Religion: 1. Ideological and traditional heritage.

Ex: There are multitudes of churches each championing aspects of religion that they consider important.

show me a religion that conforms to logic and reason and I’ll show you something that is not a religion at all.

That is in my opinion the best argument you have made here. Touche! I cannot even think of any religious sect meeting that criteria. I can however give instances where through public pressure certain sects were influenced for the better.

All the same, I think I'm right in my criticisms and comments about anti-religious rhetoric being counter productive. So that means I think you are wrong. Now would I like to do away with you? No. Instead I wish to engage you in dialog. Perchance (though slight I agree) I might convince you to change your tactics. If not I have that hope some observer with opinions like yours may change their mind more readily since they are not beset by the (swallowing pride) issue that goes along with conceding loss in a debate.

I just love comparing my opinions with others. I get caught up and dorky when I think I'm being clever. So sue me! I think you defend your position well but you haven't convinced me to change my mind surprise surprise.

I said they should not remain. Period. Being incompatible with logic and reason is one thing they all share and that's why cleansing them would be an exercise in futility.

Seems like the same sort of sentiment that spurred the crusades!

I am reasoning with you and you won't budge. So you practice what you claim to abhor. You think attempting to improve our religion(s) is an exercise in futility but you advocate doing away with them altogether, which is far more unrealistic if you ask me. Doing away with religion is a goal for people with their feet firmly planted in la la land.

P.s. Why would you even want to understand and respect perspectives?

You asking that... is evidence that you prefer your own cultural fishbowl. lol But I will answer with a haiku:

enlightened in some

deluded in some other

aspects are we all ~ atypican

'Perspective' is a weasel word that exists only in a cultural vacuum.

What a load of crap that statement is ! This further convinces me that you have characteristics indistinguishable from those that so many religious groups would do well to eschew.

I bet you’re the kind of person that likes to say “It’s not all black and white”…

Good guess! I however, do not have a problem making clear distinctions when appropriate. In other words "It’s not all black and white, but some of it is"

btw you are doing a great job of helping me strengthen my belief about personality types who attack religion as a whole as opposed to elements or characteristics of religious belief. I am so pleased to see our texts up next to one another, the discerning reader can so much more easily see my point about this type of behavior when a standard example (yours) is given.

Thanx for the same sort of pseudo intellectual drivel all too common among those who share your anti-religion stance.

I was just wondering what would be the fruit of that dialog you mention?

Improved understanding and respect of other peoples perspectives.

I can only guess that since you want to focus on specifics your goal is to declare the winning religion in the end? Or are religions to be cleansed of what's wrong with them?

To the former:No I am not arguing to promote a particular religious sect. To the latter: That would be nice.

You can guess that I don't find any of those objectives as valid, possible or meaningful. Care to offer another one?

I would have never guessed that you thought the objective of improving our belief system(s) was invalid(?), impossible or meaningless. I challenge you to explain why they should remain so terribly flawed.

If I'm torturing little babies in my basement are you saying that I have a right to privacy from government intrusion?

It is true that laws enacted to protect privacy rights also provide opportunity for secret wrongdoing.

Jstantall, you agree that abortions are sometimes medically necessary correct me if I am wrong.

You think that a doctor/pregnant woman relationship should not be private but court monitored to make sure doctors don't commit murder. Again correct me if I am wrong.

But I am also pretty sure that the next model for non-thinking will wield much less power and be less of a hindrance to the advancement of society.

What evidence do you base that belief on? (prediction: this question will be ignored or indirectly answered)

The first question that needs to be asked is " what kind of life is it?" If it is a human life then no reason for abortion is adequate. Therefore no further questions are needed.

That is an example of what is called jumping to conclusions. You have not established that it abortion is never justified. Even if it is agreed (which I do agree with you) that it is a human life.

No answer to my retort, just a down vote. That helps alot!?

Religion is an unnecessary evil.

To say that religion is unnecessary reflects a misunderstanding of what "necessary" means. Also of what religion is. But we are not discussing "religion" we are discussing religions which perhaps we can come to terms and agree that we really mean "religious organizations" when we say "religions."

To claim that (all) organizations of this nature are evil is an (albeit somewhat justified) over generalization.

Compared to criticizing the specific principles behind particular religious sects, condemning religion as a whole is a cop out.

aw come on jstantall..... try answering other people's questions and directly responding to points they bring up. It would be so interesting. Are you just here to propagandize and proselytize?