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[–]AnarchySpeach 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (8 children)

Good parts. Massive organizations that have amassed their wealth through manipulation and threats, and because they tossed a few coins somewhere I'm somehow supposed to be impressed?

misrepresenting my position.

You used the word "calculation" in your argument, so I apologize for getting emotional.

These people control knowledge. Tell people what they can and cannot look at. What they can and cannot think.

While great at maintaining social order through false fear, I do not consider those institutions any more "good" than the nazi's.

The nazi's did a lot of good before they lost the war. Boosted their economy. Increased education for the underprivileged. Created tons of jobs.

Despite all the "good" they did, the horrible, vile acts that happened shouldn't be ignored. Same goes for religious groups.

[–]Chipit[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (7 children)

OK, let's try something from the pyramid of debate. What you're doing now is strawmanning: taking the weakest parts of the opponent's argument and pretending that they are the whole. Instead, try steelmanning, which is stating the strongest parts of the opponent's argument.

[–]AnarchySpeach 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (6 children)

Okay.

Please list out all the good things the church has done that I haven't already listed. Otherwise this conversation is going to last longer than necessary.

[–]Chipit[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (5 children)

That's not steelmanning, that's strawmanning. Try again. If you really can't think of anything, you're not a good arguer.

If you only know your own side of the argument, you know neither side.

[–]AnarchySpeach 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

If you really can't think of anything, you're not a good arguer.

If you can't provide a damn example that I haven't already given that means my side isn't wrong.

If you only know your own side of the argument,

You have yet to provide anything to support your own side.

You first.

[–]Chipit[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

It's always the case that hate comes from ignorance. The most hateful people have no idea what it is that they hate, whether it be immigrants, communism, or in this case religion.

Let me guess, to you “Religion” means ISIS and the Westboro Baptist Church? Even if you add abortion clinic bombers, the Crusades, the Salem Witch Trials, and the Spanish Inquisition, we are still talking about a statistically non-existent proportion of, even just the Christian faith, let alone all “religion.”

Religion is an effective way to help people who don't understand that acting in a way beneficial to the community is also beneficial to themselves.

It gives people a sense of comfort and a reason to keep going in a cruel, uncaring world.

The world is a better place if we all act as if God exists.

See how easy that was? And yet you're completely ignorant? Wow, that's just embarrassing. No wonder you're such a bigot.

Plus there's the whole charity thing, which concretely makes the world a better place. Ever heard of the Sacco and Vanzetti hospital? Yeah, exactly.

And if there were no religion, how would internet atheists like yourself find anyone to look down on?

[–]AnarchySpeach 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

It's always the case that hate comes from ignorance. The most hateful people have no idea what it is that they hate, whether it be immigrants, communism, or in this case religion.

Cool story bro.

Let me guess, to you “Religion” means ISIS and the Westboro Baptist Church? Even if you add abortion clinic bombers, the Crusades, the Salem Witch Trials, and the Spanish Inquisition, we are still talking about a statistically non-existent proportion of, even just the Christian faith, let alone all “religion.”

Well.. Yeah... If you disregard all of the cruel things about them... then you're right. All faiths are a utopian ideology if you ignore every complaint against them.

Religion is an effective way to help people who don't understand that acting in a way beneficial to the community is also beneficial to themselves.

I'm not touching the "Morality is impossible without religion." bullshit with a ten foot pole. If that's the crux of your argument there's nothing left to say.

It gives people a sense of comfort and a reason to keep going in a cruel, uncaring world.

And I have no complaint against that. If someone chooses to believe in a faith, then I have no qualms about it. My issue is with the forced conscription of children. While not common in every faith (most versions of Wicca, for example) the vast majority of religions use obtuse punishments and vague threats, at a child, to control them.

Also:

The world is a better place if we all act as if God exists.

To

you're such a bigot.

That went from 0 to 100 real fast. Go fuck yourself? Is that what you want to hear?

Plus there's the whole charity thing,

Yes, I am aware of the "charity thing," and no, it still doesn't justify all the shit they've done in the past.

Darn shame the church outlawed the sale of indulgences in 1567 (Catholic one anyway.)

And if there were no religion, how would internet atheists like yourself find anyone to look down on?

It's not from a higher point that I see you. It's pity.

[–]Chipit[S] 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

You're really crap at arguing. Incuriousity is a terrible trait in humans. People always hate which they do not understand.

[–]AnarchySpeach 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Well, if you ever figure out a way to explain it, you know where to find me.