THe Great Things done in the name of God.

[the_bob_delusion]

THe GOd-inspired architecture and artworks. THe many charities.

Anymore?

[izabsmiling]

No ..I don't think that fits with Australian values..it sounds like religious intolerance ... new thread possibilities?

The bad and good things done in the name of Religious Intolerance ?

[tasfleur]

"do you find it harder to give credit to the good things because of the bad things done and 'excused' as being in the name of God ?"

None of the above!  I give credit to all good things done in the name of goodness itself or in the name of human kindness alone.

For evil and nastiness perpetrated by churches/religions, any church/any religion, by church people and/or their leaders, it speaks for itself.

[izabsmiling]

I don't know Tas, some may blame religion for someone suffering mental illness hearing voices and directions from God .....which may be messages they'd hear from an Alien life form or a tv or anything else if it wasn't God's voice they hear...due to their medical illness...not God.

I found this poll .I'll add it if anyone is interested .

BBC World Poll

Global Poll Finds that Religion and Culture are Not to Blame for Tensions between Islam and the West

http://www.globescan.com/news_archives/bbciswest/detail.html

[tasfleur]

"I don't know Tas, some may blame religion for someone suffering mental illness hearing voices and directions from God .....which may be messages they'd hear from an Alien life form or a tv or anything else if it wasn't God's voice they hear...due to their medical illness...not God"

Yes, you are right about that, but that is not what I was referring to which is a different subject on a much wider scale where some religious institutions collectively and knowingly do what they do as well as cover up what they are responsible for doing in terms of crimes, and letting it happen.

[izabsmiling]

---

@tasfleur wrote:

"I don't know Tas, some may blame religion for someone suffering mental illness hearing voices and directions from God .....which may be messages they'd hear from an Alien life form or a tv or anything else if it wasn't God's voice they hear...due to their medical illness...not God"

Yes, you are right about that, but that is not what I was referring to which is a different subject on a much wider scale where some religious institutions collectively and knowingly do what they do as well as cover up what they are responsible for doing in terms of crimes, and letting it happen.

---

OK ..though to me ....what you have posted isn't about God either

[tasfleur]

"OK ..though to me ....what you have posted isn't about God either"

That's right, it's about the things done in the "name of God".

There are "great" things done in that name too, such as "church" music (Bach, Handel and so on) which is some of the greatest music ever written in my opinion, even some atheists have said that to me and I don't disagree, however, that's a different issue again ... 

[izabsmiling]

the music is a good thing in line with the OP then 

In the name of God my Step-father has worked as a Minister  .He and my mother have given services,joined voices to sing which gave them and others joy,answered phone calls at all hours of the day,visited the isolated,the lonely,those needing comfort in a way they could offer in their last hours and given support to their families then and afterward,conducted funerals which honour the deceased in a way that  pleases the deceased and their loved ones .

..without 'the Church' they wouldn't have been called on and able to comfort and assist others in this way....a way that those who had need of them needed.

I won't talk about my own Faith ...I would probably get by some (not my Step-Father and Mother ) that I'm a sinner because I don't know my Bible well enough or go to Church on Sundays lol.

[izabsmiling]

I suppose those they met along the way would be the best people to answer the OP 

[tasfleur]

"the music is a good thing in line with the OP then"

As everything is  that has been posted here by everyone, it's an interesting thread ... 

I

[polocross58]

There are more prosaic works done basically in the name of God

inventions which have saved millions of lives and inventions which have freed to great extent those who once toiled from dawn to dusk for very little reward

Washing machines, for instance.  In years past, women slaved over hot 'coppers' and mangles with small children at their feet.  These days, almost everyone has a washing machine or access to one.  No more women scalped by wringers.  No more children scalded.  No more fires caused by wood-burning 'coppers'

Refrigerators is another example.  They keep food chilled or frozen.  In the past people had 'ice boxes' or cold-safes which may have helped preserve foods healthily in colder latitudes but which resulted in severe food poisonings and deaths in warmer climates.  These days, most people have refrigeration for their foods, as do butchers, grocers, delis, etc.

Antiseptics have saved millions of lives.  Prior to the discovery of antiseptics, women commonly died in childbirth leaving numerous motherless children in their wake.  In wars, many casualties were the result of infections

The inventors of these commonplace blessings were motivated by a desire to improve the lot of mankind and therefore could be described as inspired by God