Name three good things about religion.

[Seabass]

Hagia Sophia
Cordoba Cathedral/Mosque
Notre Dame Cathedral

[John_fi_Skye]

I've just noticed that "Svartalf" is very close to "Fatarse" backwards.

It's FLAT, mr Roundbottom.

[normal]

I've just noticed that "Svartalf" is very close to "Fatarse" backwards.

It's FLAT, mr Roundbottom.

You've been smoking today

[tattuchu]

1) I'm not in one.
2) See above.
3) Refer to reason #2.

[Atheist-Lite]

It keeps dumb people occupied, and out of my hair, and most of all from cluttering the pub.

[tattuchu]

Three BAD things about religion:

1) My parents forced it on me when I was little.
2) The priest in our Catholic church never molested me.
3) I wasn't cute enough apparently.

[Strontium Dog]

1) Stained glass windows
2) Turning water into wine
3) Catholic girls

[Tero]

Mardi Gras.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

[Audley Strange]

They display our sophistication and naivety at the same time.
They made history a bit more interesting.
They have some outrageously innovative and questionable characters.

[John_fi_Skye]

I've just noticed that "Svartalf" is very close to "Fatarse" backwards.

It's FLAT, mr Roundbottom.

You've been smoking today

How could you tell? The smell off my clothes?

[amused]

1. It's helpful when idiots self-identify.
2. It's helpful when conniving charlatans self-identify.
3. Flying buttresses or bacon.

[Animavore]

Colourful Buddhist temples (I don't like those grim, European churches or Catholic tack).
It's useful for getting people to do things for you.
Meditation helps sooth the mind.

[FBM]

As far as I can tell, most people have unsupported beliefs about lots of things most of the time, and there will probably always be a significant percentage of the human population that are incapable of the intellectual effort required to have a largely consistent and logical understanding of the world. I hesitate to criticize anyone for simply being wrong as seen from my perspective. I don't hesitate to criticize them if their beliefs cause them to hurt or bother others, though. So, the 3 good things I'd say about religion only apply to its benign manifestations:

1) It is often a systematic way of showing compassion towards others in ways that might not occur to many people in everyday life.
2) If you study it very closely, you can learn a lot about how the human mind works. Or sometimes fails to. This can serve as a guide for managing your own beliefs.
3) Generally, it encourages self-improvement, peace and so forth. Exceptions aside, of course.

Then again, much the same can be said for the internet.

[Hermit]

Religion -
1. Provides tax benefits
2. Is a refuge for many a poor sod with unconventional proclivities
3. Encourages modesty, a frugal lifestyle and empathy for the poor and starving



Bonus point 4: "Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people."