Religon not as bad as you may think.

[afwfjustin]

Yes, morals have gone to shit, and I see what you're saying, but if a person needs religion to be moral than they are a sheepish moron. You can be moral and good without religion, too. Most people are just "average" in the smarts department, and let's face it: average isn't too smart. Most people just follow along with whatever is going around.

For example, a white "ghetto" acting kid in a rural area like middle America (those little towns you see when you're on a road trip and stop for gas in bumblefuck) try to act hard and might light a house on fire. Or, those black kids that live down my street (I'm the only white person in my neighborhood) that look at me weird, and always are outside no matter what time of the night it is, are probably selling drugs. However, we know that most black people are religious; even the most badass gangster ones are religious. These people can have sick twisted morals. People can interpret the bible completely different than another group.

There are no religious standards because there are so many religions. If you're thinking "back in the 50's" then yes, it was more standardized because most everyone was the same. Now, America is even more diversified and things like the internet make people crazy.

In conclusion, you're making a false analogy. It isn't directly religion that makes people good. Religion isn't holding someone back from being a sick, twisted weirdo that wants to violate your sister. They either want to do it or are the type of person that just stands back from afar, with all of his friends, and says "damn, I'd like a piece of that!"

Get my point?

Oh, and I'm a raging atheist

[ahhmyek]

If I'm not mistaken religion was started to do almost exactly what has been brought up here. "Religion is an opiate of the masses"-dont remember who said it but it was said. I can definately see where there would be less crime and more people with stronger morals if everyone followed their (if one) religion as it tells them to carry out their life. I personally was raised in baptist church and grew up best friends with a ministers son who is going on to become a preacher himself. I do not consider myself a member of any religion but I do beleive in humanity and karma to a point. Anyone ever experienced what people call "cali love" when in california or "southern charm" here in georgia? If you have then you have experienced humanity. The part of religons that get me are the people that are hipocrits and dont actually practice what they say they believe.