(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Today, Wednesday the 13th of March 2013 Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was elected the 266th person to inherit the throne Saint Peter. Now by simply looking at my news feed on Facebook and spending time in the ShoutBox tonight after it I've discovered a lot of people don't understand religion and why an event like this is such a big deal. To most people he is just another person who they have no idea what he does. After nearly 2000 years people are losing their faith. This isn't a God vs Science debate, its simply; "Should you believe in a higher purpose?"

Most countries in the world today have their leaders swear an oath on a Bible and yet the majority of people have no idea why a Bible is used, they just accept it and don't think twice (ie. US Presidential Election). A bible is ultimately used because the person taking an office is pledging to put it before themselves, ie. serving a higher purpose. This is exactly what the Pope does too. He pledges to serve the Church (normally until death besides Pope Benedict XVI) and will put the Church before themselves until their time has come. What is the higher purpose?

In today's modern society faith is something many people don't have. Most people will say they are a Catholic but yet they can't name off five facts about the church that does not include sex abuse and old people. The church is so much more than that. For example we look at Argentina. It is a poverty stricken country who's people do not have many thinks to enjoy besides family. Having faith can be argued in keeping them alive. Praying to a divine figure can relieve a person of their sorrow by believing everything is happening to them for a reason. Throughout history some of the most important people have believed that and it is what guided them to having their name remembered in history. In these poverty stricken countries they do not have much, but they believe that God has their life like this for a reason and they thank God for their families health for example.

In a country like America etc, health and food etc are taken for granted. You think you have everything you need but in these countries people need to believe in something to feel their life is not worthless as they have no opportunities. They need to believe in a higher purpose. They believe that someday God will change things and it is motivation to try and make these changes for these people. They don't have the education we do, not near it.

My point is that religion is needed. If we didn't have religion the world would be a much worse place than it is today. You can believe what you want in life, that's a luxury our generation has. But please, don't hate on religion because it may do nothing for you, but to some it is the only thing they have. A higher purpose, which even our worlds leaders swear an oath too when they place their hand on a bible is needed. Most societies in the world are built around religion. Without religion the world would be a much worse place than it is today. One person can do something wrong in their life and although one bad decision can shatter their life they still have religion to turn to and do some good, to feel worthwhile when society rejects them.

So please, stop hating on religion because you feel it is worthless, to others it the only thing they have. So as this is a debate, do you feel religion is worthwhile or not? If you don't please tell us why, I'd love to hear your views on it.

Religion doesn't need to be brought up on the internet. Period. Unless it's a specific topic or website dedicated to it.

(Insert overused penis/religion joke about shoving it down people's throats here.)

I wouldn't really call it brainwashed. Most people who are atheist today were once Catholic/Muslim etc and they have chosen to ignore their upbringing and not believe. Its not brain washing, its a choice. Your parents choose to believe in a God, so you were though their is a god when you were younger. You have a choice so its not brainwashing. And religion may cause suffering, but it also causes a lot of good in the world. The world would be a much worse place without it.



I agree that it shouldn't be forced on people and I would never do that. Its unfortunate that you've met people who do. Although their have been many negative things in history due to religion, the good it does these days is far more important. Its been used by these people, so its not religion itself causing all the suffering, but people interpreting its meaning wrong.



This is a debate section and intellectual discussion. If you don't want to participate, please leave.

Yes it is brainwashing, if you are though this from a young age what are you suppose to think. If an adult tells you something as a child not many kids would doubt it, and it is forced down your throat before you can even speak, whether it be a circumcise on a new born baby in the jewish faith, or the christening of a baby in the christian faith. No one chooses to believe in God, it is distilled in them from a young age. If no one believed or had any idea of a God someone would not decide one day I believe in a god, it's not a natural though for us to have, it has to come from somewhere. Yes if religion wasn't around we might not have rape of young boys in the catholic church, the Rwanda genocide, the holocaust, jihadist blowing themselves up for their god, the conflict in Northern Ireland, the crusade. Religion is a terrible thing and the world would be a better place without it, probably more advanced too because early scientists where afraid to speak against the church and prosecuted and excommunicated and even tortured for their thoughts including Galileo, who is the father of modern science.

Its your parents choosing to bring you into that faith though. It's a choice for your parents until you get old enough to decide for yourself. Its not brainwashing at all, people just use it as an excuse for them terrible things that they want to do. Its not religion itself. As for the old ages, times have changed. Shit like that doesn't happen anymore.

Ok I won't say it's brainwashing, it's just propaganda, that is used to make you think one way from an early stage in your life when your parents make decision for you.



That is wrong, in the Quran it says it's ok to kill not believers and behead them.

The christian bible has many horrible things in it. God commanded the Israelites to kill their enemies even children and take the young woman for themselves. It also says it's ok to own slaves and beat them as long as they don't die.

Also, in Rwanda, the church gaves it's blessing to both sides in the genocide.

Pope Pius XII knew what the Nazi party stood for and knew of the killing of jews and kept quite for all those years. Also met with Adolf Hitler many times and gave his blessings to him.

Also the genital mutilation of the penis is commanded in the Quran and the cutting of the female clitoris in other religions when they are 6 years old.
So it really isn't them just using religion as an excuse, apparently it's ok according to most holy book.


I'm very aware things like this don't happen anymore, but without religion they would not have happened in the first place.

Christofer Hitchens put it nicely "Religion makes morally normal people, do and say, disgusting and wicked things."

I'm not defending the bad things religion did, I'm talking on the positives of it really. But they would have happened anyway, if religion hadn't influenced them then something else would have. Nothing is perfect in this world, but these days the goodness of Religion outweighs the badness. Also you should not that His Holiness Pius XII gave blessings to Hitler so that Hitler didn't decide that he would be the new Pope and overrun the church. It was necessary for the churches survival.

So you basically beleive in God because you fear death. Surprise..surprise haha

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That's speculation and Hitler had plans for world domination and he only used his catholic background when it suited him aka getting blessing from the pope. Hitler regularly shows his preference to protestantism over catholicism, so I don't really think he cared about him all too much. Also, the world isn't perfect, but religion sure doesn't help it.

Yes he may have, but the pope blackening out Hitler would be certain destruction of the church whereas if they tried to get on his good side, like they did, they had hope. And religion does help it these days. Religion is what keeps many people alive and going all over the world. Having something to believe in, believing they have a purpose.

Just because someone believes in somethings, doesn't make it anymore real than it is. But I'm gonna stop posting in here, I'm done haha. Good luck with the thread though