Religion

[TheDave]

how about a war because he doesn't believe the unicorn is the tortoises son but you do.

In the history of the human race
Of all the inspirations for the separation of man from his true tribal culture
Of all the inspirations for the acts of violence from one man onto another
From one nation onto another, from one oppressor onto the oppressed
There is no more guilty party and inspiration than those books known
As the Holy Bible, the Koran, and the Bagavad Gita to spread separation of mankind

The Bible is bullshit, the Koran is a lie
The Bagavad Gita did not fall from the sky
These are the books that were written by men
They've caused wars, now follow if you can

They took away our love and gave us fear
Tried to make us hate the one who put us here
Then they took our sacred songs and made them wrong
Then they took away our prayers and gave us theirs

The Bible is bullshit, the Koran is a lie
The Bagavad Gita did not fall from the sky
These are the books that are written by men
They've caused wars, now follow if you can

First they created sin so they could win
Then they built the cages they could put us in
Then they took away our tribes and gave us jail
Then they took away the Earth and gave us hell

The Bible is bullshit, the Koran is a lie
The Bagavad Gita did not fall from the sky
These are the books that are written by men
They've caused wars, now follow if you can

It's time for you to love one another
It's time for you to recognize your brother
It's time for us to stop killing our mother
It's time for us to care for each other

The Bible is bullshit

[Sid Hartha]

Religion is a made up set of rules that help give hope to the hopeless and keep people in check by holding them accountable for their actions.

Well, it doesn't seem to be working too well.

[Busyman]

Although I don't abide by a religion, I think it serves a definite societal purpose. Really doesn't matter which religion you chose or the time period.

Life is hard and people fear death. All religions were created for the exact same purpose. Religion is a made up set of rules that help give hope to the hopeless and keep people in check by holding them accountable for their actions.

I couldn't imagine a world filled with people with no belief in a better existence after death and no eternal punishment for selfish behavior. It would be sheer anarchy.

Religions were fine in their isolated communities. The problems arose when religions of different cultures clashed. Since there is no compromise when it comes to the word of God, conflict ensued and will continue to do so.

A pointless war is one fought over fairytales. I attempt to conquer you because I believe in unicorns and you believe in giant tortoises. Neither exist, of course. So we fight to the death over absolutely nothing.

A war with a point is one in which one side is attempting to secure money, resources, power. These are tangible things, things of value in our material world.

Quite simple, really.

Great posts hobscotch!!!! Very logical.

[TheDave]

So wars to steal property have a point, whereas wars over ideology, or wars to free oppressed people are pointless.

i agree, well apart from the oppressed people but that doesn't happen

[Rat Faced]

Anyone who thinks this is anything other than hypothetical is wrong

Name three.

Edit: Make that 2

[MagicNakor]

This is where I'd write something if I wasn't lying at death's door.

[hobbes]

So wars to steal property have a point, whereas wars over ideology, or wars to free oppressed people are pointless.

Let me suggest that a country A is torturing and murdering a section of it's citizens. Country B decides that this is totally unacceptable and decides to do something about it. They invade that country and depose it's regime. They then ensure that another government is put in place, assisting in this being done but keeping interference to a minimum. They then leave, with no tangible gain, in fact it has cost them a lot of assets to do it.

Anyone who thinks this is anything other than hypothetical is wrong.

Using your definition "A war with a point is one in which one side is attempting to secure money, resources, power. These are tangible things, things of value in our material world." that war was pointless. I disagree, however as is patently (and increasingly) obvious we are more different than we are similar. I am sure this is a source of never-ending joy to you.

Putting smiles on millions of faces is both real and tangible. You can see them and you can hear gratitude from the mouths that wear them.

I described a war as "having a point" which has NOTHING to do with justification for said war. People are greedy, people can be kind. Both have a point.

Why would our difference of opinion be a great source of joy to me? I cannot imagine how? You believe you are going to Heaven and I am stuck with my mortal coil. Why would I not want to jump on your ship and sail towards the blue horizon? Although I cannot explain our existence here, no organized religion is even in my differential as an appropriate explanation. Religions are created by men, for men.

A how are we so different? I imagine that we both pretty much live by the concepts taught in the 10 Commandments. You just believe God wrote/inspred them, and I believe man did. So we have a petty little argument over the author, but still abide by the same rules of conduct. You are such a melodramatic old lady sometimes.

[Busyman]

Did that cock throw up twice, or three times.

It took all night but mine did it three times.

[DanB]

It took all night but mine did it three times.

Sore palm?

[Sid Hartha]

Putting smiles on millions of faces is both real and tangible...

Apologies for taking your comment out of context, but it reminded me of this image.
I can't help but think that the smiling face in this picture symbolizes the triumph of one religion over another.