Religion poll - Harris

[mu03eng]

Ok, then Seinfeld and Sex and the City are the same, Pizza is the same as Lasagna, & Megan Fox is the same as Glenn Close. 

No you are exactly right, which is my point, we are are trying to argue about whether Seinfeld is better than Sex and the City.  People like and gravitate towards a different types of television entertainment.  There will never be a tv program that is universally loved nor will their be a universal religion.  One might even argue the sky wizard, understanding people's contrarian nature, guided multiple religious doctrines so that at the end of the day everyone or nearly everyone would get the same basic messaging.

[RawdogDX]

No you are exactly right, which is my point, we are are trying to argue about whether Seinfeld is better than Sex and the City.  ok, a perfectly legitimate discussion...People like and gravitate towards a different types of television entertainment.  People don't gravitate towards religion.  The vast majority just stay whith what they are born into.There will never be a tv program that is universally loved nor will their be a universal religion.  You can say that about anything.  Why not bring up how both Bibles and Korans are constructed out of atoms?  Then call it "the great irony."One might even argue the sky wizard, understanding people's contrarian nature, guided multiple religious doctrines so that at the end of the day everyone or nearly everyone would get the same basic messaging.Ones do argue that, they are called MyMom. 

I guess I don't understand what your point is.

[mu03eng]

I guess I don't understand what your point is.

The point is all religions are delivering the same basic message in different packaging.  If everyone can just get over the packaging we'd all be better off.

I find it remarkable that all religions have the same features and similar stories but are formed in different places and different times.

[RawdogDX]

The point is all religions are delivering the same basic message in different packaging.  If everyone can just get over the packaging we'd all be better off.

I find it remarkable that all religions have the same features and similar stories but are formed in different places and different times.

Ok, but packaging matters to people, so we can't.

I don't think it's that remarkable.  First those similarities are overstated.  Second the amount of trade and Idea exchanges in the early days are underrated.  We all stared up at the same sky and exchanged ideas about it with passers by.  You couldn't even make up a religion that didn't match your boiled down points but you are surprised that none occurred naturally?

[HouWarrior]

The point is all religions are delivering the same basic message in different packaging.  If everyone can just get over the packaging we'd all be better off.

I find it remarkable that all religions have the same features and similar stories but are formed in different places and different times.

(Not wishing to be drawn into the mueng03 back and forth, but) ...

I agree with you...I find the millenia long deep differences between Christians, Muslims, and Jews to be ironic, given that all of them worship  the exact same God...the God of Abraham.

Islam breaks off with the eldest son of Abraham, Ishmael, whereas Judeo-Christian tracks the other son, Isaac. Talk about sibling rivalry leading to this--wow!

[mu03eng]

Ok, but packaging matters to people, so we can't.

I don't think it's that remarkable.  First those similarities are overstated.  Second the amount of trade and Idea exchanges in the early days are underrated.  We all stared up at the same sky and exchanged ideas about it with passers by.  You couldn't even make up a religion that didn't match your boiled down points but you are surprised that none occurred naturally?

Actually, Scientology doesn't look anything like my points.  And that is definitely a made up religion

[Benny B]

Ok, but packaging matters to people, so we can't.

I don't think it's that remarkable.  First those similarities are overstated.  Second the amount of trade and Idea exchanges in the early days are underrated.  We all stared up at the same sky and exchanged ideas about it with passers by.  You couldn't even make up a religion that didn't match your boiled down points but you are surprised that none occurred naturally?

I'll happily acknowledge the plausibility of a poncho-clad hippie forest goddess called Mother Nature when atheists acknowledge the plausibility of the a wizard.

"Animals eat other animals. It's nature."
"No, it's not. We taught a lion to eat tofu."
[Pan to scrawny, anemic lion]

[RawdogDX]

Actually, Scientology doesn't look anything like my points.  And that is definitely a made up religion

Yeah, I'm not a high enough level to know what Scientology says about the creation of the universe.  I think if you apply that standard across the board it would toss out Yoga, Wicca, all polytheistic religions, and agnostics.

[RawdogDX]

I'll happily acknowledge the plausibility of a poncho-clad hippie forest goddess called Mother Nature when atheists acknowledge the plausibility of the a wizard.

"Animals eat other animals. It's nature."
"No, it's not. We taught a lion to eat tofu."
[Pan to scrawny, anemic lion]

Some scholars think that all 'son of god' motifs come from a hippie forest goddess myth. 

I don't think atheists have much to apologize for, they are still one of our most distrusted subcultures. 
Polls show that 36% of people would be less likely to vote for a political candidate that was gay.  63% of the respondents said they would be negatively impacted by the candidate being an atheist.