Instigator / Pro
4
1264
rating
357
debates
39.64%
won
Topic
#5300
Religion is bad for society
Status
Finished
The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.
Winner & statistics
After 1 vote and with 2 points ahead, the winner is...
Mall
Parameters
- Publication date
- Last updated date
- Type
- Standard
- Number of rounds
- 5
- Time for argument
- Two weeks
- Max argument characters
- 10,000
- Voting period
- Two weeks
- Point system
- Multiple criterions
- Voting system
- Open
Contender / Con
6
1420
rating
396
debates
43.94%
won
Description
No information
Round 1
"Negative effects of religion:
1. Many religions teach that some people will go to hell after they die. That’s a pretty dark thing to believe. It’s pretty harsh to say that someone deserves to suffer for all eternity.
2. Some religious groups go even further and claim that you have be in their religion to earn salvation, which would imply that anyone outside their religion would automatically go to hell. That is an appalling thing to believe.
3. Also, some religious people worry that they themselves might go to hell, which is a source of unnecessary anxiety in their lives (since, after all, hell is probably not real).
4. Some religions, especially the Catholic Church, have a long history of trying to suppress human sexuality, even when it’s completely normal and healthy sexuality. And when it gets suppressed, people don’t learn how use it.
5. Many religions teach (or previously taught) that homosexuality is immoral. By doing so, they have ostracized the gay community.
6. Some religions have a long history of silencing and oppressing women.
7. Some religions have a culture that turns a blind eye towards physical and/or sexual abuse.
8. Religion has played a role in many wars throughout world history. (But please note: if people didn’t have religion, I’m sure they would’ve found something else to start a war over.)
9. Many holy books, including both the Bible and the Qur’an, contain some passages which are bizarre and violent and which have inspired some fundamentalists to commit bizarre and violent actions.
10. In the past, religious beliefs were used as a reason for executing or sacrificing people. (In some parts of the world, that still happens.)
11. Religion sometimes encourages people to be ascetic and delay happiness until the afterlife, rather than enjoying this life while we have it.
12. Religion sometimes teaches people to accept injustice as God’s will, rather than to fight against it. (This was Karl Marx’s criticism.)
13. Religion sometimes displays a patronizing attitude towards poor people in the Third World.
14. In Christianity, some of Jesus’ teachings are rather extreme (e. g. “sell all that you have”).
15. In some countries, religion has too much influence on the government.
16. Some religious groups encourage people to vote for political candidates who are opposed to any sort of progress, just because they are socially conservative.
17. Religion teaches people not to question things.
18. Religion has a history of resisting the development of science.
19. Some religious people, inspired by their beliefs, refuse to listen to good medical advice, and refuse medical treatment.
20. Religion fosters a belief in superstitions (e. g. the idea that if you pray for something, God will make it happen).
21. Related to this, religion teaches people to believe in some doctrines which are very unlikely to be true and which an intelligent person should not otherwise believe. An example would be the Catholic doctrine of the Virgin Birth of Christ, which — let’s be honest — is probably not true.
22. Some religious groups place too much emphasis on following the letter of the law with regard to their rules, dress, rituals, etc.
23. Religion fosters an attitude of contempt towards people who are less religious.24. Some religious communities are very insular and fear the outside world.
25. Some (very extreme) religious groups believe that the end of the world is imminent and that we need to prepare for the end-times. That is a very irrational and self-destructive thing to believe."
I literally can just state the opposite of what the opposing side stated calling it the positive effects.
Then we're left with religion is good/bad based on these,this and that.
So what?
I guess that means religion just like freedom is neutral ground.
Religion is not bad in nature but neutral in nature until you contextualize it.
I want to ask this to the opposing side.
If you agree that those that are what you perceive as non religious(secular) have beliefs and practices, do they possess good qualities and effects on society?
Do you believe they can possess good qualities and effects ?
Do you accept that the values of their belief systems can and has affected society in a positive way?
Did you not know that these belief systems are implemented into regulation, law, government that in turn conditions actionability?
This is how these belief systems are put into actions, culture, custom, tradition to a prevalent scale. These values are taught, implemented in schools, not just the education sector. Also in the workforce, not just the labor sector. We're already discussing society so that covers politics. I already mentioned law.
These values are not just taught in church buildings, not just the " religion " sector.
What has the U.S. constitution been built on, the founding fathers that built the nation?
All these beliefs are backed up by action by people by society through government, through law which includes the justice system such as a court of law , courtroom and arbitration.
Tell me the use of amendments for being established aren't from core beliefs of all mankind.
I don't even have to mention the hand on the bible, "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God".
To progress in the topic, I'd like the opposing side to answer those questions I presented.
Round 2
If you agree that those that are what you perceive as non religious(secular) have beliefs and practices, do they possess good qualities and effects on society?
Yes. Religion tends to cause more harm than it prevents, so non-religion causes less harm.
Do you believe they can possess good qualities and effects ?
Yes.
Do you accept that the values of their belief systems can and has affected society in a positive way?
Yes, if you are still talking about non-religious beliefs.
Did you not know that these belief systems are implemented into regulation, law, government that in turn conditions actionability?
You mean the atheist beliefs or religious beliefs?
This is how these belief systems are put into actions, culture, custom, tradition to a prevalent scale. These values are taught, implemented in schools, not just the education sector. Also in the workforce, not just the labor sector. We're already discussing society so that covers politics. I already mentioned law.
I am not sure if you are talking about religious or non-religious, but something existing doesnt mean its beneficial.
These values are not just taught in church buildings, not just the " religion " sector.
Oh, so you are talking about religious.
What has the U.S. constitution been built on, the founding fathers that built the nation?
Religion?
All these beliefs are backed up by action by people by society through government, through law which includes the justice system such as a court of law , courtroom and arbitration.
Well, are you saying that religion is positive just because it exists and is used?
Tell me the use of amendments for being established aren't from core beliefs of all mankind.
Well, I am not sure if they are from core beliefs of all mankind.
I don't even have to mention the hand on the bible, "IN GOD WE TRUST" and "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God".
Okay, but does that mean its positive?
"Yes. Religion tends to cause more harm than it prevents, so non-religion causes less harm."
You say yes. Secular individuals with beliefs and practice them amount to goodness. Saying I'm a secular person, I have my beliefs and practicing them just as those in what's called churches, synagogues, temples and mosques.
My beliefs are just as much as a functioning religion as anyone else practicing theirs.
So there you go right there. You just admitted indirectly religion is good or can reduce harm .
So is religion good or bad?
Religion is neutral.
"You mean the atheist beliefs or religious beliefs?"
Both. It boils down the same when you really understand all what religion is besides it being neutral. A religion period constitutes a belief system practiced by action or backed up by such.
Atheist/theist alike.
This is how come the separation of church/religion(beliefs) and state are not so.
Secularists have belief systems implemented into legal and political policy. Secularism is majority and popular opinion of to date.
That belief system is not sought to be separated. It's the unwanted perhaps more " judgmental "super restrictive critical niche one that calls for separation by the secular world, average person.
"Well, are you saying that religion is positive just because it exists and is used?"
No. I've said that is neutral but can be used in a positive manner which you agree.
"Okay, but does that mean its positive?"
No. I've said that is neutral but can be used in a positive manner which you agree.
Hopefully at this point you can see that somethings just depend on the context. Just because you can itemize a negative list, it doesn't negate a positive one and vice versa.
Round 3
I concede.
I rest my case.
Round 4
And I concede.
The defense rests your honor. I request a dismissal of no two week long recess.
Round 5
And I concede.
Case closed.
The opposing side has a chance.
