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Debate Info

15
20
True False
Debate Score:35
Arguments:28
Total Votes:42
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 True (13)
 
 False (15)

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TERMINATOR(6780) pic



Religion keeps people in line.

True

Side Score: 15
VS.

False

Side Score: 20
2 points

A fair and true statement; though the act itself is at times rather unfair.

People look towards religion for several individual reasons; faith, hope, acceptance, etc. Faith and hope are the two big ones, and no religion serves as a better example than Christianity. As Christianity preaches a fork in the road to eternal happiness, we are led to believe that only by praising and worshiping the name of God (with an extra $4.95) we will be granted entry to the holy gates of Heaven. It could be the greatest truth, or the greatest deceit; regardless, it hold people in line. This refers directly to the other option on the road to eternal happiness (as preached by Christians); the eternal sufferings within Hell. Think about it; would you rather have eternal peace and joy in Heaven, or eternal pain and suffering in Hell? Well, Christianity wants you to believe in this ultimate fate, and whether it's true or not, people are obliged to do good in life and to give their lives to the praise and worship of God. A wise man once said that "People spend so much time trying to get into the next life, that they forget to live this one." (It went something like that anyway...)

Then you have "religions" like Scientology, who are dedicated to their "messages" of living in such a way that leads them to oppress others who do not follow accordingly. People have oppressed, and continue to oppress, Scientology for this reason, and for several others. The funny thing about any religion is that they all believe that they are right, and that their path is the one which should be followed. Their messages of life can be so powerful that they are capable of control the simplest, and sometimes greatest, of individuals.

So yes, they absolutely do keep people in line.

Side: True

“if a person doesn’t think that there is a God to be accountable to, then what’s the point of trying to modify your behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges?"

Thus spake Jeffrey Dahmer.

Side: True
steavio(17) Disputed
0 points

This quote doesn't make sense. emphasis mine: "If A PERSON doesn't think that there is a god to be accountable to, then what's the point of trying to modify YOUR behavior to keep it within acceptable ranges?" I don't see a point here; Can you please explain it?

Side: False
Pessimist(182) Disputed
0 points

Simple. To avoid prosecution. Now, one might well say that the prosecuters then need not keep their behaviour with "acceptable ranges". But then comes revolutions, because people don't like that stuff.

In either case, people keep their behaviour "good" to avoid the consequences of not doing so.

Side: False
TERMINATOR(6780) Disputed
0 points

Precisely!

So, if you believe that the consequence is Hell and eternal damnation, you are going to behave better than if you believed in post-death oblivion

Side: True
1 point

"In-line" is a relative thing. If we accept that what is "in-line" is defined to be a particular dogma that is fostered by the religion, then it can be argued very well that religion makes people obey dogma, and enforces it supremely.

We see this evidenced in the ways that cultures of people behave uniformly with regards to rituals like prayer, spending of money and resources, codes of conduct. It behaves with an authority that rivals government, and it frequently shapes the prejudices and hostilities within the culture. For example, in Saudi Arabia religion keeps the populace in line, preventing heretical influences of Christianity. Judaism, and others. It sets gender roles so that women are second-class citizens who must remain invisible, and so that men may have harems of women as sexual servants.

In the west religion has acted as a means to cement hostilities towards African slaves, evolving into a form of justification for prejudice and white supremacy. On the other end it was used by abolitionists for the opposite effect. In contemporary times religion is used as an all-purpose authority and cement for any sort of political agenda. Perhaps the most prominent examples of this are the Christian Reconstructionist/Dominionist/Creationist movements in the west, and in the Middle east/East we see the Islamic Creationism and terrorism movements. Needless to say these movements would be quite impotent without religion's influence.

Side: True
1 point

I, for one, believe that religion keeps people in-line. However, that depends on which religion. Although I am not one, I feel that the Jehovah Witnesses would be the best religion for society today. I do know a fair amount of Witnesses and compared to the other Christians, Catholics and Muslims I like Jehovah Witnesses better. With all of the corruption and crimes associated with other religions I feel that the Witnesses are a better choice. The majority of them at least attempt to follow what the bible teaches. The only few negative things, to me, that can be said about Jehovah Witnesses is the failed attempts at predicting the end of the world back in 1914, 1925, and 1975. Needless to say, they suck at predicting Armageddon. However, I feel that if everyone portrayed at least half of the characteristics of a Jehovah Witness, the world would be a better place.

Side: True
1 point

If by "in-line" you mean "in accordance with society's rules" then I would say that this is usually true.

Religion influences society's norms, and society's norms influence religion. Generally religion's rules and society's rules will be in agreement, at least for most mainstream religions. So, for those who take religion seriously, religion will provide just another incentive to follow the rules.

Side: True
2 points

If in-line is defined to coincide with morality, we see that religion is effective at influencing and shaping morality but that it is superfluous to morality.

Morality is a human concept that is learned through experience and shaped by empathy. Religion can elevate or subvert its development, with subversion the frequent outcome of the Abrahamic faiths. For example, there is a clear relationship between Christian and Islamic fundamentalism and hatred towards specific "outgroups" like Jews, homosexuals, women, witches, etc.

In other words, religion isn't necessary to make people moral. Society keeps people inline in general.

Side: False
SMCdeBater(242) Disputed
1 point

Unfortunately religion can be, at times, the definition of morality, with all the confined sense of logic that can range from birth to death.

It's true that some people are born into a religious belief and die without it. It is also true, however, that people are born into a religious belief and refuse to let it go, all because it was the way they were brought up in life. You will not convince the Pope that there is no God, as he was always brought up (and told) to believe that God does exist. The similarity of this situation extends far below the hierarchy of believers as well, down to the homeless and the needy. They have very few places to turn, so they'll turn towards something that they can believe in, and something that they ultimately will be accepted into. Society clearly defines morality, but if we refer to a society of Catholics, or Christians, or Islams, or any other religion, what is seen as moral can be very different to a diverse society's view on morality.

Side: True
2 points

It is assumed that "In-line" in the context of this debate is meaning to be maintained morally and humanely, to be in order to the benifit of society as a whole. I have seen no evidence of this.

-

Religion allows people to believe they are on a higher threshold than that of sinners, blasphemers, or whatever particular jargon one uses that suits the deity in this manner. Thay are not. No matter how hard one tries, no matter how boldly one may deny, it is self-evident that we are all equally human. Gods endow only arrogance.

-

Don't let me get started on Christian Jihad.

Side: False

Religion is masqueraded as the rule of morals, but the simple true is that morality governs morals, and religion is a means of passing down morals from generation to generation. Religion isn't needed to understand what true morals are. Morals were discovered far before religion. Religion just gets the credit as it connected morals with religion.

Side: False
1 point

It all depends on what you mean by "Keeps people in line." If you mean it makes people obey the rules of that religion (aveskde's argument), then yes. If you mean that it keeps people from committing dishonest and/or immoral actions (keeping behavior within acceptable ranges -- Terminator's argument, I think), certainly not (I'll argue this point if you want me to, but I'm not sure that that is what this debate is about).

Side: False
1 point

Yes, it keeps people in line just like it did during the crusades, especially the later ones. It keeps people in line just like it did during the inquisitions. It keeps people in like just like when those little boys were being touched. Nothing keeps a man in line but himself.

Side: False
0 points

Im a christian and i disagree with this statement. Why? Because relgion could many religions. Jesus the son of god is the only key to openong the door to eternal life. All other relgions have some good aspects but overall all other religions are deceitful and will not give you eternal life. This is all i have to say and thi is all i have to say to be crucified and hated and cursed on by many who can not see.

Side: False