Religious Ways

Accepting the importance of discussing religion can be useless if the discussion focuses on less essential items, in the peripheral issues that are certainly the most fundamental assumptions. Talk about religion should not start by discussing which of many books and writings considered sacred, or that of their versions or interpretations is correct, but to lay the foundations of our beliefs or principles, the way we get knowledge, and nature of this knowledge. Discuss religion should not begin by analyzing the virginity of Mary, or the resurrection of Jesus, but to examine the possibility or impossibility of the supernatural. A discussion of religion should start questioning the existence of one or more creators, not discuss its name, its powers or his personality. What's at stake? There is a belief among both moderate believers and atheists and agnostics, that religion must escape to the discussion, since it is a "spiritual plane" does not affect the "material world." But many past and present events show the falsity of this belief.

Only time people devote to religion greatly affects the material world. The time could be devoted to work, rest, learning, or leisure, is instead devoted to activities that may have no positive effect. But there are countless situations in which religious beliefs that contradict the evidence, have terribly negative consequences for life and happiness of the people, consequences that would otherwise way, would be easily avoided. Countless examples of such situations, from stoning, burning witches and human and animal sacrifices in the most extreme cases, even death resulting from erroneous medical treatments for diseases easily curable with available knowledge.