AX: Every person in the world believes in {Insert Religion here}

AX: Everyone now believes in the same religion, but the religious hierarchy has no, and will never gain, political, scientific, economic, or military power over the world. This does not stop nor slow down our ability to make technological advancements or scientific discoveries, with some exceptions.

For the sake of arguement, and the fact that I am Christian Catholic and know about the rules of the Catholic belief system, everyone in the world is now Christian Catholic and follows the rules set in by the Bible.

Would the Earth be a better place to live in than it is now, with everyone believing in different religions, or not being any part of any religion? If you don’t think it would be different, or would be worse, how? (If you’re going to bother posting, please explain why you said what you said.)

(Oh, and I’m not sure if I’m using axioms correctly or not. Also, I’m tired, so I’m having difficulty thinking about this.)

If everyone believes in the same weak-willed religion, and it doesn’t object to science or interfere in politics, then people would undoubtedly be happier.

Whether they would actually be better off in a world where nobody argues theology, or the role of religion in politics, is more debatable, and that particular word choice nicely fits my stance on the topic.

I know, I know, AX thread and so on… But a world in which everyone is Catholic and follows the doctrines of the Catholic church AND YET this doesn’t affect our scientific advances seems to be absolutely impossible to me.

Assuming it could work (i.e. Ratzinger dies and is substituted by someone who at least has a bit of common sense) I am really not sure whether this would make the world a better place. It would certainly reduce friction, but when you think about it overcoming such conflicts is one of the most influential and productive processes for us. Of course, without knowing that such conflicts are even possible would make us unaware of this opportunity and we would conclude that we live in the best possible system, but with the knowledge we have right now I would personally say that in the big picture the world would probably be a calmer place to live, but not a better one.

In short, one consequence. Everyone agrees with each other causing a lot less fights or wars. However, this seems to be ideological to the extreme, never going to happen.

Originally posted by Darkruler2005:

However, this seems to be ideological to the extreme, never going to happen.

This is quite the bold statement.

Originally posted by issendorf:

Originally posted by Darkruler2005:

However, this seems to be ideological to the extreme, never going to happen.

This is quite the bold statement.

Yes. An admirable mission. To BOLDLY go forth where no man has gone before.

This is quite the bold statement.

You are saying you believe that at some point in time everybody will be agreeing with each other over everything? That would be a bold statement. It will happen the moment everyone dies off except one person. Except if he has multiple personality disorder. Then your statement is screwed.

Originally posted by Darkruler2005:

This is quite the bold statement.

You are saying you believe that at some point in time everybody will be agreeing with each other over everything? That would be a bold statement. It will happen the moment everyone dies off except one person. Except if he has multiple personality disorder. Then your statement is screwed.

I guess my complete sarcasm didn’t come through.

All I know is that there will be a shitload of churches.

