What would the world be like without religion?

[rov1100]

We could still retain our personal beliefs but without establishments and organised worshipping their would surely be less troubles in the world

[Elderman]

Thank you ,Kebabshop .......But there is no lack of words that can be used in praising God, as a glance at any dictionary will show.

[MarkRae]

> praising God.

I must admit that of all of the aspects of the Abrahamic religions, that remains to me one of the most puzzling.

On the assumption that Christians, Jews and Muslims can all agree that the one true god created the whole universe and everything in it (even if they can't agree on what his name is!), and that this one true god is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent, what possible need could such a divine being have for praise? Doesn't he know how good he is? Why does he need to be reminded constantly of it?

To me, that is akin to phoning Jonathan Edwards once a week to remind him that he's the world triple jump record holder...

[MarkRae]

Kebab, you make good points, but why on earth do you feel the need to apologise for them? Who are you actually saying sorry to, and what are you actually sorry for...?

[Zacs-Master]

Yea verily god's no1 fan hath spoken and many are his words of wisdom. Let us sit in wonderment and await the subrhinoesque teachings.

[ChuckFickens]

"To me, that is akin to phoning Jonathan Edwards once a week to remind him that he's the world triple jump record holder..."

Maybe if god issued a restraining order on the world it would be a better place :)

[LazyGun]

@ Mark - you ever see the bedazzled movie with peter cook and dudley moore? Sequence in there where peter cook sits on top of a post box, says to dudley - dance around me, praising me - so dudley does, for around 2 minutes or so, then says this is boring - how about we change around and you give me a go? and peter cook, as Lucifer, says - thats what i said to god ;)

Or words to that effect - probably very loose paraphrasing.

Like you, I have often wondered what kind of hypothetical being could want such 24/7 slavish worship and why, and concluded that they must have an enormous ego and a pretty repressive character to need that sort of validation.

[The Builder]

“I cannot believe in a God who wants to be praised all the time.”

Nietzsche

[naomi24]

^^ Because he wasn't who they say he was.

[MarkRae]

I have seen that film, though not for many years.

I can just about rationalise the notion that god's "the boss" who has given us a set of commandments to follow - that's little different to any government - but the whole notion of worship is, to me, beyond preposterous...

[jomifl]

There is no lack of words that can be used to praise god. There are a few that are printable such as figmentary, delusional, nightmare, con, vicious, incredible, ridiculous, etc.

[MarkRae]

I'd be fascinated to read Elderman's *PERSONAL* take (i.e. without resort to copying and pasting random pieces of scripture) on why a supreme being requires worship.

[naomi24]

Mark, so would I - but I honestly don't think he has one.

[jomifl]

Kebab..I'm sure that there is a dustbin somewhere, I think I saw one recently.

[MarkRae]

> I presume therefore that the contributors believed the earth to be flat

Total myth. There is no evidence that any of the ancients believed that.


> I have never read the bible as I consider it to be a nonsencical piece of fiction with the most ludricous and ridiculous content.

Then you are just as hypocritical as the believers! How can you consider the bible to be anything at all if you haven't read it? I consider you to be eight feet tall with green hair even though I've never met you...

[Elderman]

This is why the widespread evidences of moral deterioration and breakdown, and it is apparent that the earth and its inhabitants fall short in mirroring the wisdom and majesty of their Creator and in reflecting his praise, as purposed. And as time wears on the condition worsens: “Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.”—2 Tim. 3:1-5.

[jomifl]

Mark, I cannot see anything hypocritical about not reading the bible if you believe it is the alleged word of a god that does't exist. It's only significance is to the people that believe it and to the people who use it as an indicator of a defunct moral philosophy.

[MarkRae]

There's nothing hypocritical about not reading the bible. What is hypocritical is not reading the bible and then imagining that your "opinion" of it has any value.

Parts of the bible are of almost unimaginable beauty