Quote Originally Posted by Oneironaut
Because it encourages people to not actually do something about their problems. If you think God will take care of things for you, why bother doing anything yourself? To take an extreme example, Christian Scientists do not believe in medicine; they believe, however, that prayer can heal people. That can be a very damaging belief. Besides that, prayer and other beliefs in supernatural/paranormal claims encourage sloppy thinking and a blatant disregard for rationalism and the scientific method. Am I going to stop anybody from praying? Of course not. But I don't see what's wrong with informing someone when they're doing something very silly and illogical, like praying to a God who supposedly knows all your thoughts anyways.
You raise some good questions, oneironaut. But, I haven't intentionally ignored you. I had others I wanted to address.

I also agree that both the Christian scientist (nothing scientific about them), and Jehovah's witnesses have bizarre med stands. However, the intellectual scientific community, largely by there prejudices, are blind to much that is clearly real. Many historic views....... they have now had to concede, due to clear evidence otherwise.

I find that the scientific community......... far exceeds excesses of the church in their manipulation, and thought programing.....refusing other views.. primarily as it relates to text books.....and still there are dis proven theories published and shoved down the throat's of our kids.

People can walk out of a church and not return. These people hijack entire generations, disallowing any counter view in schools with supporting evidence.......... we have to support them with our tax dollars, Churches accept donations......these people have the IRS .........and they have the hypocritical audacity to label the church as intolerant.

Hypocrisy is very dangerous, I must be very careful myself even addressing it here, I can quickly find myself in the middle of it.
Humility is the only refuge.

I sucker punched ya, and I'm sorry. We've never talked.
I thought of you all day!!!
.
.