It was just a bit of a joke at the thread title.

I don't hate religion. I don't choose to buy into it personally, but I think it provides a lot of support and happiness to people who do. Good for them and everything, but it's not for me.

It seems to cause a lot of arguments. From forum spats and arguments down the pub, right upto international politics and wars. That's the main downside to religion in my view. On balance though, I think it provides more good than bad.

To be honest IMHO the fastest way to stop all wars is stop religion - religions have been the root cause of all the major conflicts in the last couple of hundred years.

Ignorance is bliss.

What I really hate is the continued indoctrination of children.

You need to watch South Park. There's an episode where all religion has been obsolete and there remain only atheists. They are divided into three groups who war with each other over the 'great question'. What's the great question?

What should atheists call themselves?

Each of the three factions each has an answer that they think is right. Neither science nor logic can provide the answer hence they resort to war.

What did this demonstrate? That Man wars for power/money/greed/selfish reasons. Religion is a scapegoat and banning it would mean that people would war with each other for other reasons.

In Red Dwarf, the two Cat factions war over the colour of hats to be worn at a hot-dog and doughnut diner.

My personal opinion on Religion in general is that it can bring great comfort and guidance in good times and (more often I suppose) in bad. The principals of religious teachings are not all bad- thou shalt not steal- for example, but in these enlightened times, we seem to be suffering as much from the effects of religious intolerance as in any time in history- which says something, I suppose.

I don't know who- reading this- knows the difference between Shia and Sunni Muslims, for example. I once read (admittedly) a novel set in Iran at the time of the overthrowing of the Shah. It detailed the difference and while I have forgotten it and for the time being won't be looking it up, it seemed pathetically trivial at the time, but it is enough that Shia and Sunni Muslims are regularly in conflict with each other.

Nor do we need to look to Islam to see this kind of infighting- the many branches of Christianity have managed to whip up a fair amount of intolerance and hatred over the centuries.

OK, so that's getting away from the point a bit. Every time common sense seems to interfere with religion these days, people start screaming "Intolerance" and "Discrimination". What annoys me most of all, even as someone who would not describe himself as religious, is the (apparent) positive discrimination of Muslims who - the media would have us believe- are allowed to get away with anything if it fits their religious beliefs whereas Christians get banned from wearing a cross or crucifix in work.

I'm not saying that this is all true, I'm saying that this is what the media might have us believe. But the thing is in this politically correct, over-sensitive, compensation-culture world that we live in- I DO believe it!!

I always liked that Stone's line:

I liked a comedian I saw on "Live at the Apollo" not long ago (I think it was Jason Statham) who said

^ Are you sure he's called Statham? As in similar to bald, action film bloke?

Not Jason Stewart or Jason Manford then? Statham is definitely that bald Vinnie Jones-alike.

Oops

Just checked and it is Jason Manford For some reason I always get them mixed up, must be their similar physique

Except for ...

the Napoleonic (causes: dynastic, political, economic, nationalism); Crimean (imperial, economic); American civil (political); WW1 (imperial, economic, nationalist); WW2 (same); Korea (political); Vietnam (political); Afghanistan (political); Falklands (nationalism); Iran - Iraq (nationalism); 1st gulf (economic); 2nd gulf (imperialism).

Even going further back in history, it's hard to find a war that was genuinely religious. Even the crusades were complicated than that.

So really, we should keep religion, and do away with countries, money and politics.

Provided religious leaders have no political ambition, then that's not unreasonable.

The world's problems are primarily down to Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy and Pride. Religion is often twisted in such a way that these sins are carried out in a deity's name, but there is nothing really wrong with religion as enacted by people who aren't stupid or evil.

Personally, I quite like lust so I didn't include it.

I can't really think of any wars that were caused by lust, anyway. The Trojan War maybe? Or was that jealousy?

Jealousy is simply unrequited lust .

I'd imagine there were quite a few European wars between the various royal houses because Prince whatsisname decided he didn't want to procreate with princess whojamaflip. Although that could probably be said to involve several sins - pride maybe...

Jon