Author Topic: Good Things Religion has Done  (Read 42610 times)

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Offline Dynamic Dragon

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Good Things Religion has Done
« on: April 16, 2013, 07:32:31 pm »
We've listed a lot of the bad things religion has done.  Here's where we can list the good things.
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Offline Cerim Treascair

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #1 on: April 16, 2013, 07:43:25 pm »
Due to one of my newfound brothers, my faith was reignited, in our talks about belief.

Also, the rare story about Muslims, Christians and Jews sharing worshipping space together always gives me warm fuzzies.
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Offline JohnE

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #2 on: April 16, 2013, 07:49:08 pm »
Also, the rare story about Muslims, Christians and Jews sharing worshipping space together always gives me warm fuzzies.
That's not really religion doing something good though. It's religion NOT doing domething bad (and only rarely).

Offline Flying Mint Bunny!

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #3 on: April 16, 2013, 08:40:47 pm »
It has inspired a lot of beautiful art, music and architecture.

Offline Auggziliary

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #4 on: April 16, 2013, 08:47:50 pm »
Meditation is nice.
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Offline Katsuro

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #5 on: April 17, 2013, 02:43:20 am »
It has inspired a lot of beautiful art, music and architecture.

"Commissioned" is more accurate than "inspired" for a hell of a lot of those paintings, music and architecture.  And many Renaissance artists resented having to create works for the church, but as the church were the guys with all the cash and power there wasn't a lot of choice. But still, that doesn't change the fact that those works are indeed stunning.

I would add to this list the fact that religious institutions gave us the first hospitals and universities and, rather ironically these days, the beginnings of what would become science.

Offline Random Gal

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #6 on: April 17, 2013, 04:48:27 am »
Religious institutions preserved many ancient writings that would otherwise have been last after the fall of Rome.

Offline Igor

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #7 on: April 17, 2013, 05:33:46 am »
A great many really good stories have come out of religions. You don't have to be part of a religion to appreciate the mythology.


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Offline Dakota Bob

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #8 on: April 17, 2013, 07:55:53 am »
The mythology of various religions is interesting, regardless of the truthiness of any of them. Of course Norse mythology is objectively superior, because fucking Thor.

Offline Flying Mint Bunny!

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #9 on: April 17, 2013, 09:18:24 am »
The mythology of various religions is interesting, regardless of the truthiness of any of them. Of course Norse mythology is objectively superior, because fucking Thor.

I've always loved Egyptian mythology, and without Greek mythology there would be no Xena!

Also, the religious influence in holidays and festivals is good.

Offline Witchyjoshy

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #10 on: April 17, 2013, 01:23:37 pm »
The mythology of various religions is interesting, regardless of the truthiness of any of them. Of course Norse mythology is objectively superior, because fucking Thor.

Of course the downside is that no one knows how much of Norse mythology has been edited, removed, or outright made up by the Christian Monks who chronicled it.
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Offline Caitshidhe

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #11 on: April 17, 2013, 01:28:33 pm »
It has inspired a lot of beautiful art, music and architecture.

"Commissioned" is more accurate than "inspired" for a hell of a lot of those paintings, music and architecture.  And many Renaissance artists resented having to create works for the church, but as the church were the guys with all the cash and power there wasn't a lot of choice. But still, that doesn't change the fact that those works are indeed stunning.

I would add to this list the fact that religious institutions gave us the first hospitals and universities and, rather ironically these days, the beginnings of what would become science.

DID YOU KNOW:

Michaelangelo was basically kidnapped and held against his will for the duration that it took for him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He didn't want to do it. He wanted nothing to do with the Pope or his project. The Pope had him dragged back and MADE HIM paint it.

So, yeah, 'commissioned' is more accurate than 'inspired' and sometimes 'forced people to produce' is even MORE accurate than that.
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Offline Katsuro

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #12 on: April 17, 2013, 01:38:12 pm »
It has inspired a lot of beautiful art, music and architecture.

"Commissioned" is more accurate than "inspired" for a hell of a lot of those paintings, music and architecture.  And many Renaissance artists resented having to create works for the church, but as the church were the guys with all the cash and power there wasn't a lot of choice. But still, that doesn't change the fact that those works are indeed stunning.

I would add to this list the fact that religious institutions gave us the first hospitals and universities and, rather ironically these days, the beginnings of what would become science.

DID YOU KNOW:

Michaelangelo was basically kidnapped and held against his will for the duration that it took for him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. He didn't want to do it. He wanted nothing to do with the Pope or his project. The Pope had him dragged back and MADE HIM paint it.

So, yeah, 'commissioned' is more accurate than 'inspired' and sometimes 'forced people to produce' is even MORE accurate than that.

I did not know that, no.  But now I do  :)


Offline Cerim Treascair

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #13 on: April 17, 2013, 03:17:28 pm »
All I can hear is Bill Nye now...
There is light and darkness in the world, to be sure.  However, there's no harm to be had in walking in the shade or shadows.

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Offline Old Viking

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Re: Good Things Religion has Done
« Reply #14 on: April 17, 2013, 04:44:32 pm »
The universities were a tad selective. They perpetuated the church's near-monopoly on literacy.  (They were not noted for bestowing scholarships on serfs.)  As for rudimentary science, it existed despite the church, not because of it.
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