greenblue wrote:
Fnord wrote:
I've had religion, having spent two years in a seminary as a student, and several more years as a missionary, church worker, chancel choir member, and elder.
So I know exactly how religion works, and I'll not be giving up my engineering degree any time soon.
Bad experience (curious)?
Several, both secular and religious. But it was the way those bad experiences were handled by religious leaders that put me off. It seems that their first solution to every problem is to fall on their knees, close their eyes and mumble at the floor or shout at the ceiling. Their second solution is to tell the victim that they somehow deserved to suffer for having done something to offend their god. Their third solution is to hand you a tract.
Whereas secular society allows for physicians, lawyers, police, trial-by-jury, and so forth.
greenblue wrote:
I ask this, because I was religious too, but as I am skeptical about religion, I don't try to abolish it, for people who might want it, might this be for personal experience in religion or for personal reasons?
I would abolish religion in favor of education and knowledge, since it is preferrable to me to hear an explanation of how an event came about than to have my inquiries waved off with a 'goddidit' excuse.
greenblue wrote:
My only personal issue about religion is to not influence governments and laws (Separation of Church and State) other than that, it's their right, doesn't it?
Sure, it's their right. So are ignorance, intolerance, and indifference, especially when done in the name of their particular religion.
greenblue wrote:
I am wondering what engineering degree would have to do with religion.
The last great religious put-off I experienced was when I spoke to some kids at a church event about the joy and satisfaction I derive from the engineering work I do. Then along comes the youth pastor, who tells them that having ambition for a science or engineering degree goes against God's plans for them. He may as well have told them that I was going to Hell, and that they would follow along right behind me with their science dgrees in their hands.
Now those kids are questioning the validity of a higher education in favor of a lifetime spent preaching a gospel of ignorance.
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The mere fact that science may not yet adequately explain an object, event, or experience does not mean the immediate explanation should automatically default to a conspiratorial, extraterrestrial, paranormal, or supernatural cause.