Should organized religion be outlawed?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

To do so would only give it significance, thus prolonging its natural extinction from rational society.

Hah! Auguste Comte would like to agree with you, but he's been saying the same thing for almost 200 years.

It may take yet another 200 years, but I do believe that the outcome is predictable and inevitable. Even today you can see the power of organized religion waning.

No it isn't. That is quite possibly one of the biggest myths in the world. Organized Religion if anything is on the increase and has been on the increase since the 1960s (if not earlier).

[President Mitt]

No because that would give the Hard Christian Right evidence to prove the existence some sort of Atheist-Satanist conspiracy against Christianity.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Only 15% of the forum are leftist authoritarians?  I would have guessed more like 30%.

1-You probably consider me a leftist authoritarian for supporting things like smoking bans. It's quite a leap to assume one would support this on the basis of supporting a smoking ban.
2-Most of those "Yes" votes are probably jokes anyway.

[perdedor]

To do so would only give it significance, thus prolonging its natural extinction from rational society.

Hah! Auguste Comte would like to agree with you, but he's been saying the same thing for almost 200 years.

It may take yet another 200 years, but I do believe that the outcome is predictable and inevitable. Even today you can see the power of organized religion waning.

No it isn't. That is quite possibly one of the biggest myths in the world. Organized Religion if anything is on the increase and has been on the increase since the 1960s (if not earlier).

What exactly are you basing this on? In terms of modern society, there is far less enthusiasm about the prospect of religion, far more cynicism as well.

[Psychic Octopus]

No, shame on the people who voted yes.

[dead0man]

Only 15% of the forum are leftist authoritarians?  I would have guessed more like 30%.

1-You probably consider me a leftist authoritarian for supporting things like smoking bans. It's quite a leap to assume one would support this on the basis of supporting a smoking ban.
2-Most of those "Yes" votes are probably jokes anyway.

1. I don't consider you that.  I didn't even know your views on smoking bans as smoking bans are way down my list of important issues.  You're over thinking this.
2.maybe

I was just trying to draw some of the yes votes out to comically defend their position.  The 30% thing may have had a touch of hyperbole.

[live free or die]

No.

[angus]

Certainly not. 

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

If pot is any indication, banning organized religion would lead to a lot of religious teenagers.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

To do so would only give it significance, thus prolonging its natural extinction from rational society.

Hah! Auguste Comte would like to agree with you, but he's been saying the same thing for almost 200 years.

It may take yet another 200 years, but I do believe that the outcome is predictable and inevitable. Even today you can see the power of organized religion waning.

No it isn't. That is quite possibly one of the biggest myths in the world. Organized Religion if anything is on the increase and has been on the increase since the 1960s (if not earlier).

What exactly are you basing this on? In terms of modern society, there is far less enthusiasm about the prospect of religion, far more cynicism as well.

Evidence? No church attendance figures are not really evidence for many reasons.

[ARescan]

This would cause another Civil War, a war that I would fight with the religious people.

[KeeptheChange]

This would cause another Civil War, a war that I would fight with the religious people.

Agree.  While I think some liberals actually want this and would support it, I doubt all of them would.  Obama worries me, of course.  He has been very openly hostile to Christianity.  But I don't believe all the silly conspiracy theories.

[dead0man]

To do so would only give it significance, thus prolonging its natural extinction from rational society.

Hah! Auguste Comte would like to agree with you, but he's been saying the same thing for almost 200 years.

It may take yet another 200 years, but I do believe that the outcome is predictable and inevitable. Even today you can see the power of organized religion waning.

No it isn't. That is quite possibly one of the biggest myths in the world. Organized Religion if anything is on the increase and has been on the increase since the 1960s (if not earlier).

What exactly are you basing this on? In terms of modern society, there is far less enthusiasm about the prospect of religion, far more cynicism as well.

Evidence? No church attendance figures are not really evidence for many reasons.

Now while I agree you couldn't base the entire argument on it, but wouldn't attendance figures be an important data point when trying to figure out if a people are becoming more or less religious?

[Tetro Kornbluth]

To do so would only give it significance, thus prolonging its natural extinction from rational society.

Hah! Auguste Comte would like to agree with you, but he's been saying the same thing for almost 200 years.

It may take yet another 200 years, but I do believe that the outcome is predictable and inevitable. Even today you can see the power of organized religion waning.

No it isn't. That is quite possibly one of the biggest myths in the world. Organized Religion if anything is on the increase and has been on the increase since the 1960s (if not earlier).

What exactly are you basing this on? In terms of modern society, there is far less enthusiasm about the prospect of religion, far more cynicism as well.

Evidence? No church attendance figures are not really evidence for many reasons.

Now while I agree you couldn't base the entire argument on it, but wouldn't attendance figures be an important data point when trying to figure out if a people are becoming more or less religious?

Not necessarily, for example it could indicate high levels of social conformism rather than religious activities. Or lower attendance may indicate that people are moving religious activities more into their private sphere.

[dead0man]

Right, those data points can be used too but that doesn't mean attendance figures are worthless as you brought up.

Anyway, you stated the decline of organized religion is one of the biggest myths in the world.  Lets see some stats.

(and I'm not sure if it was you or somebody else...but the last time I asked for stats I got somebody doing the math for themselves which is insane on at least 2 different levels...don't do that.  Right...so some stats, using some science showing organized religion is on the rise.  Bonus points if your cite leaves Islam out of it and only focuses on the West, but I understand that might be asking a bit much.

Also, I have no idea what the correct answer is here...I would assume a decline, at least in the West.  Worldwide may be a different story, but even then I'd lean towards a decline.  You seem to know it's on the rise so showing me the proof that convinced you should be more than enough.)

[true liberty]

of course not. freedom to assemble, people.

[dead0man]

I guess Golly never found those stats he was looking for.  Biggest myth in the world indeed.