Thread: Could we actually be descendants of an Alien Species ?

whereas religion represses freedom of thought and boxes us in with silly rules, false incentives and deterrents.

I disagree with this to a certain degree, religious texts can be very thought provoking as long as you come at it from the right angle. And I also think a lot of those rules 'thou shalt not kill, love thy neighbour etc.' are standard moral rules that we should all agree with.

It's not so much religion that is the problem, it is how religion has been changed and used over the years to control us. But you need to go past that corruption and get to the very core of religion to benefit from it.

Originally Posted by bkkmadness

whereas religion represses freedom of thought and boxes us in with silly rules, false incentives and deterrents.

I disagree with this to a certain degree, religious texts can be very thought provoking as long as you come at it from the right angle. And I also think a lot of those rules 'thou shalt not kill, love thy neighbour etc.' are standard moral rules that we should all agree with.

It's not so much religion that is the problem, it is how religion has been changed and used over the years to control us. But you need to go past that corruption and get to the very core of religion to benefit from it.

Regarding the ten commandments and the thou shalt not kill etc.. There are non religious people that would agree with them also. A lot of Christians seem to think Christianity is needed as a guideline for right and wrong - it's not. I consider myself a nice bloke with a very big conscience... The former is my choice, I'm not doing it for Premier Points in the afterlife, the latter is just the way I am.

Your last block of text is very true, but even as a pure belief I don't think it, or any belief, should be enforced. I'm all for freedom of thought, it makes everything so much more interesting.

Regarding the ten commandments and the thou shalt not kill etc.. There are non religious people that would agree with them also.

Even today's non religious people have to a degree had their morals set by religious societies haven't they?

And yes beliefs of course should not be enforced, but to widen our scope of thought, a reading of the various religious texts would be useful I think. Much like a reading of all the other great literature in the world is useful.