Hmmmmm, Great Food For Thought

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   gmwilliamsposted 11 years ago

   
   According to a report from CBS Seattle , a study done by the University of Oregon which was published in PLoS, a scientific journal authenticated that believing that one is on a pathway to hell has an impact on whether or not he/she will commit a crime. 
   
   The study indicated that people in believed in HELL were LESS likely to commit a crime while those who believed in HEAVEN were MORE likely to commit a crime.   Interesting....huh?  What happened to the concepts of inner self-regulation, maturity, and consciously respectful behavior?  Well, I digress!  What do YOU think about this study?

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      Deepes Mindposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is an interesting study. I cannot fully formulate an opinion because this was not matched up against those who do not believe in either. It also doesn't explore the reasoning behind this either.
      
      Now Based on what you have given here, it seems very plausible. People that believe in hell are more afraid to do things wrong because of the punishment involved. Some of those who believe in heaven also believe that it doesn't matter what you do as long as you repent. This flawed thinking lends itself and one into a false sense of immortality

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The study shows an obvious result, that religious beliefs make good folks do bad things as those beliefs override any form of moral or ethical behavior we have evolved naturally.

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   kessposted 11 years ago

   What is interesting is that supposedly learned people actually thinks these types of studies are important, and attach meaning to them.

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      A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So, you are against studies that attempt to expose and stop crime?

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      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think that examining what causes crime is hardly ''uninteresting.''  Or, is it the religious aspect of the study that you find unnerving?

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         Emile Rposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I took his point to mean the study is more pointless than not. If there were one variable we could look to and say 'Eureka' it would be grand. But, all this study did was prove what?
         
         ATM proposes it shows religion causes crime. Failing to see that it was a study of religious belief  that showed one religious belief appears to lower crime and one appears to not.  Are we to teach the doctrine of hell? The study says it lowers crime. If not, what have we learned other than a superfluous bit of info?

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            Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I don't know that I found the study pointless.  If anything it reveals a lot about human nature.  It appears, from the study, that those who are motivated by negative consequences seem much less likely to commit crime than those who are consistently rewarded with positive consequences.  Almost the difference between a student in a poor, violent neighborhood whose greatest motivator to do well in school is to NOT have to stay where they are, while a student in an upper class neighborhood where every physical need is met, and a brand new car is the usual at every birthday after 16, seems pretty convinced that they can do whatever they want with no consequence whatsoever.  In my experience, which certainly makes no difference here, I've found that knowing I'd be forgiven no matter what (in a nonreligious setting) hasn't been a great way of keeping me from doing wrong.  Whereas, knowing that my poor behavior may result in negative consequences has.
            
            Perhaps it depends on the person.  But if I could point to one thing that does sort of make this study allow us to say "Eureka," it would be that human beings crave structure and clearly defined consequences for our actions.

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               Emile Rposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I agree with your conclusion, but this study simply points out the obvious, and in so doing it gives fuel to the fire of preaching hellfire. It can be viewed as a Eureka moment in a way I would prefer we not give those who preach it.

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                  Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Understood.  Maybe they should have taken the whole hell/heaven thing out before publishing.

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            A Troubled Manposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Uh, religion has caused wars, not just crime.
            
            
            
            Yes, it would superfluous if you didn't care about preventing crime.

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               Emile Rposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You are just being silly again ATM. I didn't imply that and you know it.

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