You speak as if people have no innate moral standing. That they're just blank slates that will ultimately murder and steal if they aren't told not to. People are stupid, but they aren't that stupid. No one would reach a position high enough in our leadership caste to promote and control destructive behaviors. Oh, wait... that happens all the time, and that particular person is almost always highly religious.

Why don't we list a few things that religious zealots have done in the name of their "morality"...

The Crusades
The Spanish Inquisition
Thirty Years War
Reconquista
9/11
700 Club


Don't follow any archaic religion to the letter without adjusting it to adhere to modern standards and your own fucking common sense. If you think homosexuals are evil sinners, then you're the one who needs a morality overhaul.

We do have instinctive attitudes to altruism and morality that enable and strengthen social interactions. We can observe these even in babies by experimentation, though they can be overwritten by environmental pressures.

People without such instincts are known as "sociopaths".

And those are the baddies!

In other words, sociopaths can benefit from religious fear, but the rest of us are perfectly fine without it.

no and if muslims do that, they are not even muslims, islam is about peace and we are ordered to respect other religions, it's a rule if broken, then one's no longer muslim.

Lord Stanley: the way you seem to care about morals proves that some book telling you not to murder isn't the only reason you don't do it. Religion isn't a requirement for morals, moral absolutism isn't a requirement for morals. Morals are based on desires, and people EVOLVED to be a social species, so don't assume all atheists to be sadists.

Woah, now hold the phone. I mean,the crusades was one thing, at least the Christians were being direct in their intent but the 700 Club? This should be referred to as 'that which shall not be named' because of the insidious and subliminal ways in which it affects good (but weak minded) people with nothing to do but stay trapped at home during the daytime with this beast.

Poor people suddenly find the 700 mark seared somewhere into their skin after calling in to make a pledge.

I know. I crossed the line with that one... but a point had to be made!

Which fits nicely together with this;

I'm sure the Taliban is about peace but I'm going to stop there.

Islam is also strict in how it dictates how the world should be viewed and also in how it will allow you to view fellow man.

And let's all make sure not to align Muslim with Muslim Extremists. Big mistake.

Could be a lot worse, pal.

I wasn't going to make that mistake. Hence I stopped.

However alot of the world veiw Islam negatively because of such extremest.

I had a muslim friend from pakistan. He was really nice, and we had intelligent conversations. He didn't seem like he wanted to strip away my freedom, in fact he was really respectful.
I liked him.

Do I hear wedding bells? :lick:

Heehee... Mebbe =) Wait no... I think he mentioned that muslims don't have butt-secks...

Oh, yeah?

Why, were you planning on pegging him?

That was boring.

Yeah. Just trying to keep my reputation as a bad person alive.

Seriously, you're not a bad person =) Don't say things like that.
Things will be fine.

There should be a yearly 'OANST day' where he has to be really nice and helpful for a whole day.

Disregard that, it would be creepy.

Go fix your makeup. Jesus likes his girls pretty.

Does he like his girls with penis?

http://media.myspacepimper.com/conte...funny_1117.jpg

I do.

Then, it is agreed!

What is agreed? McDLT?

Ah, the ol' True Christian™ schtick. Carries no weight whatsoever.

Intercourse.

And I saw the whole McDLT thing in the Names thread, it's NOT going to stick so pack it in. :P

You just don't like the McDLT because it's different.

If you had it your way, ALL hamburger patties and lettuce would be kept segregated.

Ugh @ these threads

It's just athiests v christian religiocentricism

Regardless of culture God is a metaphor yo end of

Okay. So you fall on the atheist side.