There are, or were, sensible reasons behind a lot of religious beliefs. Historically, they may have been a means of enforcing a workable society. The problems of alcohol, irresponsible promiscuity, dishonesty, violence etc. are obvious. Even a ban on eating pork made sense when they transmitted disease. (Hardly surprising as they were used once to dispose of human faeces!) In a much more violent and poorer world, a subordinate status for women and extreme punishments for crime probably made sense too.
The problem with religion is that, when sound practices are represented as the word or god, they can no longer be challenged even when they no longer make any sense or are unsuited to modern life. We get stuck in the 1st/8th/whatever century and cannot progress.
Research, experience and statistics tell us what works. We know what makes us unhappy and consequently what we need to do to make a better society. Values can be instilled into children with proper education, they do not need enforcement with irrational claptrap.
The problem with religion is that, when sound practices are represented as the word or god, they can no longer be challenged even when they no longer make any sense or are unsuited to modern life. We get stuck in the 1st/8th/whatever century and cannot progress.
Research, experience and statistics tell us what works. We know what makes us unhappy and consequently what we need to do to make a better society. Values can be instilled into children with proper education, they do not need enforcement with irrational claptrap.
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