MY ANSWER TO THIS.
(First READ, then WRITE. I won’t answer posts that show you clearly did the opposite. Don’t be surprised.)
1.
http://www.chabad.org/library/moshiach/article_cdo/aid/1157486/jewish/Introduction.htm
Two of the most fundamental tenets of the Jewish faith – as listed by Maimonides among the Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith – are the belief in the ultimate redemption, an awaited era of world peace, prosperity and wisdom, and the belief that the dead will be resurrected at that time.
The Messianic Era will be ushered in by a Jewish leader generally referred to as the Moshiach (messiah: Hebrew for “the anointed one”), a righteous scion of King David. He will rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and gather the Jewish people from all corners of the earth and return them to the Promised Land.
At that time, “delicacies will be commonplace like dirt.” All the nations will “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3). Humankind will be preoccupied with only one pursuit: the study of G‑dly wisdom. “The earth shall be filled with knowledge of G‑d as water covers the seabed” (Isaiah 11:9).
Okay, so it’s going to happen—that’s what we believe. But why is this important today? Why is the coming of Moshiach so central to the Jewish belief system?
Because the Torah teaches us that there is purpose to our world. And the Messianic Era is the actualization of that idea.
There are those who maintain that this crass physical world is merely a strategic challenge; one that the soul must battle and transcend en route to a heavenly paradise. According to this line of thinking, the physical and mundane has no intrinsic worth, it retains no value whatsoever once its function has been fully served—it is a means to a spiritual end.
While Jewish belief also speaks of the soul’s reward in the hereafter, earned through its toil in the course of life’s journey, it sees the refinement of the physical and the infusion of holiness and purpose into the mundane as the paramount objective. It is the sanctification of the human body and the world at large that constitutes the very purpose of its creation.
From the dawn of time, G‑d envisioned for Himself a “dwelling place” right here on Planet Earth. And He put us here to fashion this home. To transform darkness into light.
And soon the day will come when G‑d’s glory will be revealed in this nether-realm, and we will enjoy the fruits of our millennia-long work, the end-product of our labor of love.
The curtain will be ripped aside, and all flesh will perceive G‑d. It will be the culmination of the master plan.
The belief in Moshiach has sustained our nation throughout a 2,000 year exile fraught with pogroms, expulsions and persecution—our ancestors’ firm belief in a better time to come, and their trust that they would be resurrected to witness that day. And today, finally, we stand at the threshold of redemption. One more good deed by one more person may be all that’s needed to seal the deal.
2.
http://www.chabad.org/library/moshiach/article_cdo/aid/491843/jewish/Technology-of-the-Redemption.htm
For the past 2000 years our nation has been focused on a singular dream. The anticipation of its realization has reached a fevered pitch in recent years, following the pronouncements by the Lubavitcher Rebbe that the Era of Redemption is upon us and we must only increase in acts of goodness and kindness in order to be worthy to greet our redeemer.
“If this is true,” many ask, “where are the indicators of Moshiach’s arrival?” Does our generation seem any more “messianic” than the ones which preceded it? Is the hand of G‑d more readily visible today than yesteryear?
A person who is in the thick of the woods “can’t see the forest for the trees.” This is also true about the Redemption; the signs of Redemption are so apparent, and so much part of our lives, that many of us fail to notice them.
In the generation before Moshiach’s arrival, G‑d has allowed modern science to pave the way for that special day
The Talmud and Midrash are bursting with fantastic legends concerning the long-anticipated Messianic Era. It is safe to presume that in generations past many of these forecasts were viewed as implausible myths, the product of an overactive imagination. However, in the last century or so, many of these legends are no longer relegated to the realm of the impossible. In the generation before Moshiach’s arrival, G‑d has allowed modern science to pave the way for that special day.
Let’s examine some of the Biblical prophecies and Midrashic statements concerning the Messianic Era:
“Moshiach will teach Torah to the entire nation, from the wisest to the simplest.” Years ago this was inconceivable. How can one person, as great as he may be, teach Torah to millions of people? Today, with the plethora of media available to anyone, it is very easy to envision such a scenario. Telephones and wireless telephones, Radio and XM radio, TV and satellite TV, and most importantly the advent of the internet, make it easy for one person to communicate with the entire world. Moshiach, the consummate blogger – there’s a thought for you!
In the Messianic Era “there will be no war or strife because all delicacies will be commonplace like dust.” In times bygone, a civilization didn’t exist which didn’t have droves of dirt-poor citizens who suffered constant malnutrition, and people dying of hunger wasn’t a rare occurrence. Today, in the United States, as well as many other developed countries, it has been demonstrated over a period of decades that no person must die of hunger. The average underprivileged person in today’s society is better off than the affluent person of the 1800s. There are tomatoes and cucumbers in his refrigerator whether it is winter or summer, his children can attend school, and his house is cool in the summer months. The system isn’t perfect – if it were we wouldn’t need Moshiach! – But we can already envision a day when indeed every person is cared for. The resources certainly exist, and we have the means of transporting them throughout the world, wherever they may be needed.
“The [Jews] will fly [to Israel] on the heavenly clouds.” Another prophecy which certainly was considered mythical before the Wright Brothers nudged our world a little closer to Moshiach’s times!
Last but not least, in recent years the prospect of the resurrection of the dead, the ultimate “fairy-tale” has become almost a practical reality. In Jurassic Park we have all seen ancient creatures brought back to life through cloning. True, scientists say that today’s technology doesn’t yet allow for such breakthroughs, but it seems to be in the foreseeable future. Our sages speak of the miniscule “luz” spinal-bone which will be used to recreate all the deceased Jews of the ages, and now we can comprehend how the DNA which is within one microscopic bone can be used to bring a person back to life.
A person who lived 150 years ago, if brought back to life today and witnessing the marvels which modern science has uncovered within G‑d’s creation, would be certain that the Messiah has already arrived. Now it is time for us to wake up to this reality, and prepare ourselves for the special moment. Indeed, we will be the ones who will experience the fulfillment of the dream of the ages!
3.
http://www.chabad.org/library/moshiach/article_cdo/aid/1121893/jewish/The-Basics.htm
The Messianic Redemption will be ushered in by a person, a human leader, a descendant of Kings David and Solomon, who will reinstate the Davidic royal dynasty. According to tradition, Moshiach will be wiser than Solomon, and a prophet around the level of Moses.
Ever since the destruction of the Holy Temple, in every generation there is an individual, a scion of the House of David, who has the potential to be the Moshiach. If at any moment the Jews are worthy of redemption, this person would be directed from Above to assume the role of the redeemer.
In every generation there is a scion of the House of David who has the potential to be the Moshiach
During the Messianic Era, the Moshiach will serve a dual role. He will be a monarch, ruling over all of humanity with kindness and justice, and upholding the law of the Torah—613 commandments for the Jews, and seven for the non-Jews. He will also be the ultimate teacher, the conduit for the deepest and most profound dimensions of the Torah which will then be revealed by G‑d.
How are we to identify the Moshiach?
Moshiach is not identified by his ability to perform earth-shattering miracles. In fact, he isn’t required to perform any miracles at all (although the performance of miracles doesn’t disqualify him either).
The following are the criteria for identifying the Moshiach, as written by Maimonides:
If we see a Jewish leader who (a) toils in the study of Torah and is meticulous about the observance of the mitzvot, (b) influences the Jews to follow the ways of the Torah and © wages the “battles of G‑d”—such a person is the “presumptive Moshiach.”
If the person succeeded in all these endeavors, and then rebuilds the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and facilitates the ingathering of the Jews to the Land of Israel—then we are certain that he is the Moshiach.

