[KagatobLuvsAnimu]

Originally Posted by Patriam1066 [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Oh, but it does. Seventh Day Adventists are healthy because they believe God commands them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Utah doesn't suffer many social ills in other states, I'd argue that that is related to strong family and community values (Mormon values). Christian charities were the first into Liberia to fight ebola, while you sat at your computer. Religious states in the US donate more to, and are more active in charities.

Gregor Mendel created genetics. Where did he find the resources to study pea plants? Holy shit, he was a monk in a monastery? I guess you don't believe in mendelian genetics anymore because he was associated with the evil catholic church trying to control us all!!!!! Tools

I reiterate: "I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do. I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do."

If you see no value in a religion, then don't follow it. Conversely, if you see some value in parts of it but little in other aspects, incorporate what you will into your life. It is your responsibility, and yours alone, to utilize your brain to decide what is right and wrong in your life. If I decide to go to a house of worship, in my case a Baha'i shrine, why the hell is that any of your business?

I was raised in the religion that my mother taught me, and it would kill her if I left it. So why did I stay? Merely out of respect to her? Not quite. My faith taught me to work hard, to smile in the face of adversity, and to be tolerant. What part of those values do you deem to be evil? If I read them in a philosophy tome or a textbook, would they be inherently more valuable than if they came from scripture? What makes you the arbiter of right and wrong?

The only "religion" that scares me is this incessant desire from liberals and atheists to silence anyone who has a different opinion. What a fucked up world we'd have if you guys had the power to create a society without diversity of opinion, culture or thought. I'll keep praying to my flying spaghetti monster that you never have the capability.

Oh, and there are plenty of countries that have thought police apparatuses. I suggest you move to Iran, China, or Russia; you'd all fit in perfectly. Drones following the queen like in every other hive.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/op...iberia-127563/

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionande...-health/10575/

I cannot break up quotes on my phone browser so I apologize if my response isn't formatted in a way that is pleasing to the eyes.

Mormons etc.: family values need not come from religion in a modern productive society. Regardless, for every Mormon that you see, there are fifty others who identify as Christian who live in excess. While it's true that there were Christian groups among the first wave of aid, this belies the fact that there are more aid based groups not associated with faiths when compared to 'missions'. While I sat at my computer telling everyone to be calm and rational in regards to Ebola, Christian groups have been pressing for border closures and deportations as well as the abandonment of fellow citizens who were potentially infected. There are exceptions to every rule, in this case your positive examples are just that. Your point about who is more charitable is simply wrong, even with less than 20 percent of the nation opting out of selecting a religion, a secular charity (bill gates) generates much more aid than any religious charity.

Gregor Mendel did not discover genes BECAUSE he was religious, he did so in spite of the fact. He came to his conclusions via scientific experimentation, not from the pages of the bible. Correlation =/= causation. The fact that he separated his scientific curiosity from his faith is good on him alone, not his religion. The source of his funding is also largely irrelevant so I don't know why you are implying it would matter to me. The nazis invented/perfected rocket science. Do you think I believe space exploration is evil?

The rest of your post is essentially in defense of personal faith which I'm in full support of. As stated a billion times, your right to your own faith ends at the tip of your nose.