#Materialism

I will keep it short and only describe what this forum is intended for. This way I can hear everyone's perspectives before making any statements or presumptions.

This is meant to be from a Materialist view aka non-supernatural perspective, please provide evidence that is evident and not base reasoning on beliefs. Of course, speculation is welcome if addressed as such.

As always, please address your knowledge responsibly by using phrases like "I believe," if you believe; "I saw," if you saw; "I think," if you think; or "This evidence suggests ...," if you have empirical evidence. It is never responsible to claim anything for certain or to be known but rather acknowledge everyone including ourselves, are always learning and discovering new things about the world since much of the world changes continuously. 

We will address questions like the following:

What constitutes a better society and civilization?

Would society be better if everyone was religious?

Would society be better if everyone's religion was unified, and is it possible to ethically achieve this?

Would society be better if everyone was Atheist?

What are the pros and cons to society of people being religious vs Atheist?

Will society move past religion towards a more scientific understanding of the world, and would it be better or worse for society?

Could science or another alternative fill the void that was once filled by religion?

Your studies, your life and all of it is materialistic but the way you experience it and endure the hardship isn't.

You are nothing without money, money does not buy happiness, it buys pleasure and freedom. You can be happy but unfree and enduring displeasure with mental discipline, while poor but every fucking choice you make from 16 and up at school and from then on should be geared to getting jobs that pay well, point blank period.

I messed up, don't do what I did. Don't follow your heart, don't go for subjects you aren't already naturally very adept at, stick with your strengths but not the ones that don't have a job down the line. Work your ass off and then be free later.

I did my life wrong, I was true to false principles and am never going to be that rich because of what I did wrong. I don't want to be too rich, I want to be very wealthy and use it to help others, I will never be rich enough to, I messed up. Now that I didn't, I have to sacrifice my freedom and pleasure to gain money to gain freedom and pleasure for many years to come.