Abrahamic Religions Are Essentially Violent Philosophies

" Abrahamic religions like Christianity and Islam are fundamentally violent philosophies with violent Gods. Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and others have all reiterated essentially the same thing."

Religion is Literally Killing Us

E. O. Wilson: I’m Not An Atheist But Religion Should Be Eliminated

"This transcendent searching has been hijacked by the tribal religions. So I would say that for the sake of human progress, the best thing we could possibly do would be to diminish, to the point of eliminating, religious faiths. But certainly not eliminating the natural yearnings of our species or the asking of these great questions."

Note:  watch the two videos on "Meaning" at the end.

Link

One Of The Major Harms From Christianity: Redemptive Suffering

From the beginning of Christianity, through the delusion of the likes of  Mother Teresa, who deliberately failed to screen her patients for treatable medical issues, to the fight against Euthanasia, Christianity has held up as a "Good" the ridiculous notion that suffering is "redemptive" and in union with Jesus' suffering on the cross to "redeem" us from Original Sin, which never took place.

Religion's Harm Not Confined To A Geographic Area Or Particular Religions

 

"In the riots which preceded the partition in the Punjab Province, it is believed that between 200,000 and 2,000,000^[1][3][5] people were killed in the retributive genocide between the religions.^[6][7] UNHCR estimates 14 million Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims were displaced during the partition; it was the largest mass migration in human history.^[8][9][10]"

^{Partition of India} 

Changing One's Opinion In Light Of Evidence Is A Strength

"Every religious community must interpret its scripture and adjust its traditions to conform to the modern world. Western Christians used to murder people they believed were witches. They did this for centuries. It’s hard to exaggerate the depths of moral and intellectual confusion this history represents. But it is also true that we have largely outgrown such confusion in the West. The texts themselves haven’t changed. The Bible still suggests that witchcraft is real. It isn’t. And we now know that a belief in witches was the product of ancient ignorance and fear. Criticizing a belief in witchcraft, and noticing its connection to specific atrocities—atrocities that are still committed by certain groups of Christians in Africa—isn’t a form of bigotry against Christians. It’s the only basis for moral and political progress."

What Hillary Clinton Should Say about Islam and the “War on Terror”

Why I Am An Outspoken Atheist

"Bigotry against atheists is not limited to theory and harsh language — anti-atheist bigotry can also lead to anti-atheist discrimination. After all, if bigots are convinced that atheists are immoral, untrustworthy, and perhaps even evil on some level, then it’s only to be expected that they will treat atheists unequally and as inferiors. Unfortunately, the reasons behind anti-atheist discrimination are no better than discrimination against Jews and racial minorities in the past."

How Are Atheists Discriminated Against? Expressions of  Anti-Atheist Bigotry

It's Not Just Fundamentalist Christians

"The stereotype of Jews is that they’re highly educated, but of course that doesn’t hold for the ultra-Orthodox, whose females often don’t go to college and whose males spend nearly all their time studying the Torah, neglecting any other subject.  It’s a waste of time and effort, but that’s religion, Jake.

"Now Israel, to its shame, has enabled this neglect of education by approving the dropping of “core subjects” in Orthodox schools, allowing nearly full-time teaching of religion. These Orthodox can now remain blissfully ignorant of math and science (most of them already are creationists)."

Israel drops science and math requirements for ultra-Orthodox schools

Atheism Is The Answer To Religious Extremism

"Atheism, Ali points out, is a logical step that comes after Enlightenment values like rationalism and tolerance, and the liberties of a free, open and secular society are in place."

How to Fight Extremism with Atheism 

The 9/11 Sermon All Need To Read

"Whatever else may be wrong with our world, it remains a fact that some of the most terrifying instances of human conflict and stupidity would be unthinkable without religion. And the other ideologies that inspire people to behave like monsters—Stalinism, fascism, etc.—are dangerous precisely because they so resemble religions. Sacrifice for the Dear Leader, however secular, is an act of cultic conformity and worship. Whenever human obsession is channeled in these ways, we can see the ancient framework upon which every religion was built. In our ignorance, fear, and craving for order, we created the gods. And ignorance, fear, and craving keep them with us."

Yes, we must destroy al Qaeda. But humanity has a larger project—to become sane.

