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[–] BoiseNTheHood [S] 1 point 0 points (+1|-1) ago 

But I am, nothing you said offers any valid reason to think that religion should play any role whatsoever today.

So, we should scrap the Constitution, abandon our republican form of government, and beg Britain to let us move back in with them, then? We don't want any of that religious influence anymore, right?

Religion is not the source of moral intuition, religion is kept in check by moral intuition. Religion is not the source of education, and certainly not of real, applicable knowledge of the world, instead religion is kept in check by science. Religion is not the source of charitably, it merely occupies a place of unjustified lack of scrutiny among charitable organizations.

You are now putting words in my mouth that I never said. Your criticisms have merit, but it's also worth pointing out that its influence has been used for good throughout history. Dismissing religion altogether for its flaws is like dismissing science because it's often been used for evil.

I'm an atheist. Organized religion just isn't for me. I don't deny that there are drawbacks that come with religion. But I'm not going to begrudge people who do take part in it, nor am I going to deny the good things that religion has done.

None of the good done by religion requires religion.

No, religion is not required to do good, but I don't see what the harm is when they do influence society in a positive way.

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[–] Kurplow 1 point 0 points (+1|-1) ago  (edited ago)

So, we should scrap the Constitution, abandon our republican form of government, and beg Britain to let us move back in with them, then? We don't want any of that religious influence anymore, right?

Where did you get that from my assertion that we should be a secular nation? Strawman much?

But I'm not going to begrudge people who do take part in it, nor am I going to deny the good things that religion has done.

Neither do I, just keep it out of government. Religion has done good things, but those are good things that just happen to be done by religion.

No, religion is not required to do good, but I don't see what the harm is when they do influence society in a positive way.

When the influence is positive, religion is still not necessary. I have laid out several instances of when religion in government has been harmful, on just one topic (health) in just one country (the U.S.), and just recently--and I only gave a few examples. To see the problem here, just imagine the religion trying to infiltrate and dominate social policy is Islam instead of Christianity.

I want one simple thing here Boise, I want people to have good reasons, grounded in reality, for their beliefs. Failing that, I will settle for good reasons, grounded in reality, for public policy positions.

I will reiterate, I am simply appealing to reason.