Should criticizing religion really be looked down upon?

cjdoggerThis is all deep philosophy my friend. Something science cannot hope to answer.

Fixed that post for you :P

None of the current religions can bring understanding to it so your comment is pretty much void

Religion does not bring an understanding of how creativity and spirituality come about, I do not think such an understanding is either possible or useful. What religion can do that science cannot is help people make some sense of the symbolism and mythic patterns that can be found in creative work.
For example, the deeply symbolic relationship of the Christ and King Arthur myths can be explained by the 'myth of the dying king', the same mythic pattern can also be used to understand Osiris, Krishna, ect. These universal mythic patterns are very useful when 'reading' the symbolism contained in art, dream, poetry ect. and help people to understand why they feel, drawn to, or offended by certain symbolic imagery. This kind of creative enquiry is much more useful than any scientific reductionalism.
Science is best when it seeks the solutions to problems, and I am a strong advocate of scientific reason and enquiry, but the only 'problem' with the creative process is that science cannot fathom it.

Replying to #43

And why are most of these symbologies present in creative work? Yeah, religion. As for science being unable to understand them, I disagree - symbolism's easy to any sociologist or historian worth their salt.

Fuck it, if I have to sit through yet another debate of atheism/science versus religion.The Catch-22 is this, if you could successfully debate a religious person and make them renounce their beliefs/religion, then that person wouldn't really be religious, would he? It's different debating against someone as a rational, reasonable human being than someone who believes in a religion. Religion is a binding concept, in the sense that its obligations to the religious are believing in the religion itself. It's not, for example, if a capitalist debated a communist on the merits of each system. Capitalism does not have a strict bond towards its "followers" and neither does communism. Therefore, when someone stated that "religious people cannot debate on religion", it depends on whether they are debating on the outset of their religions (in which there would be ENDLESS debate), or as a rational human being. The two are not mutually exclusive, either.I think the point the OP was trying to convey, was that it's not WHAT you say, but rather HOW you say it that offends most people. I don't need people in my face trying to change my beliefs, whether they be religious or not. On the other hand, I welcome any open debate on it.Also, I think it needs to be underlined, that just like religion does not have an answer for everything, science also cannot answer some things. I, as 1prinnydood, am a firm believer in scientific process and scientific enquiry; but some things because of their nature cannot be solved within the scope of the scientific method. This doesn't mean any one is better per se, but you see my point.

There should be only one 'religion' that everyone on the face of this planet should believe in. We should all just try to be good people and believe in ONE ANOTHER. There is too much destruction in this world, be it warring countries, global warming, terrorism, forest fires etc. Be it man against fellow man, man against nature or nature against man, we're all incredibly priveliged to exist, and it seems almost undeniable that we are here because conditions were right for life to happen. Science is proof, religion is unsubstanciated. That is a fact. So, to conclude, I think that if people choose to believe in something then great, if it works for them thats cool. Lets all just try to get along and be respectful to this beautiful planet!!!

Replying to #46

You, sir, kick ass. And the album that your avatar depicts is a pleasant listen.

Phelix · #46There should be only one 'religion' that everyone on the face of this planet should believe in. We should all just try to be good people and believe in ONE ANOTHER. There is too much destruction in this world, be it warring countries, global warming, terrorism, forest fires etc. Be it man against fellow man, man against nature or nature against man, we're all incredibly priveliged to exist, and it seems almost undeniable that we are here because conditions were right for life to happen. Science is proof, religion is unsubstanciated. That is a fact. So, to conclude, I think that if people choose to believe in something then great, if it works for them thats cool. Lets all just try to get along and be respectful to this beautiful planet!!!

No matter how many people say that it's clear it's not gonna happen

Phelix · #46There should be only one 'religion' that everyone on the face of this planet should believe in. We should all just try to be good people and believe in ONE ANOTHER. There is too much destruction in this world, be it warring countries, global warming, terrorism, forest fires etc. Be it man against fellow man, man against nature or nature against man, we're all incredibly priveliged to exist, and it seems almost undeniable that we are here because conditions were right for life to happen. Science is proof, religion is unsubstanciated. That is a fact. So, to conclude, I think that if people choose to believe in something then great, if it works for them thats cool. Lets all just try to get along and be respectful to this beautiful planet!!!

Void · #47You, sir, kick ass. And the album that your avatar depicts is a pleasant listen.

I agree. There's just one thing: Thought. Where do they come from? They don't got a chemical code or whatever it's called, like H2O is water, or CO2 is carbon dioxide. I agree with everything you say, but science has nothing to do with a humans thoughts, and if not God created thoughts, there is absolutley no theory that's 100% bullertproof.

science gets revised as new evidence is discovered and verified, religion does not change no matter how much verified evidence there is in opposition.

ZoffyX · #49I agree. There's just one thing: Thought. Where do they come from? They don't got a chemical code or whatever it's called, like H2O is water, or CO2 is carbon dioxide. I agree with everything you say, but science has nothing to do with a humans thoughts, and if not God created thoughts, there is absolutley no theory that's 100% bullertproof.

Thought can be scientifically proven to be something scientific.
Idiot.

but science itself is basically a religion
and the religion that is not in opposition with science can be presume as the true religioncan you figure out which religion never forked with the science evidences?

I'd like a religion that would fit into science that isn't BS

Ive read MILLIONS of books that have a little something like that
Science VS Religionlet me answer the original question first
Should criticizing religion really be looked down upon ?
YES and NO
Yes when it is obviously aimed as an insult
like if someone were to go up to me and say my God is stupid without any basis to their thought or any proof what so ever. then that shouldn't be acceptable
No when there is proof or some sort of point to it
as mentioned earlier, people get into debates against many different religions
but what most do not realize, is that all religions are somewhat connected to each other.
for example, is it not true that all religions teach us to treat others as our equal
all religions teach us values, how to behave, how our manners should be and so on.
when discussing/debating religions, you should never think one religion is right
what should be counted on is your relationship to your God
and the relationships you have to your fellow beings
because in the end, how you are a as a person, a human being is what really counts.sorry ! but I'm not done yet :)
I've read somewhere that Science and Religion are TOTALLY different
but Au contraire my friends ! [I hope that was right spelling and usage?]
many scientists have said that Science cannot exist without Religion
and one particular scientist was with this idea 100%
Albert Einstein was not just an amazing scientist
he was a strong believer of God
he said that our solar system, was created by two molecules colliding, and by some great miracle. was able to create human life
and the great miracle that enabled this to happen was the power of God
does this not make sense? I agree to his theory
because if not for Science, humans would have a harder time surviving
but without Religion, humans would have no values.
they would have no manners and humankind would have eventually fallenTHERE ! noooow I'm done :)

I got info from somewhere that Einstein inspired the Theory of Relativity based from Quran.

Replying to #55

that's a rumour with no factual basis. The theory of relativity was based on mathematics.

i think it's best that we never criticize about religion unless some ask for them selves. there's thing we should keep quite. :D

kukuru · #55I got info from somewhere that Einstein inspired the Theory of Relativity based from Quran.

Hei kukuru where did you hear that?

http://islam.speed-light.info/relativity_quran.htmhttp://www.mukto-mona.com/Articles/avijit/Quran_miracle.htm

Considering the ethnic makeup of Germany (and the US) during Einstein's time, I would be very surprised if he ever read a Qu'ran, or had any interest in doing so. He was a mathematical genius who spent most of his time lost in thought. I seriously doubt he had any time for religion, or even books that were not of a factual nature.