Marconius wrote:
I believe in science...things that can be actively tested and measured and proven. I've no need for faith in something that cannot be proven to or to not exist. I also don't need to follow strict rules and dogma...I choose to live my life as I and common sense sees fit, and I believe that there is no afterlife. The concept of heaven was created to enforce the dogmatic rules of the religions, to give justification to the control and oppression by religious leaders. It is used for hope as well, but the main gist of it is with moral obligation/justification.
I believe that when you die, that's it. No thought, no experience, no feeling, the end. That's why you live your life to the fullest and make the most of it, rather than live it with expectations of something better down the road.
Well said. While we have different thought on what happens at the end, I fully agree with your assessment of religion. I also have a major issue with much of what is stated in the Bible. Not so much that it can't be proven, but what it says.
Leviticus 20:9-16
9 For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.
10 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
12 And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.
13 And if a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
14 And if a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.
15 And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Now I'm not aware of any Christian religion that would condone death for these offenses, but that is verbatim from the Bible. I'm not going to go back and find it, but the Bible also states that God's laws are final, and failure to follow them, to the letter, is certain death and/or eternal damnation. Given what was said, I would dare say that 98% of the Earth's population has commited a sin worth of death.