The Keepers - How can anyone have faith in religion now?

[PixelpeepS3]

Recently watched a documentary on Netflix - the keepers (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6792200/)

its basically about a priest who abused 50+ children (that we know about), in the name of god. There are some truly sickening statements from various victims as to what happened to them, what they were told as to why and what would happen if they told anyone.

So my question, if there really is a god, (and i know the dude apparently doesn't get involved in 'day to day' stuff) why would he let this barbaric and evil behaviour go on for so long - it was in gods name. Girls were told they were 'taking the body of Christ' into their mouths (i'm sure you can work out what he was doing to them at the time)

I am not a religious person but i feel i have an open mind enough to have said, "well if i see something, id agree he exists' but this has proved to me, he doesn't, couldn't and if does, shouldn't !

what are your thoughts? particularly interested in people that do believe.

[S11Steve]

Growing up in Northern Ireland, it was a common threat that if you misbehaved, you'd go to live with the nuns who would sort you out. That came from parents, teachers, grandparents etc, and to be fair it worked. We all feared being sent to the nuns.

At the age of 7 though, I came back from church and Sunday school, and announced to my parents that I think I knew enough about God, and I didn't like what I'd been taught because it was too much like a horror movie I'd seen. To their credit my parents accepted my decision although my Grandparents said I would thrive if I didn't go to church..., Even they changed their tune in later years though.

40 odd years later, the awful truth is coming out about what actually happened to the kids over many many years by the nuns. It seems it was something of an open secret that wholesale abuse and worse was going on within the organisation.

It's just one of the many reasons why I have any faith in any religion.

[MYOB]

Religion is a topic not to be discussed at the dinner table, thanks. Nor is money.

[PixelpeepS3]

MYOB said:

Religion is a topic not to be discussed at the dinner table, thanks. Nor is money.

that's why i brought it into the lounge

[selym]

MYOB said:

Religion is a topic not to be discussed at the dinner table, thanks. Nor is money.

Or politics, as my grandad used to say.

Is there a religion out there that doesn't abuse - whether physically or mentally - their 'flock'?

[MYOB]

PixelpeepS3 said:

MYOB said:

Religion is a topic not to be discussed at the dinner table, thanks. Nor is money.

that's why i brought it into the lounge

Good point!

[MYOB]

selym said:

MYOB said:

Religion is a topic not to be discussed at the dinner table, thanks. Nor is money.

Or politics, as my grandad used to say.

I knew I missed a subject off my list...thanks for the reminder.

[gregs656]

This is such a huge question, with a long history - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Problem_of_evil

Worth reading. Some of the arguments are quite powerful. The free will argument for example.

I am an atheist FWIW.

[Matt Cup]

Stephen Fry talk about “god” pretty much sums up my thoughts on Religion.

https://youtu.be/-suvkwNYSQo

[Robbo 27]

Human beings make mistakes, some are huge and unforgivable.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

PixelpeepS3 said:

So my question, if there really is a god, (and i know the dude apparently doesn't get involved in 'day to day' stuff) why would he let this barbaric and evil behaviour go on for so long - it was in gods name.

Kind of summed up in the question I always ask.

If there is a god, why does he allow so many s to join his fan club?

[J4CKO]

Paedo priests are way down my list of reasons why I think religion is a load of bks.

However, in the past I worked with a religious guy, pious, opinionated and pontificating, I was interested in religion and asked him questions, was still perhaps not sure and didnt want to dismiss it out of hand, he got put away for abusing a young boy some years prior and having indecnet images on his PC, so I think despite what I said above, it is part of how I went from Agnostic/Curious to Atheist.

[Vaud]

selym said:

Or politics, as my grandad used to say.

Is there a religion out there that doesn't abuse - whether physically or mentally - their 'flock'?

Religious humanism?

[Hoofy]

selym said:

MYOB said:

Religion is a topic not to be discussed at the dinner table, thanks. Nor is money.

Or politics, as my grandad used to say.

I've learnt that you can add "surgical operations" to that list.

[FredClogs]

I agree.

And I'll add my hatred of wagon drivers since Peter Sutcliffe, not just the drivers in fact, I hate wagons, actually I no longer believe in wagons or cars, or any motorised transport. They're all dead to me. Why would you believe in scooters when you know what Peter Sutcliffe did?

I've not eaten fried rice since Mao's cultural revolution and don't talk to me about the bloody Romans, what have they ever done for us...?

[Alex_225]

FredClogs said:

I agree.

And I'll add my hatred of wagon drivers since Peter Sutcliffe, not just the drivers in fact, I hate wagons, actually I no longer believe in wagons or cars, or any motorised transport.

I see what you're getting at there that not all religious people are child abusers etc. I think for many though, the idea that the Catholic Church and it's members abusing children is all the more disgraceful because it appears that it's accepted within the organisation and religion/God is meant to teach you to be good. It preaches that abortion is wrong but members of the church think it's acceptable that the child is born for them to abuse??

Of course not all Catholics priests abuse children but it is known that it has been covered up in the past by the organisation and the fact that these people are trusted, welcomed and abuse that so badly is just the definition of hypocrisy!

[Stella Tortoise]

Lots of us are a bit distrustful of the people involved in religion, no one likes to feel like we are being sold something.

It can change a little when you are in the st and find yourself talking to God or some other higher being and begging for a good outcome.

I know that I have.

[Silverbullet767]

Stella Tortoise said:

Lots of us are a bit distrustful of the people involved in religion, no one likes to feel like we are being sold something.

It can change a little when you are in the st and find yourself talking to God or some other higher being and begging for a good outcome.

I know that I have.

You're talking to yourself, no one else.

[selym]

Vaud said:

selym said:

Or politics, as my grandad used to say.

Is there a religion out there that doesn't abuse - whether physically or mentally - their 'flock'?

Religious humanism?

Thanks, interesting. it seems as though it was created to move away from the bad bits of religion. So all of religion then.

[Fastchas]

So grown, intelligent adults can't make up their own mind if a higher being exists or not but then makes a decision because some other adult affiliated with the church abused children?