Is religion good for us?

I just joined the site, and was looking for serious discussion about creationist and evolutionist views.
This thread devolved into a talk about taxes, rich vs. poor and should we protect ourselves from criminals (Pirates) or not.Is the bible good for us? Not when it is used to promote suffering. You can make a rich person poor, by stealing his money ... and the poor will squander it away so that everyone ends up poor. Or you can let the rich man alone, who will then spend his money to buy things that the poor can make for him, or services the poor can provide him. They will then have earned the money and may be less inclined to steal it.
Your bible says your lord helps those who help themselves. It says nothing about Robin Hood tactics that have never worked in any history.

Friedman had some good ideas, but no, I do not subscribe to all of his ideologies.Jon, I thought I was being very on topic. Too often, the Bible is used to justify forced "assistance." We all know when it's been used to justify violence, too.If the teachings kept the peace ... if "believers" practiced tolerance, then it would be a good influence.That said, it WAS a crutch for my Mom, when she was going through a rough time in her life. There are benefits to the peaceful and "uplifting" parts ... but "Stranger in a Strange Land" would teach the same things if anyone wanted to believe it like a bible.

I don't know if I can answer the question with a definitive response.
Religion as "good" ... As I stated before, I saw the positive side in my Mother. Without the Church and her belief in God, I don't know if she would have survived. I have seen people in bad situations worldwide, existing happily because they believe there's a "better life" after this one.
Religion as "bad" ... 9/11/2001 ... anti-abortion activist ... anti-gay activist ... white supremacists ... and of course, radical muslims.
I do not believe in a god, but I do believe that a book can be used to control the masses. If it's use to control them peacefully, then religion can be good for us. If it's used (seems more frequent) to drive the mob mentality for destruction, then it's obviously bad for us.

If a millionaire spends $100,000.00, that person has spent only 1% of total worth, but it might be 100% of income.
A "paycheck to paycheck" person (what I consider poor, and I am only a couple of paychecks above that) can't spend that much money, period. If they are given a government handout of, say $1000.00, and they spend that on drugs, beer, cable and a $50,000.00 car payment (because, you gotta have nice wheels, huh?), they squandered it.
And now, that Millionaire, who was forced (by taxation) to give $1000.00 to 1000 poor people is now a poor person ... and we now have 1001 poor people.

Sorry, Theodoric. I mis-typed ... 10%Also, I apologize for riling up your democratic views on the economy.
This thread isn't about the failures of the current administration ... it's about religion.I bow out of any further conversations on the economy, on this thread.

LOL You started the "swiping". You're a funny guy. I am not sure ... theory is a concept of what SHOULD be. But if a different reality presents through observation ... the theory was wrong. No?Edited by mikechell, : No reason given.

Never ... nothing scares me. Thank you ... it's my personal best. I like your avatar, too.

From Merriam-Webster: But I'll defer to your definition and start using the term "hypothesis".

The question should be, "Why one believes?" Not, "If one believes?"The "why," is to feel like one's life "means" something. To feel like one's suffering will be rewarded somehow, after death. Most people can't face the fact that they're just another animal on a planet of animals and there's nothing more important about them than that.Edited by mikechell, : No reason given.Edited by mikechell, : spelling

Fortunately, you can't CONVICT on belief alone.

Or, (no offense intended) some believe what pop bibles tell them without reviewing the facts to the contrary.Edited by mikechell, : No reason given.