Should governments start regulating religion?

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midrange said:

spurgeonryan said:

Not only do many religious oranization teach many facts that have proven to be false or theories that greatly hold back society, but there are many other problems organized religion brings up too.

 

1. Taxes - how much do governments lose to religion?

2. Cults should not be allowed to get as bad as some do.

3. Religious extremist - causing wars, terrorism, hate crimes, etc

4. Intolerance - how many more humans needs to suffer due to religious "morals"?

In this day and age I just do not think there is room for religion anymore. As a hobby it is fine, but there are so many things wrong with religion that it should not be allowed the power it has over society anymore.

 

Agree?

Ultimately the solution is not regulation, the solution is education and toleration. Religion is not a "hobby," it is an organization centered around a belief/beliefs. Of course there will always be those extremists in such organization that commit crime in the name of their belief, but this is no different than say an extreme feminist harrassing a male in the name of feminism. The best thing to do is to educate people. Have classes centered around religions and their beliefs, not to prove them wrong, but to have people accept different viewpoints on life and become tolerant of others.

It is different because we socially and federally grand religions privelages that feminists don't have. 

And we do not have to spend money on classes, nor do we have to accept any viewpoint not founded on reason and evidence, particularly when such viewpoints often have ideas that are detrimental to peaceful coexistence.  For instance, the idea that everyone who does not share your views is hellbound is an idea that is directly opposed to peaceful coexistence.  The idea that there is a book that contains absolutely true is directly opposed to reason.  There is no reason to accept this.  We should use all civil and lawful methods to dissuade people of these beliefs.