# a couple of GOOD things about religion (imho) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 6, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789 "2010-07-06T23:01:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/21 "2010-07-07T14:13:10Z")
If someone were to put a shaky gun to my head and force me to come up with one good thing I liked about religion, I guess I could go with the fact that every single crackhead I ever met that actually kicked the habit as far as I can tell (and they are few) has credited their Christian faith. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/22 "2010-07-07T15:13:00Z")
Religion provides a moral compass for most religious people. Now, you can say that if they were atheists that they’d still know right from wrong, but that’s irrelevant. That’s like saying that if my mom wasn’t my mom, someone else would be. So what? My mom _is_ my mom, and she’s done so much for me that she deserves to be honored. Sure, other things _could_ serve as a moral compass to the religious, but they don’t. Religion does. And I’ve always maintained that more benefit comes from soup kitchens and house-building mission trips than any damage from, say, gay marriage opposition. There’s also the calming effect it has. Religious people think that no matter how bad things get, someone still loves them and is watching out for them. That’s got to count for something, somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/23 "2010-07-07T15:50:08Z")
That didn’t help the Jews in concentration camps very much. I think false comfort is no comfort at all. I always wonder about the “moral compass” thing too. I’ve heard countless believers try to argue that morality comes from religion and that without religion, people would run amok raping and murdering each other. Aside from the glaringly obvious rebuttal that the world is filled with non-believers who don’t run amok raping and murdering people, I always have to wonder if the people who use that argument are _themselves_ held back from such behavior only because of their religious beliefs. If so, then I guess that actually would be a benefit of religion. If it scares psychopaths into behaving themselves, then I guess it’s a useful institution. ---
**Author:** ![GreenHell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@GreenHell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenHell)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/24 "2010-07-07T19:06:04Z")
Well some people are evil and some are not. Some are superstitious and some are not. Those non-evil people don’t need religion to keep them in line and evil, non-superstitious people aren’t dissuaded by religion. However, those people who are both evil and superstitious may be controlled (at least a little) by fears of divine vengeance. This is not to say that religion, on balance, is good or bad. Just that that is one good aspect of it. Like malaria resistance in sickle cell victims. That resistance is good, while on balance sickle cell is bad. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/25 "2010-07-07T19:13:33Z")
People who are evil and superstitious may be controlled by fears of divine vengeance for not oppressing evildoers, too. You know, evildoers like gays and atheists. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/26 "2010-07-07T19:16:43Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Religion provides a moral compass for most religious people. Nope. [Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article571206.ece). > [@](#): > > In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy and abortion in the prosperous democracies. ---
**Author:** ![Cyningablod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Cyningablod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyningablod)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/27 "2010-07-07T19:42:10Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > 1. Nazis and Islamic terrorists are dedicated to their delusions as well. It’s nothing to admire. That’s not what I said. I said that I respect those believers (Christians, in the particular example) who recognize that their religion, if true, is absolutely cosmos-changing, and who behave accordingly. Such a position requires both intellect and integrity. Regardless of the belief’s content or the person’s (irrational) reasons for holding to it, those are admirable traits. And they’ve nothing at all to do with blind fanaticism being admirable, per se. > [@](#): > > 1. Valuing truth above all else is not a value which arises from Christianity or any other religion. It’s actually something which is subtly eschewed by most religions, especially when they preach “faith” as a preeminent value. You’re right, Dio. The positive estimation of truth does not intrinsically or necessarily arise from Christianity or any other religion. But look again; that’s not what I said. I said that _in my case_, the love of truth arose in part because of my _parents’ personal example_, which was informed by their faith. So this is only very obliquely crediting religion with that virtue, at best. More properly, it is due, my parents. > [@](#): > > 1. Awe and wonder exist just fine without religion. Religion doesn’t create it. […] There is not a single thing that a person can do, feel or understand with religion that one cannot do, feel or understand without religion. Yup. Correct again. But again, _in my case_, I really feel that it was a good _template for_ learning how to appreciate the majesty of the natural universe. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/28 "2010-07-07T19:48:58Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > That is correct, and that’s what I’m going to do. > > **twickster** , MPSIMS moderator > [@tomndebb](#): > > I am going to cordially disagree with **twickster**. While this thread is probably not good **MPSIMS** material, there is nothing that requires it to be debated and it is not really witnessing. > > I’m sending it over to **IMHO** as an opinion piece. If it does turn into a real debate, I am sure that it will come flying back, here. See!! See!! See what your silly religion has done? It’s got our moderators fighting amongst themselves!! What good could possibly come of this? :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/29 "2010-07-07T20:06:45Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > Sure, other things _could_ serve as a moral compass to the religious, but they don’t. Sure they could, if they so desired. But very often, they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Wandering\_Hero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@Wandering\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wandering_Hero)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/30 "2010-09-13T17:22:25Z")
Have you seen the trolls on most forums? All the ones on Kongregate, Newgrounds and gamefaqs are Aethists. You rarely see a christian go out of their to try and annoy people over message boards or post infllamtory comments. Thats gotta count for something ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/31 "2010-09-13T18:13:35Z")
