Despite my Atheism, I do firmly believe there is a part of religion that is beautiful

[Taverner]

That would be the storytelling aspect of it.

Jesus was a storyteller. Siddartha Guatama was a storyteller. Paul of Tarsus was a storyteller. Dante was a storyteller. Martin Luther was a storyteller. Mohammed was a storyteller.

The storytelling aspect of religion, as essential as it is, is also something that can be enjoyed by the non-believer.

That is all.

[vi5]

1. I'm a vehement atheist....

..and as much as I believe that religion has caused a lot of horrible things in the world, I also can't deny that it's inspired some of the greatest art in the world, in all disciplines.

[Taverner]

Yep. Milton, Dante, Khalil Gibran...

Not to mention the holy writ themselves

[vi5]

16. Van Morrison...Bob Dylan...early U2......

The list is full and long.

[loyalsister]

2. Agreed. I recently saw an academic presentation on this

From an anthropological POV, developing a belief system with a common code of ethics and spending time as a group with a common stories and rituals was a way of "artifying" cohesiveness.
Sharing stories with lessons, etc. was an adaptive practice that led to community development and responsibility.
Given the current state, it's easy to forget that the goals were originally positive.

[Stargleamer]

3. The Santa Claus part has always had an appeal n/t

[RufusTFirefly]

4. Yes. Some Biblical stories compare favorably with Greek myths

Not surprising, really. At the risk of over-simplifying and offending, I consider them rough equivalents.

[Taverner]

5. Hercules/Samson, Zeus/Yahweh...

There are more - it's Friday...

[RufusTFirefly]

6. Agreed. The Hero with a Thousand Faces and all that

There are a number of fascinating books and videos that address common themes and narrative elements that run throughout mythology, including the Judeo-Christian variety.

[Silent3]

7. There's also the architecture and the music...

...which I suppose can be seen as extensions of the storytelling.

[Leontius]

8. And what do those stories, the truly great stories, tell?

[tama]

9. It's been said

that we can comprehend myths or "truly great stories" only by living and experiencing them.

[Taverner]

11. Depends on your preference. I kind of like a semi-rational take on religion like Dante

Fill in the gaps with people who pissed you off in life...



One could base an entire sub-genre on this - kind of like how Steampunk shot off of Cyberpunk with "The Difference Engine"

[applegrove]

10. I like it when religions cross religious lines and love all people in the world..not just their own.

[Jester Messiah]

12. Maybe, but you have to ask yourself "is it worth the rest?"

It comes as a package deal.

[Taverner]

13. Is Zeus worth the rest?

I have no problem relegating religion to the same place we place the The Peloponnesian War and The Odyssey.

[Uncle Omar]

14. I like ice cream

My favoriate is rocky road

[Odin2005]

15. Don't forget the grand architecture.