Another criticism is that religion restricts thought. When religion purports to offer a complete answer to problems of purpose, morality, origins or science, it inevitably discourages exploration of those areas (by suppressing curiosity), and thereby denies its followers a broader perspective, and prevents progress. Examples include the Church’s attack on Galileo for suggesting that the Earth revolves around the Sun, the opposition from the Church to Darwin’s theory of evolution, and present-day opposition to potentially life-saving research into stem cells.

Do you believe religion can impede human progress? If not explain why.

I believe in god. But religious books were written by people. I agree with you on religion impeding human progress. Its been one of our biggest setbacks. However, i think it's guidelines have helped with the development of morality.

you already know why i don't respond to this one again, lol.....

i believe in God, but i have a huge problem with religion. i believe if you live the best you can and do what is right in your life as a person, then that is all anyone can expect from you.

Another criticism is that religion restricts thought. When religion purports to offer a complete answer to problems of purpose, morality, origins or science, it inevitably discourages exploration of those areas (by suppressing curiosity), and thereby denies its followers a broader perspective, and prevents progress. Examples include the Church’s attack on Galileo for suggesting that the Earth revolves around the Sun, the opposition from the Church to Darwin’s theory of evolution, and present-day opposition to potentially life-saving research into stem cells.

Do you believe religion can impede human progress? If not explain why.



that is why i have a problem with religion, amongst other things...

Please if you wish could you elaborate what other things that you have a problem with concerning religion. thank you

I can relate to this very well what you mentioned here.

Again my friend it all depends on the education of people.
Read this address of John Paul II, and then tell me what you think my friend:
http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_jp02tc.htm

Mr. LonelyWalker I am well educated and can read and watch many religious documents and videos you suggest, yet someone like me to blindly have faith in old scriptures is something that I cannot do. It is not that I can't do it, it is just for me I cannot believe in a man made written documents with a history of daunting stories. I would rather interpet religion in a historical cause without supernatural events to see the factuality in my view. Trust me, I have read many, many, many books.

Not only have I read many books, I actually travelled to witness different aspects of how and why people believe in the things they do. I am from Germany and have travelled to over 28 countries in my lifetime. I have seen so many religious belief systems that are very interesting to study. Unfortunately, these religious belief systems are not mentioned in these threads for the majority who live in this country are Christians and are not really interested in seeing other aspects. Most see them as either blasphemy or incorrect, yet if you go to the country that practices that individual belief system will contradict that what Christians practice are incorrect.

So if you indicate that I am not educated then think again my friend.

If you didn't imply to me personally about my educational level then I apologize for the misunderstanding as words can be understood in different perspectives.

To tell you the truth I personally believe religion can be very dangerous, as it can also be very helpful. It depends on how one perceives it. If one doesn't have the ability to think positive on their own and must use religious scriptures to help enhance their conscience in a more positive attitude then I would say it is better they do so.

In the long run each individual will have to know what is best for them. I understand that the Catholic belief system is what works best for you, yet I ask do you know the history of the catholic belief system as you claim it to be? If you look at the history of it you will see many dissappointing times in history that has made the religion less significant for many to follow. I could list a whole list of religous wars concerning the Catholic religion and its autracities. You will see that high ranking bishops who ordered these wars because of personal beliefs guided by the bible have had life threatening consequences for those who didn't abide to their belief system.


Now to help defend your belief system, I have met many great catholic religious people who live a peaceful life with others no matter what creed, lifestyle, or belief system they live.

I personally will never follow a religious organization, for I live a great life as a non religious spiritual person. It works best for me, yet I will never stop studying religion and mythology for personal interest to understand why different cultures feel the way they do about a belief system or why they have been created in the first place.

First of all my friend when i refered to education, I was not refering to you at all. I was making a reference to a post I made in another thread you made.
Religion may be very disapointing because of uneducated believers.

Second of all, if I claim the problem with religions is the uneducated believers, well ofcourse I'm the first to need educated, ergo I have studied catholic history, and I have to agree in the atrocities committed by the Church (for instance Galileo, crusades, inquisition, the treatement to jews, and more modern times child molesters).

In specific reference to Galileo I gave you that link for you to read the actual position of the Church with that awful event, and its position with regard science in general.

I did it, since you made the claim that religion does not allow humanity to grow in knowledge, as you can see in that link the Church encourages the scientific development.

I have come to understanding that is not my mission to convert anybody, so if you have come to the understanding that it is not necessary a religion to live a full life well I'm glad for you. I hope you are in peace, and even though you don't believe it. i would like to tell you God bless you.

However, I would like to share with you the fact that many of the actual conception with regard christianity it is many many times due to misunderstandings.

As I always say all these misunderstandings come from the fundamentalist factions of christianity from which all the christianity is held accountable.

I feel for myself (and only for myself) that the Catholic Church offer a more balance and less radical view in christianity on actual days.

Again I accept that my Church has committed atrocities, and shame on those who are responsible for such atrocities, yet a whole institution can't be judge just for its wrongdoings without considering the other side of the coin.

TLW

Agreed and I apologize for the misunderstandings. We still have much to learn and I continue each day with it. Thank you for your knowledge and I will be looking at the links you offered. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

in ways yes, in some case it does help those that really need something to believe in to get to a better place for them selves.

i am buddist, it helps be calm and help others out of their pain

what education by brain wash

you have a long way to go as a buddist.

.