We got missionaries!

Of course it would. If we find a cure for cancer, people will still die of heart disease. SHould we stop searching for a cure for cancer?

are you suggesting that religeon causes mental Illness?

I see a lot of opinions and a lot of humor directed at the idea of SL religion, and a lot of people wondering why that is. Well, it's just an opinion, but I might have a few insights.

First point; with all the problems that organized religion has had brought to the public eye lately, religion in general is the current butt of a lot of world-round humor. Sexual scandels, religious wars, jihads, stresses, and even a certain comic that gained norteriety have all contributed. Add to that, some religious customs, limitations, and rituals are, frankly, rediculous to non-members. If this is how organized religion presents itself in RL, why should people who are trying to escape from the stresses of real life show respect in a virtual setting?

And that brings me to my second point; no matter how much it may comprise many people's social and even financial lives, SL is, all-in-all, a false reality. A virtual environment that has no tangible substance. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm in love with these digital domains. But it's not real. And I know that a lot of people are strongly of the opinion that such an environment is for the escaping of reality and creating fantasy; not for re-creating the issues and things we have to deal with in RL.

I guess my third point is my final one. The biggest reason religion, in general, is disparaged in a virtual setting is because almost nobody, even those of the same faiths, have exactly the same views of spirituality. Almost all religions, especially the oldest ones, are full of conflict; "God is all-forgiving / God's wrath is to be feared." "Love others / Kill infedels." Because of contridictions, even those of similar faiths can have very, very different ideas about thier spirituality. This can lead to friction between individuals and even entire groups. In past times, this led to Inquisitions and Crusades. These days, in a somewhat more enlightened era, it rarely leads to religious violence in civilized socities; instead the tension is eased by making fun of, degrading, and verbally disparaging other's views. It's not ideal, admittedly, but it makes for easier relations then declaring holy wars and engaging in genocide.

Just a few thoughts I've pieced together from observations. I fully admit that I may be mistaken, though. After all, nobody's perfect.

Others don't believe in a book that clearly states that homosexuals deserve to die.

At no time in any discourse have I promised eternal damnation to those who hold views contrary to my own. That alone is the prerogative of the religious


Atheism is an absence of a belief in a god or gods. By your reckoning not believing in fairies or dragons would also constitute a belief.


Ashes to Ashes dust to dust.

I could argue this post - but there is no point.

Simply put the only thing someone loses if they beleive in a Spirtual world (of some type) and it turns out not to exist - Is the time they used believing in it.

Which means they didnt lose anything - since everyone wastes time on all sorts of non productive things.

Removing religeon wouldnt stop war, it wouldnt stop Mental Illness, it wouldnt stop people mistreating their children.

It wouldnt stop intollerance, It wouldnt stop racism.

It wouldnt do any of those things.

I see no difference from a Aethiest giving a sermon on how no one should believe in a Spiritual World, and a Christain saying you should.

The only way to know 100% what happpens to you when you die is to die. That is the only Reality anyone can prove.

I do. If religion goes beyond a mere hope that there might be something more than there is, into the certainty that one is able to talk to invisible beings, it can hardly be called sanity anymore. I've been there and I was all but sane at that time.

If beleif in some sort of supernatural is insanity -

Then the overwhelming majority of all humans who ever lived are/were insane.

It seems you didn't read my reply at all. You simply repost your standpoint. You're basically telling someone whose life and health has been more or less ruined by his religious delusion that there is no harm in religion whatsoever. Well, I won't be offended because I know that it's impossible for a religious person to consider anything that endangers their fragile faith.

I read your entire post and decided there was no point in arguing with you on those points.

That why I said I wasnt going to argue them.

Personal experience is never a debateable subject anyway. What I am going to say? "those people didnt treat you badly"? See what I mean?

Im sure someone out there has bad experiences with Aethiest parents too. If he said he was mistreated becuase his parents were Aethiest what are we going to say, "No you werent mistreated"?

Im saying human nature is what it is - that those people very likely would have found another reason to be petty, thoughtless, cruel, etc.

I dont know why you make the final coment suggesting im a religeous person, I never said I was.

My understanding is that Jesuits are trained in debate. I would love to debate the existence of a personal god with one of them..where are they? Bring em on.

Actions: Lock, Linden Review with recommendations
Reasons: Off topic, trolling, flaming.
Source: AR

This forum isn't for general discussion; there are many Resident Sites where this discussion is appropriate — Resident Answers is for Resident-to-Resident help. I'll close this thread...

Forum Guidelines