Actually, in formal logic, "irrational" has a precise meaning. It means you are operating outside your empirical rights:

Firstly, war.

War is not a religious thing, it is a human thing. You're going to find it hard to argue that, all you have to do is look at little children fighting over toys, getting violent over simple possessions to see some basic human nature at work. Most wars historically have been over a possession of some sort. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am fairly certian of that fact, but I'm no historian though.

Progress! Ever hear of something called the protestant work ethic??

Interesting phenomenon, and by no way evidence, but still food for thought. It is interesting that since the protestant revolution, those countries became much more prosperous then others. This is believed to be due to the docturine that was introduced by Martin Luther, namely the priesthood of believes one, I think. It is more of an observation then anything really, but there are some very interesting observations one can take from christianity.

Never the less, it is true that the countries today that are the best off are ones that made most of that progress while (if they still aren't) they were majorly christian countries.

So what about personal health? Does it hurt to go to church? No. Church is a place of community, and learning. How can it be anything but benificial to learn how to be a more holy person, and to do so in a community of others, developing strong relationships with other likeminded individuals? This is the aim anyways, doesn't always happen that way.

Atheism requires nothing, and as such it would tend to be easier for people to slip through the cracks, become antisocial, and use the internet far too much where real interactions would be far more benifical for personal well being. Generalizations, but they do seem true to me.

What about other beliefs? Most if not all other religious require community. Atheism does not. It is simply a matter of tools. Christians, muslims, and jews all meet once a week, atleast, to gather in community and partake in a common activity. What is required of atheists? Nothing. So you have to go out there and modivate yourselves. Like I said, a matter of tools, and the fact that it just doesn't happen for atheists.

All these points can be developed a lot more, but I am no pro debater, or even an arts major, but nevertheless, it is food for thought, and perhaps someone may enjoy this read and have some thought provoked within them

Seems to me that the key here is "distress or disability".

 

Atheism, in a overpoweringly religious society, could be a source of distress or disability in that particular society, but it not because of atheism but rather the culture in which the atheism is being expressed. It is just as valid to reverse the roles and put a theist in a completely atheist culture.

So the whole thing is a red herring for a mental disorder is defined by the consequences of the belief, not the belief in and of itself.

Dude, all people do is look at the facts and come to different conclusions. That's it.

magilum wrote:

Religious beliefs are based on facts?

It's a fact! God is real because, well, the banana and the coke can are so well designed, so, godidit.

The problem comes when people who formerly had the ability to smell lose it, and then everything tastes like cardboard.