The Harm From Religion

There is on-going discussion among theists and atheist regarding the harm from religion.  I accept the claim that there can be some good from religion, however, every part of religion that is a good can be provided by secular organizations.

Religion's Role In Violence

"The potential for intolerance lies in the logic of religions like Christianity and Islam that say their teaching derive from a divine revelation. For them, the truth that God has revealed is the most important truth there is; therefore, denying or doubting this truth is extremely dangerous, both for nonbelievers, who lack this essential truth, and for believers, who may well be misled by the denials and doubts of nonbelievers. Given these assumptions, it’s easy to conclude that even extreme steps are warranted to eliminate nonbelief."

How Religion Can Lead to Violence

The history of the Catholic Church and its Inquisition is also frank evidence of the violence of religion in the hands of those with power.

A Harm Of Religion

"Refuting previous hypotheses claiming that children are 'born believers,' the authors suggest that 'religious teaching, especially exposure to miracle stories, leads children to a more generic receptivity toward the impossible, that is, a more wide-ranging acceptance that the impossible can happen in defiance of ordinary causal relations.'”

Children Exposed To Religion Have Difficulty Distinguishing Fact From Fiction, Study Finds

Mike Pence: A Poster Child For The Harm Of Belief Without Evidence

THE main reason for this blog is to expose the harm of belief without evidence, and to particularly point out its most prevalent expression of such, religion.  Mike Pence, Fundamentalist Christian conservative and Donald Trump's Vice Presidental pick (I won't say choice, as it was clearly forced upon him), is the logical outcome from a political party engulfed in unsupported dogma.

Mike Pence and science do not agree.

The Case For Making Religious Indoctrination Of Children Illegal

“An appropriate analogy of religion is that’s it’s kind of like porn—which means it’s not something one would expose a child to.”

Question for religious people who defend this present practice:  if you are so sure of the truth of your religion, why would you be against this reasonable, science-based change?

Some Atheists and Transhumanists are Asking: Should it be Illegal to Indoctrinate Kids With Religion?
- - -

An Objective Look At The History Of The USA's "Greatness"

Donald Trump's campaign slogan is "Making America Great Again."  On this day of celebration of the Independence of the USA, I think it is important to actually look at the truth of the history of the USA.

Religion Is At Its Base

What is the basic motivating factor for LGBT violence and discriminatory laws?  Note the links below regarding the teachings, not individual beliefs about such, of Christianity and Islam on the subject.  Now, picture a society where science-based thinking and actions were overwhelming the basic harmful teachings* of Christianity and Islam.  While the vast majority of religious PEOPLE are honest and peaceful, these religions contain teachings that inspire and inflame those who, for whatever reason, are deluded and/or mentally unstable:

The Catholic Church And Healthcare

"The American Civil Liberties Union and MergerWatch today released reports that reveal that one in six hospital beds in the United States is in a facility that complies with Catholic Directives that prohibit a range of reproductive health care services even when a woman’s life or health is in jeopardy. In some states, more than 40 percent of all hospital beds are in a Catholic facility, leaving entire regions without any option for certain reproductive health care."

Women Who Have Been Denied Medically Necessary Health Care at Catholic Hospitals Speak Out

Ya, Religion Can Do Not Harm

This speech was delivered on Oct. 9, 2015, at FFRF's 38th annual convention at Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison, Wis., where Rita Swan was presented with FFRF's Lifetime Achievement Award. She and her husband Doug founded Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty (CHILD) in 1983.

Religion deadly for sick children

Moderate Religion Doesn't Have To Be An Enabler Of Fundamentalist Religion?

"Non-fundamentalist (i.e., moderate) religion is accused of making it easier for fundamentalist religion to survive. How? Because, as Dawkins notes, religion (both moderate and fundamentalist) promotes faith. Faith limits discourse, restricts the sort of questions that can be asked, and thus fosters delusion. By teaching their children that strong faith is virtuous, especially when one's faith is tested and manages to survive, believers strengthen all religion - not merely the moderate type."

This article presents a possible solution to the above dilemma.  Is it plausible?

Moderate Religion: Culpability and Possibility

Understanding Atheists, And Why Many Are Angry

It is no secret that atheists are among the most despised minorities in the USA.  This two-part article gives an excellent explanation of atheism and atheists and why many of us ARE justifiably angry.

Attack of the Angry Atheists!