It's 2024 and yet we still give tax breaks to a paedophilic, child abusing organisation

There would be far less violence in the World if religion became what it really is a collection of fairy stories that we tell children to learn them right from wrong and nothing more than that. Belief that the sky fairy will offer you eternal life should be certifiable and bar you from any sort of authority over others.

 

Agreed, it's probably time to defund the BBC.

 

Not going to be much left at this rate!

 

Apparently there’s a pedophile disguised as a school in Sheffield. Been getting away with it for years.

 

That must be a tricky costume!

 

The Pope in my opinion should be referred to as The Pimp and religion should be seen as a threat to the stability if the entire human race, as the original poster said its hard to fathom that in the 21st century people still believe in Gods of any kind and Phil Gridlet.

 

Well, not literally nobody, but I agree, probably not many people out of those who could benefit from it. More accurate numbers might be easier to gauge if it involved singing. We are out there, though. I read a section on rotation of The Practising Stoic by Ward Farnsworth every morning, in much the way that some Christians I know do a daily bible reading, although I often conclude that it's with about the same negligible level of effect on my behaviour. "Old Habits Die Screaming" (that's Taylor Swift, not Marcus Aurelius).

 

There's some worth to the Church's historic role in the changing of society's moral code after the greco-roman civilisations. The promotion of 'love thy neighbour' was in marked contrast to the ideas of, say, the Romans, who looked at everything from an idea of dog eat dog, slavery and individual strength. The morals we tend to live by today in Britain are basically the ones that Christianity helped shape. To that extent I haven't got hatred for religion (Christianity). I do agree with you however that many religious organisations have elements of hypocrisy and corruption in them. All institutions are run by humans with power and power will often corrupt. So I take your original point about the sleaze. Dont forget though that there will be millions of church members who are very sincere, devout and genuine in their beliefs regardless of whether one believes in heaven, God etc. Many followers will have that genuine moral code I was talking about. Its the organisation and structure of the Church which is a let down. Same with any other organisation though. Police (as Mr Kaht says), army, political parties, schools, Harrods etc etc... Lots of corruption but many people in many of these organisations are good people trying to do their best.
I dont know what the answer is with sleaze and corruption in the Church. DBS checks for all would be a start if not already done. Independent whistleblowing panel? I dunno. I don't have the the gut-instinct hatred of the Church that some do though. It does some good work and some of its people are genuinely good human beings.

 

Good comments, and let's not forget our Convention rights:

ARTICLE 9 Freedom of thought, conscience and religion 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

 

I must admit that I have never ‘got’ religion, it’s a pity folk can’t just follow their own beliefs without banding together a live and let live. The Middle East would certainly have had a far peaceful time, from the crusades to modern times where people run their countries by it persecuting their own people in particular women,
Our churches are nearly as bad as, preaching one thing but seemingly happy to do another, the Catholic Church has always annoyed me with things like their historic persecution of young mothers and turning up at peoples deathbeds supposedly to comfort but also to secure a donation. Their schools were an excuse for sadism ( I know a couple of Irish lasses who went) you could just go one and on!

 

To paraphrase, "If you need religion to stop you committing crimes or being a bad person, you are not a good person, you are a bad person on a leash."

 

Yes all religions are basically brainwashing through indoctrination of the young.
That's why most people are the religion that they are taught to believe not one they settle on themselves.

 

Yep. Exactly why I believe it needs changing. Why is it that belief in a sky fairy and therefore the homophobic behaviour that comes from that practice and observance is allowed yet the same homophobic behaviour is illegal for any other reason?

 

No it isn't.

 

I doubt Jesus was imaginary and most scholars of ancient history - regardless of their personal beliefs seem to agree. Just think about it, from the historical records we know that people who claimed to have known Jesus personally were willing to go to their deaths, in very horrible ways, because they refused to refute their beliefs in his divinity. Now if they’d all sat round and made him up then I reckon when faced with certain death they would have have probably said “nah, just kidding, we made him up.” But they didn’t, so either they were prepared to die for something they knew was a lie - or they really did know someone called Jesus.

 

I believe there was a historical person called Jesus, but he didn't go around telling people he was the son of god, that was all on Paul after the crucifixion. Even proto-Christians didn't all accept that Jesus was the son of god until the Council of Nicaea in 325AD at least 250 years after his death.
Christianity's beliefs have changed with every new land the Catholics have "converted", just look at all the "paganism" incorporated in the churches built in England/Scotland/Wales in the middle ages. And the Church of England was built on the depravity of Henry the 8th and his desire to have a son.

 

All I’m saying is that Jesus existed and there were people who knew him who were willing to die believing he was the son of God.

 

In all likelihood a MAN called Jesus did exist but he was a terrorist or at least regarded as such by the Romans, hence why they killed him. The rest of the story like the miracles, him being the son of god and from a virgin birth etc were all made up centuries later. Because they simply couldn't be true.

 

That or he was a con man who used simple tricks to fool people who had never seen them before.