WORSE.

if everyone believes in catholicism, then everyone would believe they are going to hell all the time (assuming you talk about REALLY believing in it, not just picking the parts you like like most Christians do); all gays would never find true romance, or they do and will consider themselves an abomination; everyone would believe that every child that died before being able to be baptised would go to hell (since the vatican announced that Limbo isn’t real after all, and they’d all believed and prescribed the belief in a lie), etc.

i could go on forever. many people would be commiting murders and confessing and alleave themselves of any guilt; the world would vanish in an eternal paradox because the earth is not the center of the universe; condoms would never be used so everyone will die of {insert SOA here}…

just tell me how much more you want me to post.

Originally posted by Darkruler2005:

In short, one consequence. Everyone agrees with each other causing a lot less fights or wars. However, this seems to be ideological to the extreme, never going to happen.

thats pretty much the answer. it doesnt matter what the consensus opinion is, because if everyone believes in it then there ceases to be pointless religion discussions and people are just happier and get along more. there is no such thing as a right religion so it doesnt matter which one it is, as long as everyone has the same one.

also agree that its never going to happen.

Originally posted by OmegaDoom:

WORSE.

if everyone believes in catholicism, then everyone would believe they are going to hell all the time (assuming you talk about REALLY believing in it, not just picking the parts you like like most Christians do), all gays would never find true romance, or they do and will consider themselves an abomination, everyone would believe that every child that died before being able to be baptised would go to hell (since the vatican announced that Limbo isn’t real after all, and they’d all believed and prescribed the belief in a lie), etc.

i could go on forever. many people would be commiting murders and confessing and alleave themselves of any guilt, the world would vanish in an eternal paradox because the earth is not the center of the universe, condoms would never be used so everyone will die of {insert SOA here}…

just tell me how much more you want me to post.

The OP is saying what if we all believe any religion – doesn’t have to be just Catholicism (he just used it as his example because that’s his particular religion). Pretty sure the actual point of the post is how would life/politics change if we all shared the same belief, not if everyone was Catholic.

how does that change my answer? unless i have to accept the aditional axiom, that it’s a religion that doesn’t suck.

so basically, you’re asking me that “assuming that there were no downsides to religion, would there still be downsides to religion?”

yeah…

Every religion has a major downside?

