does faith make you a better person?

[ACMF74]

I rest my case.

yes another deluded extremist...whats your point?

[emoshun]

^ He's basing his argument of why faith/religion is bad for you by posting this deranged person's ranting.

As if this is what all people of faith/religion do when they are upset...

It's easier to generalize and point at the extreme, than to actually investigate and talk to educated individuals about faith.

[Scotaku]

I think there are some in this thread who are trying to talk. And there are some who are trying to self-medicate or soothe their own consciences.

[E30 Wagen]

here's something to think about. A large majority of charities were founded, and continue to be run, by religious organizations. Religious conservatives are the highest-donating segment of our society. It provides a morality structure while younger, and a direct incentive to strive to be a better man. In short, it provides a framework for those who would choose to have faith to communicate with and honor a God they believe in. While most on this board would decry the very idea of "missionary" work, many third-world countries are better off today because religious groups came and brought not only their religion but modern technology and methods.

Religion is not the end-all-be-all of faith. Think of it like a training program, or lattice for a vine to climb. If men were perfect, it would not be needed. But, because men are not perfect, it is needed. So, why would you decry the structure for men to use because men themselves fall short, or use it to their own ends? To draw a parallel, Government in itself is a good thing, but in the wrong hands or used the wrong way it is destructive. Don't blame the idea of Government, but those who fall short of the ideals of it.

For those who think that religion is the cause of, or major contributing factor to, violence throughout history, look at communist/fascist societies that did away with te idea of "religion" or changed it to place themselves at the pinnacle: the Holocaust, the tragedies that occurred during Stalin and Lenin's takeover of Russia, Chinese civil rights violations, etc. People are naturally violent. Religion (generally) provides a buttress to that.

I think this is a very important point. I am not religious at all, but it seems like the major religious oranizations are the only ones who are doing anything significant to help other people out. They run food panties, organize volunteers to go help out disaster victims, provide counseling and social support, and are generally giving to anybody who needs help. These same churches aren't going to require you to pray or worship. All they care about is helping others.

Plus, i just think that churches are a good social structure to have. They teach good values and bring people together in healthy ways.

Still, it's a shame there has to be this "Jesus" and "God" stuff, and praying, and Bible versus, and singing hymns and all that other stuff. doing things in the name of Jesus or God will never appeal to me.

[E30Kaiser]

They run food panties, organize volunteers to go help out disaster victims, provide counseling and social support, and are generally giving to anybody who needs help.

Sign me up for the religion that runs food panties!

[E30Kaiser]

If any of you are interested in our understanding of the universe, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ImvlS8PLIo

I wish the guy that was arguing with me about how the universe is expanding in the "Who here believes in aliens?" thread watched this, would have solved a lot of problems.

[Ryan Stewart]

Religion is for people that can't think for themselves. You can only make yourself a better person.

This. I think how you act and your motivation for those actions is what defines you as a person. If you do the "right" thing without religion you may even be a better person because your motivation is intrinsic instead of pleasing a god.

Plus there are plenty of people out there who have faith and are some of the worst people on the planet. Child molesters in the church, thieves, racists and terrorists. All of those people have tremendous amounts of faith.

[Ryan Stewart]

I think this is a very important point. I am not religious at all, but it seems like the major religious oranizations are the only ones who are doing anything significant to help other people out. They run food panties, organize volunteers to go help out disaster victims, provide counseling and social support, and are generally giving to anybody who needs help. These same churches aren't going to require you to pray or worship. All they care about is helping others.

Plus, i just think that churches are a good social structure to have. They teach good values and bring people together in healthy ways.

Still, it's a shame there has to be this "Jesus" and "God" stuff, and praying, and Bible versus, and singing hymns and all that other stuff. doing things in the name of Jesus or God will never appeal to me.

It depends on where you look. In the underdeveloped world religions are the only organization with the budget. In the developed world there is more money in secular organizations. There are countless charities that have no religious affiliations. I know because I only donate to those types of organizations.

There are also many caveats to religous based charity. They typically only help the underprivledged of their own kind (you dont see a christian fund supporting those in Pakistan, ect) and they often are involved in "other" activities (read: Hamas/HLF/etc).

[FL318is]

Are we talking religion or faith?

To me they are two seperate things. Kinda like a wife and a wife's sister.

I believe that an individual can have faith and not be part of an organized religion. Furthermore , religion is a collective and faith is an personal relationship.

Being a better person is a choice. The world has plenty who have not and there are those who do. Give a homeless person a five dollar McD's gift card. What they do with it is not my concern. But I did what I felt would be a better choice for someone.

These are my views and by no means reflect the views of this station or it's affiliates.

[drift]

Oh, someone from Kentucky ?!

[Ryan Stewart]

Are we talking religion or faith?

Both because the faith question was answered a long time ago and religion is the primary product of faith. I dont have to believe in god to do the right thing. Personally, I think doing something without the belief of punishment/reward is better.

Just believing in a god doesnt have an impact on the person you are, it may just impact your motivations depending on WHAT you believe.

[DanMan68]

So R3VLIMITED is a church? BMW is a religion?

Na, not yet at least. The VW guys on the other hand...

[joshh]

Religion is for those who need a crutch. It's much tougher to look for the real answers than put all your eggs in one nonexistant basket.

[Scotaku]

Religion is for those who need a crutch. It's much tougher to look for the real answers than put all your eggs in one nonexistant basket.

I disagree. For me it's easier to put my trust in something I can see, touch, etc. If I can look at it and make a judgement call about whether or not it will hold me up, that's the easier choice. Leaning on something without being able to appraise its strength is the harder choice to make... the practical definition of the word, faith.

The dangerous part is assuming one may never need a crutch. In my own experience, no one has ever not needed a hand at one time or another.

[joshh]

I disagree. For me it's easier to put my trust in something I can see, touch, etc. If I can look at it and make a judgement call about whether or not it will hold me up, that's the easier choice. Leaning on something without being able to appraise its strength is the harder choice to make... the practical definition of the word, faith.

The dangerous part is assuming one may never need a crutch. In my own experience, no one has ever not needed a hand at one time or another.

Let me correct what I said...it's easier for those who fail to use any logic.