"Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."
Look it up.
Thank you for writing ishigakisensei. The problem is that too many people are not strong enough to interrogate or resist the ideas that other people give to them. And cannot understand how to break themselves free of the hold that various con-men and charlatans put on them. And yes, I know many don't want to hear it, but in fact the Abrahamic religious leaders (Jews, Christians, Muslims) all qualify.
Remember that the principle weapons of religions are guilt and fear -- for example "feel guilty if you don't help others under our name". Another example, "unless you join our religion you will not go to the afterlife". I love this one: "You are all sinners and only I can help you" -- what a crock of s***. All of this is so that the members will give to the leaders (often men clothed in elaborated dresses) their money. It is a pretty good con game. And then these leaders build power by controlling the "congregation", limiting information, using all kinds of cult techniques.
Please everyone, do your research on cult techniques -- you'll see an amazing alignment to many religions. And then the "followers" are hooked. They are no longer allowed to ask questions or challenge those in positions of authority (the con men). And like many have experienced, if you speak against "your religion", you may be ousted, you are gone, your family and best friends will leave you. And these are "supposedly" honorable people with "the grace of god". No, obviously they are shameful, fearful, guilty people -- just like the leaders want it.
On the other hand there are "ways of life", or principles of life, and or structured ways of living which may be useful and enlightening. We should avoid calling them religions. Some of the eastern ways of life are among them.
That has been my argument with Christianity. Of course there are good things in Christianity., but why do we have to drag along the bad stuff. People who are really Christians should fight to rewrite the bible, create "new testament number 2". I never understood why that isn't possible other than it makes liars of the existing men in dresses or the sheep are too much under cult control.