We’d find other reasons to hate each other, and it’d be about the same.

Originally posted by OmegaDoom:

how does that change my answer? unless i have to accept the aditional axiom, that it’s a religion that doesn’t suck.

so basically, you’re asking me that “assuming that there were no downsides to religion, would there still be downsides to religion?”

yeah…

A lot, since you mention the condom thing, when the OP said that religion wouldn’t interfere with politics. Also the bit about the Earth not being the center of the universe which a) hasn’t been part of Catholic doctrine for several hundred years, and b) that the OP also said the religion wouldn’t interfere with scientific developments. Oh, and Limbo was never part of Catholic doctrine, it was only tolerated up until Vatican II reformed the church, and it finally got swept out in the 90s. If you’re going to criticize a religion, try to know what the fuck you’re talking about first m’kay?

Here I’ll post the OP again and perhaps this time you’ll actually read the whole thing:

Originally posted by Camoraz:

AX: Everyone now believes in the same religion, but the religious hierarchy has no, and will never gain, political, scientific, economic, or military power over the world. This does not stop nor slow down our ability to make technological advancements or scientific discoveries, with some exceptions.

For the sake of arguement, and the fact that I am Christian Catholic and know about the rules of the Catholic belief system, everyone in the world is now Christian Catholic and follows the rules set in by the Bible.

Would the Earth be a better place to live in than it is now, with everyone believing in different religions, or not being any part of any religion? If you don’t think it would be different, or would be worse, how? (If you’re going to bother posting, please explain why you said what you said.)

(Oh, and I’m not sure if I’m using axioms correctly or not. Also, I’m tired, so I’m having difficulty thinking about this.)

Do we follow the rules in the bible or just the rules people actually follow in real life?
Because the stoning of people with a certain haircut and homosexuals would make it a terrible place to live.

Originally posted by Moderated:

Do we follow the rules in the bible or just the rules people actually follow in real life?
Because the stoning of people with a certain haircut and homosexuals would make it a terrible place to live.

Not just the bible, either.

Though, I wonder what would happen to society if the victims of rape had to marry their rapists.

Originally posted by Moderated:

Do we follow the rules in the bible or just the rules people actually follow in real life?
Because the stoning of people with a certain haircut and homosexuals would make it a terrible place to live.

He wasn’t refering to old-age Christianity in particular…
Every person in the world believes in {The Flying Spaggetti Monster}.

People would probably be happier, as it would make doubting a religion a hell of a lot harder when there is no counter thought to it.

Without the ability to fight over religion, it’d make some things better- it’s a hell of a lot harder to whip up a fight when people aren’t all that different, but having the same religion won’t make all religious conflict go away. There would be less, that’s for sure, and the internet would be a nicer place, but that’s about it. Ethnic tensions could be easily substituted in, and likely would be, so no fixing of the Israel/Palestine dispute or other religious/ethnic conflicts.

Politics wouldn’t be riddled with rhetoric over social issues – and less rhetoric is always a good thing IMO.

Originally posted by issendorf:

Politics wouldn’t be riddled with rhetoric over social issues – and less rhetoric is always a good thing IMO.

Certainly be able to pass social legislation easier when everyone had the same opinion on it.

A lot, since you mention the condom thing, when the OP said that religion wouldn’t interfere with politics

that’s not politics dumbass. i didn’t say condoms would be made illegal; i said people wouldn’t use them.

Also the bit about the Earth not being the center of the universe which a) hasn’t been part of Catholic doctrine for several hundred years, and b) that the OP also said the religion wouldn’t interfere with scientific developments

it’s in the bible. and you weren’t being condascending (sp) to ERP when he pointed out the same thing “But a world in which everyone is Catholic and follows the doctrines of the Catholic church AND YET this doesn’t affect our scientific advances seems to be absolutely impossible to me.”

Oh, and Limbo was never part of Catholic doctrine, it was only tolerated up until Vatican II reformed the church, and it finally got swept out in the 90s

fine. doesn’t really change anything.

but please continue to be a dick. it humors me.