Judaism and Christianity both (at least in theory) are against working on the Sabbath. Anything that gives me an excuse to put off work and chores for one day out of seven is a good thing. (What do you atheists use as your excuse for not doing chores?) If there were no religion, there would probably be no weekends. Some holidays are a lot of fun. Hanukkah gives me an excuse to eat fried foods. You’re supposed to get drunk on Purim. Christmas involves a lot of yummy traditional foods and beautiful decorations. It makes people feel better to be able to pray in a situation where they can’t do anything else about it. To take the example of the Jews in the concentration camps- realistically, what could they have done to make their lives better? And what benefit would they really get from being less happy (because of not getting false hope)? Religion encourages people to get together for worship services and holidays. Judaism and Christianity encourage their followers to visit sick people. Judaism encourages its followers to visit people who have recently lost a close relative. It helps the sick or bereaved person to not be socially isolated. Judaism and at least some forms of Christianity and Islam encourage charity and helping the poor. Buddhist mindfulness meditation can be helpful for people with anxiety. I’ve heard that the many fasting days in the Greek Orthodox calendar may have contributed to better health in people who follow that religion. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/32 "2010-09-13T18:30:30Z")
> [@Wandering\_Hero](#): > > Have you seen the trolls on most forums? All the ones on Kongregate, Newgrounds and gamefaqs are Aethists. You rarely see a christian go out of their to try and annoy people over message boards or post infllamtory comments. > Thats gotta count for something Even if it were true, how is it on-topic for this thrread? ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/33 "2010-09-13T18:40:35Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > To take the example of the Jews in the concentration camps- realistically, what could they have done to make their lives better? And what benefit would they really get from being less happy (because of not getting false hope)? Believing in God one day only to believe yourself forsaken by him the next must be a crushing feeling. Reminds me of a scene from 30 Days of Night. “Please. Please, God, please.” “God? … No God.” ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/34 "2010-09-13T19:02:46Z")
I had religious instruction from the age of three until I was nineteen. While I never “got it,” it did provide me with a few ideas for healthy living. The three that come to mind at present are the concepts of personal integrity, responsibility and accountability for one’s actions. Not everything which is disagreeable to us is necessarily bad for us. (Think cod liver oil here.) If anything, all those tedious years of study also taught me to apply myself to tasks which aren’t always pleasant. I think that’s gone a long way toward teaching tolerance for others I share the world with. I still continue to have a Bible on my nightstand and, in spite of the bits and pieces of it which are distasteful to me, like any moral literature there are passages in it which are good reminders for living true to myself and with consideration for others. Guess you could call it not throwing the baby out with the bathwater. ---
**Author:** ![Wandering\_Hero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ebca7d/32.png) [@Wandering\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wandering_Hero)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/35 "2010-09-13T20:09:43Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > > [@Wandering\_Hero](#): > > > > Have you seen the trolls on most forums? All the ones on Kongregate, Newgrounds and gamefaqs are Aethists. You rarely see a christian go out of their to try and annoy people over message boards or post infllamtory comments. > > Thats gotta count for something > > Even if it were true, how is it on-topic for this thrread? Your implying its not true? What Christian trolls have you seen on Kongregrate? Most of them openly dennounce God, and I’ve seen far more relgious threads designed to wind up Christian’s than athesists. And I’d say having something in the religon that makes you spend less of your time going out to annoy people has to be a good thing, right? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/36 "2010-09-13T21:47:55Z")
> [@Wandering\_Hero](#): > > > [@Czarcasm](#): > > > > Even if it were true, how is it on-topic for this thrread? > > Your implying its not true? What Christian trolls have you seen on Kongregrate? > Most of them openly dennounce God, and I’ve seen far more relgious threads designed to wind up Christian’s than athesists. > > And I’d say having something in the religon that makes you spend less of your time going out to annoy people has to be a good thing, right? _Atheist._ ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2010, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/37 "2010-09-13T21:50:35Z")
> [@Wandering\_Hero](#): > > Have you seen the trolls on most forums? All the ones on Kongregate, Newgrounds and gamefaqs are Aethists. You rarely see a christian go out of their to try and annoy people over message boards or post infllamtory comments. > Thats gotta count for something You resurrected this thread to state that most trolls are atheists? Gotta love the irony. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/38 "2010-09-14T14:23:22Z")
Preparations for Passover make me clean the kitchen and get rid of some old food. I hate doing this, and I’m good at coming up with excuses not to do it, so it doesn’t get done as often as it should. But religion gives me a reason why I can’t get out of it at Passover. I hate every minute I spend cleaning and going through stuff, but I do it, and I am better off for it. ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2010, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/39 "2010-09-14T14:32:08Z")
Well I’ll post to this thread again, since it has reappeared, and because **Anne Neville** ’s post reminded me of something. I’m not a practicing Jew but I am ethnically Jewish on one side, and some of my family’s religious traditions help me stay connected to that part of my culture - same with the Greek Orthodox traditions on the other side of my family. They do also help me get my life in order sometimes. I’m thinking about the fact that we’re in between the High Holy Days right now, and how the practices observed at this part of the year has taught me the value of looking back upon the last year of my life, thinking about the times I’ve screwed up and the people I may have wronged, and figuring out how to do better. Sure, I could do that just as easily for any completely different reason. But I think part of why I consider doing that so important is because it’s part of my family’s religion and part of my own spirituality. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2010, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789/40 "2010-09-15T19:56:54Z")
> [@Cyningablod](#): > > 1. Rather ironically (and I’m sure unintentionally, from my parents’ standpoint), being a Christian taught me to value truth above all else. I have to question this. Ten years of research showed me that religion of any flavor is a lie. How, then, can something built around a lie teach anyone to value truth? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-couple-of-good-things-about-religion-imho/545789.md?page=3)