Religion is overall beneficial on the human race.

Note: watch video when cued. \\\Rocky may argue that there are in fact more religious criminals in the U.S. than atheist, but at the same time, a conducted Princeton Survey states that only about 15% of U.S. adults are atheist. That leaves a whopping 85% of adults in the United States as ones who practice a religion, 76% of which are Christian./// This helps my side, the fact that there are more religious adults proves that there is a high chance that they are religious. I do not completely understand the point above this. \\\Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the Earth absolutely must be in the center of the universe. In no teachings does it say that God didn't also create the other planets./// The bible never states this, but the Church believed it and they brainwashed people to believing it too. Please note we are not just talking about the bible. \\\In fact, there are religious people who believe in God, but they say that He created the Big Bang. In this case, they do believe that He still created the world, but at the same time, they can also believe in evolution in that God just decided that their race was suffering and did not allow them to reproduce./// A classic statement. Saying "God created the counter-argument". What my opponent states is a fool proof system that refutes science by saying "god created science". Why did god create science? Why didn't he just let us live forever in reclining chairs at the beach? \\\Give me ONE LEGIT SOURCE that states that Muslims bomb themselves in hopes of going to paradise, and then we can argue that point./// You want proof? See above video: http://www.youtube.com... \\\Also, give me a legit reason why giving thanks is a bad thing, or a waste of time. Spending a little time every day to appreciate what you have is a bad habit? If you believe that giving thanks will take you to Heaven, it's bad to want that?/// OK you want a legit reason? It limits the capabilities of the human mind. Think about it, the wolf has claws, turtle has shell, rabbit has large ears, humans have large brains? Why? To think, to invent, to innovate. Believing in religion and wasting time every day to give thanks is limiting our minds by framing our thinking. Making us think in a straight line, not the explosion of thought supposed to be going on in a human brain. Brain images have proved long ago that people who do not believe in a higher power have much more brain activity than people who do. Not just math going on in their head, but thoughts, imagination, ideas, innovation, not "I wonder if i'm worthy". Let me say one thing. If things had gone the way the church planned, we wouldn't have landed on the moon. Period. \\\Religion is a way to differentiate different cultural groups. Without religions, the world would have less diversity and less ways to accept people as who they are./// Correction: Without religions, the world would have less things to argue about, and less excuses to start wars. Accept people as who they are. That's the biggest lie of this debate. Religions encourage segregation, think about it, how many times have you heard a kid at school call someone a "jew" or "terrorist" because of their religion. Enough Said. \\\For some people, religion is what pushes them forward to invent new things or even just have a meaning or a motivation to make the best out of life./// Please explain. Last time I checked, religion was the thing that flew planes into the twin towers. Religion was the thing that imprisoned Gallileo, Religion was the thing that burned new thinkers at the stake. Another lie. \\\Religion helps to regulate our conduct and behavior in society by providing a set of morals and value-system for human existence. True religion protects the human rights of everyone and prevents their violation, ensures social justice, equality and security for all its adherents, ensures a happy, holy, healthy mind in a healthy body, provides for good governance of society and good care of its citizen, and guides our actions in life, putting a check on criminal tendency in human nature. As a science of self-improvement, religion offers a therapeutic and success-oriented lifestyle,a victorious way of life."/// regulates our conduct... please note we are talking about all religions. Regulates conduct: Burning witches at the stake is good conduct? Protects human rights: Last time I checked "death by bomb" wasn't a human right. Ensures a happy, holy, healthy mind in a healthy body: Healthy minds think for themselves, praying is a non-active activity. guides our actions in life: Guides the airplane into the ground. success-oriented lifestyle: If success is crashing a plane into the pentagon, then yes. a victorious way of life: if victory is being proud of the burnt husk of a person on a stake that used to be a "witch" then yes. \\\In ancient Asia during war and drought, for example, many people turned to Buddhism for peace and comfort./// Buddhism is not a religion, it is a philosophy, or way of thinking. \\\The medieval Renaissance was from the rebirth of Greek and Roman literature, which included their polytheistic religious aspects./// Actually it was the uncovering of what the church had been hiding from them the past few centuries. \\\It was religion which motivated Michelangelo to paint Adam and God on the roof of the Sistine Chapel, and it was religion that built all the great churches and cathedrals we still see today. Religion is what caused many people to leave Britain to come to the Americas, thus creating our country today./// While I see your point and it is a good one, religious people were not the only ones to come to America. Others included business men, farmers, criminals, settlers, people seeking a better life, soldiers, mountain men and explorers. ---------------------------------------- Let me share with you today the impact religion has on the world. Video 1: Suicide Bomber... influenced by religion... people killed, the basic natural right is broken. Video 2: World Trade Center attacks, influenced by religion.. people killed, basic natural right is broken, it is rumored that the last words of the terrorists on board was (translated) "Let allah stab the American devil through the heart" Video 3: Brainwashing: Kids are being trained to give their lives for Jesus, it's brainwashing Video 4: Recruiting Kids For The Army Of God. Video 5: Training Children For The Army Of gods, rallying them with music Video 6: Children Pray To "Lord" Bush. Turning the president into a deity. Video 7: Harry potter, being called an enemy of god, "he should have been put to death" http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com... http://www.youtube.com...