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> This was somewhat tongue in cheek, but again I liken it to people who buy lottery tickets for the entertainment of spark their imagination of what they'd do w

by serf 7y ago

> This was somewhat tongue in cheek, but again I liken it to people who buy lottery tickets for the entertainment of spark their imagination of what they'd do with a windfall. People actually win the lottery. I think that's a big distinction. How many people have been harmed by pseudo-science quackery like crystal healing? How many crystal enthusiasts have skipped doctor appointments because of it? I'd wager that more people are harmed by pseudoscience and religious false pretenses than they are by the state lotto, but alas I have no number to back up my hunch -- and they're hard numbers to come by.

anbop 7y ago
There are a lot of people who have been helped by religion though, and to make a fair accounting you need to count them. I know a devoutly Catholic couple who has taken in several foster kids and adopted them because they think it’s the Christian thing to do. Also the beggars who get alms at mosques or the hungry who are fed at Sikh gurdwaras. Or the people who suffer huge tragedies like all of their children dying and get some measure of comfort in religion.
- bredren 7y ago
  I am not sure if people in this thread are anti-crystal, or if they are anti anything not science-based. Like, something must be rooted in science or there can not be a good thing. Are the folks downvoting also against all forms of religion?
bredren 7y ago
>I'd wager that more people are harmed by pseudoscience and religious false pretenses than they are by the state lotto, but alas I have no number to back up my hunch -- and they're hard numbers to come by. It is hard to measure the effect of religions, however, it is pretty obvious the lottery is not good for poor people. In the US alone, 35 billion dollars spent by the poorest third of households in 2014--half of all lottery purchasing. [1] Americans that make $13k or less spend 9% of their income on lottery tickets [2] I think may be better off buying crystals or going to church, because lottery windfalls also often result in misery. [3] [1] https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/lotteries-americas-70-billion-shame/392870/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/lotteri... [2] https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-the-lottery-has-to-say-about-poverty/ https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-the-lottery-ha... [3] https://time.com/4176128/powerball-jackpot-lottery-winners/ https://time.com/4176128/powerball-jackpot-lottery-winners/

by serf 7y ago

anbop 7y ago

There are a lot of people who have been helped by religion though, and to make a fair accounting you need to count them. I know a devoutly Catholic couple who has taken in several foster kids and adopted them because they think it’s the Christian thing to do. Also the beggars who get alms at mosques or the hungry who are fed at Sikh gurdwaras. Or the people who suffer huge tragedies like all of their children dying and get some measure of comfort in religion.

bredren 7y ago
I am not sure if people in this thread are anti-crystal, or if they are anti anything not science-based. Like, something must be rooted in science or there can not be a good thing. Are the folks downvoting also against all forms of religion?

bredren 7y ago

>I'd wager that more people are harmed by pseudoscience and religious false pretenses than they are by the state lotto, but alas I have no number to back up my hunch -- and they're hard numbers to come by. It is hard to measure the effect of religions, however, it is pretty obvious the lottery is not good for poor people. In the US alone, 35 billion dollars spent by the poorest third of households in 2014--half of all lottery purchasing. [1] Americans that make $13k or less spend 9% of their income on lottery tickets [2] I think may be better off buying crystals or going to church, because lottery windfalls also often result in misery. [3] [1] https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/lotteries-americas-70-billion-shame/392870/ https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/05/lotteri... [2] https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-the-lottery-has-to-say-about-poverty/ https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/what-the-lottery-ha... [3] https://time.com/4176128/powerball-jackpot-lottery-winners/ https://time.com/4176128/powerball-jackpot-lottery-winners/