 
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clara17

Memorable member
@syo @Orbit @sun rise

I guess from the comments being posted, that none of you actually watched the video, but are just making general statements is that correct?
Not that its an issue I just want to be sure?

the video starts at the beginning and runs 90+ minutes,
im not sure what part you had in mind to watch
 
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Orbit

I'm a planet
@syo @Orbit @sun rise

I guess from the comments being posted, that none of you actually watched the video, but are just making general statements is that correct?
Not that its an issue I just want to be sure?

I quite literally don't have time to watch a 90 minute video, so yes it is a general comment. If you could provide a summary it would be helpful.
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
it started from the beginning
where do you want it to s


the video starts at the beginning and runs 90+ minutes,
im not sure what part you had in mind to watch
The video should start at the right spot at a female caller, its the second one called Aidan (7.46 min in) you don't have to watch it all :)
 

Nimos

Well-Known Member
I quite literally don't have time to watch a 90 minute video, so yes it is a general comment. If you could provide a summary it would be helpful.
Its 13 minutes not the whole video, its just the second caller
 

Psalm23

Well-Known Member
Religion is a double-edge sword.

It can grant great benefit or great detriment for people.


I think it can be both for a person as well. Community and mutual encouragement can be a plus. At the same time, one may experience a bunch of guilt and shame especially if that is what is being taught.
 

rational experiences

Veteran Member
Science the machine practice as religare the bindings of the ion. Religio.

Yes religion as science the occult practice is very dangerous.

Religion first was science temple pyramid science buildings.

Irradiated chemical biology life of nature in holy water and depraved life.

Very dangerous.

Medical healers. Healers first highest human wisdom were the medicines in nature. Medical procedures for family human any family. Cared nurtured loved.

Built healing resonant chambers the new temples churches. Humans attended with shawls mats. Were oiled after they cleansed in church resonating waters.

Donned white robes as purity. Laid in church smelling incense frankincense myrrh against cancer irradiation effects whilst chanting singing music was applied whilst they meditated.

Aloe used for healing their rashes and skin burns.

Brain entrainment purposes. To assist mind changes of the conscious body sacrificed of humanity that endured by being irradiated outside in nature.

Church building a sanctuary and a healing venue. By scientific design.

No science temple allowed. Toppled.

Brothers actually went country to country removing science temples rebuilding the healing building.

Was taken back over by the science of the radiation occult community.

Actual human history. Lived.

False preaching science man on pulpit or in stadium teaching science. Takes the platform himself.

Versus prayer music singing meditation taught no man is God.
 

Windwalker

Veteran Member
Premium Member
There have been some talk about new atheism and how some think it is wrong and they are just trying to get rid of religions etc.
To clarify, atheism is one thing. Anti-theism (New Atheism) is another. I see nothing wrong with atheism. Anti-theism however is a negative. It is an opposition to religion. Its premise is "I'm right, and you're wrong". "I'm smart, and you're stupid".

Now I would like to ask those religious people that either hold the believe that atheism are bad, emotionless and want to dehumanize people to listen to this person's story or maybe if you hold the believe that atheists are just out to bully religious people, because they feel superior.
I don't see atheism as bad. In fact, there are atheists whose love and compassion surpass the religious. In fact, it may be because of their atheism they are able to love more, because they are not being guilted, shamed, or threatened to be loving anymore, depending on the particular style of religion they came out of. That doesn't mean that now they are anti-theist however.

I listened to that woman's story, and she doesn't sound like an anti-theist to me. She sounds just like an atheist, trying to deal with her family's different views. She sounds rather compassionate, as opposed to critical, judging, and condemning of her family's views, like anti-theists might do, "woo woo", and whatnot.
 
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