Is religion really to blame or is it just a scapegoat.?

Question

It appears that most of the problems of the world lie at the feet of religion. Is this really the case or is it too easy to put the blame there?.

Answer 1

It's more accurate to say that most of the world's problems are laid at the feet of religion by people who, because religion doesn't jive with their views and lifestyles, feel the need to discredit it.

In other words, yes, religion is very much often used as a scapegoat.

People who blame religion for everything know full well what they're doing. They don't want to follow what religion teaches -- but instead of just saying "no thanks," they must validate their own secular worldviews by tearing religion down. And what better way to do that than to blame religion for all the world's problems?

Most of the world's problems have to do with an absence of faith and religion, not the presence of it.

Answer 2

I don't think so...

I think a problem is human greed for the most part, religion is an instrument, but so is nationalism... Getting rid of religion is not an option most people need it to point them the right way in life, I mean before Moses some things were truly not practiced like most cultures did not concider killing wrong... morality and social aspect of religion cannot be underestimated, but there are a few who use it for control, that's why its important to KNOW a few things and not blindly BELIEVE. Bottom line, religion is man-made (if God made it there would only be one) and gives some men more power than others, what they do with it is personal responsibility, not religion

Answer 3

I personally believe that it's the way religion is perceived and interpreted as to why people blame the world's problems on it.
I can see why and how religion came about. I use 'the afterlife' as an example;
The way I see it, is that the loss of a loved one is such a great shock, that the only way of dealing with the fact that the person is dead and gone forever, is to say that they've gone somewhere beautiful (like heaven/paradise).. and that their spirit lives on.

One only needs to take a look at funerals in the east.. the wailing, mourning and the devastating grief is obvious- unlike our procedure type 'stiff upper lip' funerals.
Over 2000 years ago that grief was so awful that the thought of someone gone forever was too much to bare, so idealogical theories like religion was always gonna happen.
It's the people, not religion imo.

Answer 4

Way too many problems arise from different peoples religious beliefs so in a way, religion is to blame for a lot of things and not just a scapegoat but other things in the world are to blame fro problems too, like the governmental parties.

Answer 5

As a diplomat [by profession], i never attended a class where my lecturers put a blame on religion. Rather what studies tell me is that men rather than allow religion use them positively are busy exploiting religion to negative utility.
In the us led invasion of iraq, it was purely an economic issue. US has a bitter hatred for islam no doubt, but even at that that is also purely political. Because Blair sure like the detail of Islam, so does Clinton whose daughter did a study in arabic.
Even the crusaders have in their ranks thise who seek a peaceful reform.
Inteligent and careful study will open the world to you, that men rather than make friend with the sacred religion are busy making enemy with it and busy exploiting it for a far useless course than can be imagined.

Answer 6

I think religion is a scapegoat. There were some "bad apples" (the whole Crusades thing...) so everything is blamed on religion. The terrorists kill "in the name of god" so all religious people must be evil. It doesn't add up. Religion isn't evil, people are evil. It's the whole sinful nature shining through.

Answer 7

check the rest of this article (for more info click on the ones on the side as well)

WHY MANY DOUBT
That Religion Can Unite Mankind

“LOVE your neighbor.” (Matthew 22:39) This basic rule of conduct is acclaimed by many religions. If such religions were effective in teaching their members to love their neighbor, their flocks would be drawn together and be united. However, is that what you have observed? Are religions a force for unity? A recent survey in Germany asked the question: “Do religions unite people, or are they more likely to separate them?” Of the respondents, 22 percent felt that religions unite, whereas 52 percent felt that they divide, or separate.

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2005/1/1/article_01.htm

Answer 8

It's like saying is the fuse the reason a bomb goes off. No. Someone has to light it. Because religion is at the core of so many peoples beliefs it is easy to use it for good or evil.

Answer 9

You know, religion is man-made. Spirituality is a whole different ball game. Christ said those who worship God would worship in spirit and in truth. Because of Christ, we have the privilege and responsibility to go to the Father directly, each of us, in order for Him to lead us. The problems arise when another person wants to tell us what God wants. When we should be searching that out for ourselves on a personal level.
In my opinion, religion is what nailed Christ on the cross then, and it's what nails believers to the cross today.

Increase the peace.

Answer 10

No it's people dear girl. People are too weird in their extremist stuff. It will always be the people doing the crazy stuff who are at the root of the problem. Just like saying it's the Oiler's fault the people went on a rampage on Whyte Ave and destroyed the place.