Religion Is Progressive and Necessary

1. Why labelling is ABUSEa) I have no problem if a child is reared up in a certain background. It does not matter if she is taken to the churches or the temples, as long as they are not forced into doing something. In India, Brahmins (a caste in the Hindu. The most 'reverred' class, though the records of oppressing working-class can put this caste to the blush) CONSTRAIN their children to COMLETELY REMOVE THEIR HAIR AND WEAR A PIECE OF THREAD. That is forced. Is not this mental abuse? You are not giving the child any option to think form himself. Well, he is just a child. How can he think about such complex things? Well, but you said, "Parents are stewards of the their children until they reach adulthood." Then is it not the parents duty to teach the children have the practice of thinking for himself and try to decide between what is suitable for him or not? Forced genital mutilation is another gruesome side of religion. Some religions do provoke this. This is insane. Yes, circumcision may result in good health. In fact, the smagma is naturally cleaned in the absence of the foreskin. But, HOW CAN YOU FORCE THAT?If it is forced, it is ABUSE. The child is dependent of adults. The adults should make them proper human-being, instead of deceiving them and compelling them to join a community. I do not have any problem with teaching. But the labelling is dangerous. I have seen that a lot kids cannot even befriend kids from other religious background, just because they are labelled as 'Muslim' child or 'Hindu child'. I am not giving anecdotes, this is evident everywhere in the world. Religion teaches the children that 'they are different' and provokes the idea of separation. If that is called 'unity', then I do not subscribe to that school of thought. I cannot.2. "A religious person can, and indeed we do, participate in science all the time." Yes, I agree. I FULLY AGREE. But they do not preach their religion in science. There is a difference between someone who happens to have a religion and someone who does something because of religion. Science basically accepys something after observation, arguments, judging contradictory evidences, experimentation. On the contrary, Religion gives some books the status of 'axiom'. The 'holy' books are static, not dynamic. Something totaly opposite to what Science says.The Inquisitions is another sign of religious regressiveness. Blasphemy laws, even today, accuse many people who tend to be progressive.3. Religion Spread Intolerance. I am telling it again that I do not have any problem with someone who happens to have a religion. But when a religion rovokes people to commit bad things, even if the provoked person constitute only 1% of the whole population, does not make religion good. I AM NOT GENERALIZING. There are very good people who are religious. It is undeniable. What I want to say is that the religious ideas provoke a lot of persons to do bad things. I do not care about what individual people are doing. That would really be 'biased sample fallacy'. What I have a problem with is how religion instructs people to do bad things.For example, I am quoting some instructions. THERE ARE OCCASSIONAL GOOD VERSES IN THE 'HOLY BOOKS, VERY GOOD VERSES. BUT IT IS MIXED UP COMPLETELY WITH THE MOST CONDEMNABLE VERSES. Totally contradictory! They wish you would disbelieve as they disbelieved so you would be alike. So do not take from among them allies until they emigrate for the cause of Allah . But if they turn away, then seize them and kill them wherever you find them and take not from among them any ally or helper. (Qur'an 4:89)The Bible For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. (Titus 1:10 and 1:11)When the Lord heard them, he was furious; his fire broke out against Jacob and his wrath rose against Israel, for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance. (Psalm 78:21 and 78:22)These are only fragments. ALMOST EVERY ORGANIZED RELIGION SPREADS INTOLERANCE. (BUDDHISM IS A BIT DIFFERENT, BUT HAS STAIC AND ILLOGICAL VIEWS ABOUT MANY THINGS : SOMETHING THAT BUDDHA WAS NOT FOND OF)4. If religion welcomes doubts and questions, why was Darwin harshly criticized after proposing his revolutionary theory? Why does Religions oppose ptogressive moves?I have even mentioned specific incidents. You did not answer those. If religion really welcomes questions, and the opinions of people, then why Bruno was killed? Why was Gallileo mentally and almost physically tortured? Why are people still prosecuted because of exposing so-called miracles? Have you any answer?Did you forget Andreas Vesalius? People, throughout the ages, have questioned Religions' teachings. But they were always stopped. Why is something wrong? Because the 'holy' book says that it is wrong.How can I deny that? I just cannot. 5. "Many religions have no concept of Hell.". Yes. They do not. But they still instill fear in the minds of people, for example : God's wrath."Hell in the Bible and Koran are barely mentioned" Really? "when they are it is done in a spirit of acknowledgement only."Let's see.The Qur'an :Indeed, We have sent you, [O Muhammad], with the truth as a bringer of good tidings and a warner, and you will not be asked about the companions of Hellfire. (2:119)And when it is said to him, "Fear Allah ," pride in the sin takes hold of him. Sufficient for him is Hellfire, and how wretched is the resting place. (2:206) Say to those who disbelieve, "You will be overcome and gathered together to Hell, and wretched is the resting place." (3:12)And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination. (4:115)But those who disbelieve and deny Our signs - those are the companions of Hellfire. (5:10)Do they not know that whoever opposes Allah and His Messenger - that for him is the fire of Hell, wherein he will abide eternally? That is the great disgrace. (9:63)Plenty of other mentions of hell. Over 50, surely. If you want, I will mention each of them.The Bible, too, has plenty of mentions. I will post them in the next round, if you wish. 6. I am not saying that religion has done anything good. What I am saying is that it has done mostly bad. Do you know how many children of India are malnourished? But still, for the sake of religion, a gargantuan majority of religious people pour gallons and gallons (literally) milk on a black stone. All of that milk is WASTED. Should not we condemn that? Yes, religion sometimes has done a lot of progressive things. For example, in India, the country I live in, a colossal number of schools are monitored by religious organizations. But do you know how 'indoctrination' is prevalent there? I will end my argument with two quotations. “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” - Epicurus"There is a distinct difference between having an open mind andhaving a hole in your head from which your brain leaks out." - James Randi