Religion Debate
I received details of the debate below from the philosopher Nigel Warburton, with whom I have spent some recent bursts of time. He’s a lovely chap, and his books are well worth reading.Â
Online, there are some great articles to be found on his blog, virtual philosopher, and some fascinating podcasts on philosophy bites, where he interviews philosophers on a variety of topics. Do have a listen, they are utterly enlightening.Â
Later in June Nigel is taking part in a debate for the group ‘Discussion with Islam’, proposing that we are better off without religion. Details below.Â
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DEBATE: IS RELIGION A FORCE FOR GOOD OR EVIL?
THURSDAY 18TH JUNE 2009, 6:30PM
Dr Nigel Warburton
Philosophy Lecturer & Author
vs.
Hamza Andreas Tzortzis
International Public Speaker &
Researcher for the Hittin Institute
Chaired by:
Dr Mark Vernon
Writer, Author & Broadcaster
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
18 Chenies Street, London, WC1E 7PA
Please book your place:Â religion.goodorevil@googlemail.com
Tickets: £2.00 at the door
According to a recent poll carried out by YouGov nearly half of the British public think that religion is harmful. However more than half also believe in God or “somethingâ€.
Many argue that belief in God is irrational and harmful to society, they also maintain that religion fuels hatred, bigotry and war.
Critics on the other hand say that religion produces great good such as charities, dealing with bereavement and that is the only rational basis for morality.
So who is right? Are we better off without religion or should society have more of it?
To discuss this and other related issues join our distinguished panel.
I would love to go to this. I loved attending debates of this nature when I was at university. Perhaps unsurprisingly religion usually lost!
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As a half Italian, half Iranian, born in Italy but brought up in a half Islamic/half Catholic culture I personally believe that it is not the religion to be evil but religion in politics.
Religious governments destroy societies.
Think how much power the Vatican has in Italy… Many people do not realize that and I could go on and on about this topic…
I think I may indeed going to see the debate on the 18th June..
While the religions of the world are fanciful at best, downright silly at worst – no successful civilisation has flourished without some form of ritualised superstition. it brings people together and cements the bonds of unity.
I still contend more have forgiven for their faith than retaliated for it.
There is apart of the human brain that needs to be filled with something. Gods are reason to forgive.
Without religions to inspire pride and purpose – the next candidate waiting in line is national pride.
In time and peace we can nurture religions into tolerance
of politics and sexuality – nationalism is not so easily tempered.
Live and let live. Its what we would ask in return.
I grant that when religion gets it right, the fact that it’s an organised movement can count in its favour, such as organising charity drives and support groups, all based around the golden rule.
However if the underlying religious dogma is flawed, the opposite can also happen, such as campaigning to remove the civil rights of other minority groups and starting wars “with god on your side”.
I think the one thing I grant religions which atheists maybe lack as a whole is an organised structure for doing good deeds en masse, for even atheists themselves admit herding atheists is like herding cats. However individual atheists are just as likely to be good people, and as an atheist myself I often get annoyed by the religious insinuation that no god = zero morals.
I hope someone would record this. Hamza is known for uploading only one side of debates on YT after omitting his opponents part– Here is a taste of what to expect:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_3TFDr61_0
Oh boo. Just a week before my trip to London. Too bad — sounds like an interesting debate to listen to.
would love to go but i find religious debates difficult and i never know how honest to be against christians – apart from G.S.C.E R.S and that was great fun. look forward to hearing the conclusion.
I hate the word religion. It just conjures up images of tradition, men in robes, what you can and can’t do, and all the crap pretenses one must uphold to ‘appear’ to be doing right. Religion is something completely different to faith. Religion is all about dogma, whilst faith can be truly good for the soul and mankind.
I am in NO WAY religious but I am a Christian and believe in Christ Jesus.
I don’t always go to church, but I do pray often. My life’s motto is based on; do unto others as you would have done to yourself. I do believe that everyone in life has a purpose and ALL life is precious.
I think my calling in life is to help the sick and injured and if I can make just one person happier or feel better than my life’s work had been done. My faith helps me help others.
I don’t think religion is ‘bad’, it’s all about the individual person and how they choose to live their life; for good or for evil.
p.s ‘Discussion with Islam’ should be just that. A discussion about Islam!
I can’t really see how it addresses religion as a whole. You can’t bundle up Islam with Judaism, Christianity or any other faith.
If you want to address religion, then refer to ALL religions. Not just Islam! The discussion is flawed if it only discusses Islam in order to make a judgment all religions.
By far not always harmfull, religion. Lots see their religion nowadays as their spirituality, nothing more. Religion is imo not needed in present society, certainly should not be in the government’s policy. It should not rule a country, religion, nor influence it. Via the goverment I mean. Neither in many other ways, but def. not via the goverment. It really has nothing in common.
If religion is someone’s way of life, let it be, but it should not influence others. Live and let live. I neither force my eating habbits on top of others ….
Sounds like an excellent debate, very interesting and relevant.
I’m just having an evening where even remembering that people take god stuff and religion seriously is driving me mad and bored. If anyone else is going through one of these patches, have a look at the lovely nice relaxing cartoon at the very bottom of this page.
The Hamza Tzortzis chap seems interesting, he has just come back from a debate in Beirut check out the full debate video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH21PD8mC0w
Yep, me again :D. i just want to say that i know alot of people are religous etc. but i say ‘Religon was made by a buissness/con man’ i know it’s a bit rude/gritty but … xxxxxxxxxxxxxx <3
I notice that most people seem to agree that religion can cause people to do malevolent and terrible things, but then many people go on to say that this is outweighed by the good that religion causes people to do. Morality, in fact, progresses and evolves despite religion, not because of it.
Religion was created to answer two questions: how did we get here, and what is our moral purpose (it is also an afterlife insurance policy which is where is gets so much of its mass appeal). With regards to the second question, when you get your morals from the Old or New Testament, or the Qu’ran (100s and 1000s of year old texts) you pick up all the baggage that they carry with them. In these books, you will find blatant endorsements of infanticide, filicide, genocide, misogyny, homophobia, intolerance of other religions, slavery, eternal damnation and torture, and a craving for the end of days (the apocalypse). Most of these beliefs are insupportable today because they are barbaric by our evolved standards.
You do not need the old texts and miracle claims to lead a moral life. Morality works quite well on its own.