I, like Wesley, find this thread to be laughable. Just as in the Wicca/Halloween thread those that don't believe are using it as an excuse to blast the beliefs of others. Many of these same folks you will find in other threads talking about diversity and tolerance. Sometimes hypocrisy, even if unintended, is too hard to ignore.

When a thread starts on this type of predicate, it is designed to cause religious folks to be on the defensive. I hope you won't mind if I don't play along. Truthfully, I could care less if you all mind.

Religion, Church, faith, are terms that are often used interchangeably when, in fact, they have very different connotations. Church, and its hierarchy, is nothing more than an institution devoted to the practice of religious ideals. It's members are a community of somewhat (operative term there)like minded individuals. Sometimes these institutions are used for good, and sometimes not. In fact sometimes these institutions can be evil. That is not unique to religious organizations. Religions, in the common usage, refer to how one worships, celebrates, or relates to the higher power they believe in. For what it is worth, I have seen some secular organizations that were almost a religion. Again, most try to do good, others great evil. And finally, there is faith. No point trying to debate that here. It is not quantifiable, nor is it consistently applied. Those of us who think we have it, will just have to disagree with those who think it is foolish and misplaced.

Here is the real problem with the entire premise of this thread. It asks us to debate whether it is an illness. That is a ridiculous premise. Of course it isn't. No more so than secular dogma that promotes ethnic cleansing. Religion is a belief system, nothing more. When one seeks to create a debate on such a flawed premise, they are really seeking to discredit and spread their own agenda. To put religious beliefs in the same category as illness completely ignores the good that has been done by so many religious leaders. Gandhi comes to mind. The Dalai Lama does as well. As do many leaders among the various Christian religions. It places all the good works done by religious folks such as Mother Theresa in the illness category.

In short, what a biased and ridiculous premise to open a thread on.

Mick