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Originally Posted by TexaninVA
Amazing because of the distorted view you have of religion. Yes, many have died in religious wars over the years, and Islam remains excessively violent today, but I don’t think anyone can seriously deny that, overall, religion has had a hugely beneficial impact. There would be no civilization without it … pure and simple. You’re able to lead your “march to a different beat” lifestyle (which no one begrudges you btw) because Western Civilization, based on Christianity, has evolved to give you those rights. Think about it please.
As far as someone telling you how to live your life, while it plays well emotionally, it’s a complete straw man. I don’t think anyone has told you what to do lifestyle wise since you were a kid, and you probably rebelled against that like a lot of us did.
“Who is to judge?” becomes “no one can judge anything” in contemporary culture, which means no limits at all over time. We both know that. Even though we will draw the line at different places for different things, we all “judge” constantly …every day, including you. Who we associate with, what we do, etc. You know that as well as anyone is my guess.
I repeat, religion by and large, has given us civilization, warts and all. It also is the only real force that enables rule by law. Historically, human nature can be quite savage and, without the glimmer of an internal conscience instilled by religion...yes judging what is right and wrong … we would be in a Darwinian world. North Korea is a good example of that.
In terms of people starting not with pot but with caffeine, nicotine etc … while a clever argument it’s really disingenuous. You could throw in eating, breathing and sleeping too I imagine. I think most people recognize that, for pretty much all heroin or cocaine addicts, pot was indeed the gateway. And I do think drug use is a crutch … for various reasons.
I think legalizing pot will screw up more lives over time than we currently recognize, but we clearly differ in our opinions about that, and my view is losing 70-30 in the poll. But, I still think my view will prove correct over time. The biggest losers will be our grandkids IMHO.
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MY view of religion is distorted? There would be NO civilization without religion? Christianity GAVE me rights to freedom? I wonder who's view is distorted... A religion shouldn't "evolve", if it does, it's a false religion. If God really did dictate what he wants...then who is the one changing it to "evolve"? There are thousands of different "views" of what Christianity should be. Are you SURE you chose the right one? Positively?
How can one rebel against nothing? You tell me there were no restrictions and then say I didn't heed the restrictions...which is it? And I may add...are you serious when you say there are no restrictions on my lifestyle? Then why are we discussing something that IS restricting my personal lifestyle choice?
We should judge for ourselves, WE decide what we will and won't do. Don't you agree that is a better system than someone arbitrarily deciding for you? Do you enjoy being told, like a child, what you can and can't do? Slaves are told what to do. Free men decide when/if they will do something.
What is the "force" religion uses? Fear of eternal punishment? Actual physical force? The natives that were here first will have different ideas about your religion. Non-distorted ideas.
Religion is the ONLY way to get people to live peacefully? Really? You have no conscience without religion? I have a conscience, I'm not religious.
You cite North Korea as an example of what is wrong in the world. When was your trip? After all, to cite it as an example, you must have personal experience. Or, as I imagine, it's more just listening to propaganda that others have told you? Ive seen pictures of NK, it's VERY clean. The people looked like they were having a good time, smiling, laughing. They seemed well fed. Contrary to what we are told about the place. One picture was a nighttime satellite shot showing how dark NK is at night. If you ask me, they're happier at home sleeping than the shift workers here up all night toiling away. Things are seldom what you're told they are. Lies are everywhere.
Now you're getting it...correlation does NOT mean causation...chew on that a bit. Eating, drinking, ARE done by addicts, but it didn't CAUSE their addiction any more than marijuana did. Drug use, along with religion, are ALL crutches.
People said the same about alcohol legalization. The world was going to go down the toilet after legalization. It didn't. The same will happen this time. There may be a brief upswing because of the "newness" of being able to purchase it legally. But as with alcohol, that will wane and level out.
The number one scare tactic...it will harm the children. Watch your kids, raise them YOURSELF and don't dump them into daycare, and you'll have some control over them. But an individual will do what that individual will do irregardless of your teachings.
People are not cattle to be herded. They're individuals who deserve freedom to make their own choices. And of course live with those choices. But we'd rather bail everyone out and reduce their freedoms instead. We'd rather limit freedoms and tell everyone what they can/can't have or do.
Not trying to do anything here but defend my position, nothing personal.