Is religion a good thing?

Question

I find that religion seems to just be another way for the wrong ppl to get ppl to do something for them. All they have to do is sound like what the religion is saying and they get a following. I know that not all ppl in religions are like this. However, it only takes one convincing person, who says/offers the right thing, to end up with something like Hitler. Or some religous cult.
Sometimes i think that when a person accepts a religon. They need to think of two things. One, will i die for my religion and two, will i kill for this religion?

I heard that Hitler used some religion to make him sound good. He pretty much said anything to make himself sound good. He even used Nostadamus' quotes to act like everything that was happening was predicted and ment to be.
Obviously, religion isn't the only thing that ppl use. Just coming up with any idea that will appeal to the masses is what seems to be used by some ppl to get power.
And don't worry. I know religion. I was once a christian, and i really tried to make it work. But all the Bible reading and praying just didn't do anything. So, really this one question is just going to answer part of my big question.
DO I WANT TO HAVE A RELIGION?
not to mention which one to chose.

Thanks for the answers! Its nice to know I am not the only one struggling with this question. (of course, i knew that before but, reading other ppl say it helps.)

Thanks for the answers! Its nice to know I am not the only one struggling with this question. (of course, i knew that before but, reading other ppl say it helps.)

Answer 1

Unfortunately religion has misled so many good God fearing people away from His original doctrine, which is layed out for us in the Bible.
Although I attend a Baptist Church, it is up to me to study the bible every day, to ensure that the Church I attend is teaching the correct messages. Churches today have developed their own doctrine and rules, and have seriously fallen away from God's truth, because it became all about filling the seats in the church house, and bringing in more money into the offering plate. They pick and choose scriptures that they like, and completly ignore the rest. You have to accept the bible as a whole. you can't ask God to conform to your ways, by obeying just the scriptures you agree with. We are to conform to the laws of God and not the other way around. Follow God and go against the world. Forget about "religion" persay, and just be the Christian that God would be proud of. When I am asked about my religion, I Just say,"I am a Christian" and I follow God's rules the best way I can. Today's religion can de-rail the most faithful of Christians, if they are not committed to their daily bible study.

Answer 2

I believe that religion is a very personal thing, and therefore one cannot say whether it is "good" or "bad" in a general sense. You say that it only takes one convincing person to end up with a Hitler, but it also only took one convincing person to end up with Jesus. I don't believe that there is any "right" religion, but that there are as many representations of God as there are people, and that people are simply drawn to that representation (which includes no representation in some cases) that best suits their needs at a given time. Is there a higher power? Maybe. I hope so. It's comforting to think that there is more to existence than this life; that this life is simply training for something bigger and better. And if there's not? Well, I won't know the difference, and therefore, I won't care. The real reason that religion exists for most people is to give our existence a sense of meaning, because we as humans have an innate need to explain the "why" of things. Every civilization since the beginning of time has devised some sort of religion, and that makes sense. We not only need to put our trust in the idea that some higher power knows what the heck they're doing, but we want some reassurance that death is not the end. Otherwise a lot of people would live in constant, paralyzing fear of it. I don't know if this answers your question, but I hope it gives you some things to think about!

Answer 3

The question you ask is a perplexing one. Many religions today are not of honest intentions. Many have a control over their believers that humans should not have (no offense intended, but take the Catholic priests for example). Others are out to make money by misleading people. One thing is sure: we are all human. Therefore, a church or religion headed by a single person is fallible. But if the Christian churches were to let the Lord have control of their church, the church would be infallible and without fault. The 'True Church of God' that many people claim to be their own does not exist in a church building, but rather in the hearts of the believers. I must say that if necessary, I would rather die than deny my Lord Jesus Christ. However, seeing as how I try my best to obey the Ten Commandments, I would not kill for my religion. I like to think of myself as a peaceful person, and I know my God does not wish me to take the life of another person He has created, so I try not to get so devoted to a group of people that I would kill for them. God bless you.

Answer 4

I think religion is a wonderful awesome thing, you just have to be serious about it and put your all into it, I'm a christian, and no I'm not perfect and no I don't shove it down peoples throats....and no, it's not easy at all to get people to follow us....it's very hard, and I don't find it cult like, this is a choice that's up to you, I can get up any day of the week and decide this isn't what I want to do and no one is gonna come after me, but God....anyway, yes, I'd die for it and no I wouldn't kill for it, unless God personally told me to...God bless

Answer 5

No, religion is a horrible thing. Jesus did not want the world to create an institution centered around rules and membership. Jesus wanted us to have a relationship with Him. And a relationship is not a religion.

A religion can be defined as a set of beliefs, values, and practices based on the teachings of a spiritual leader. Jesus did not tell us what our practices should be, and His teachings centered around only one idea: Love. Love your God, and Love one another. That's all He asked us to do. And out of this springs religion, a hierarchy of warriors prepared to kill those who do not believe the same things they do. And yet Jesus asked us to die for our faith, if need be, and not the other way around.

So, no religion is not a good thing. Its rules are too constricting for the whims of Love.

Answer 6

actually, everything has good and bad sides. so, what possible good side can religion have? it does teach some good morals (respect one another, no stealing, murder, and most of the morals are good because many they are laws in countries.)

so, where do i start about the bad side?
well, it restricts freedom of speech somewhat
it causes people, like Hitler, and groups (such as the K.K.K.)
it makes fanatics
many people worship out of fear, rather than love or respect.
it simply makes no sense.

like everything humans make, it has a purpose. it has guided humanity through our infancy. but now, it has no purpose, and should be dealt with accordingly.

so, while religion does have a few good morals, it is in the long run bad and must be left behind and forgotten.

Answer 7

It was a good idea in the aspect that it modified the bahavior of many for the positive, but the wars that ensued in the name of religion were tragic. Like Communism, it's a good idea in theory, but it just will never work. Thankfully, more people are inclined to think for themselves these days (thank you George Carlin and many others) but the nuts that carry out drastic acts in the name of religion are giving the premise a terrible spin. Well, everyone wants answers I guess, and if you have to make them up to live your life, fine. Just don't lecture me about it. I'm watching the Bears game.

Answer 8

>>> i think that when a person accepts a religon. They need to think of two things. One, will i die for my religion and two, will i kill for this religion?>>>

Huh? What makes you think that people are made to think about whether they will kill for their religion?

Before deciding for yourself that religion is such a bad thing, I think you first need to rid yourself of whatever misconceptions you have about it -- starting with the one mentioned above.

By the way, Hitler's rise to power and his populist appeal had nothing to do with religion.

No offense, but it seems that you are quick to pin labels onto religion that it doesn't deserve, and I wonder if part of the reason for that is that religion teaches things that you just don't want to hear. Therefore, you feel the need to discredit and defame it. I've seen it before, lots of times.

Answer 9

It is a good thing to obey the One who created us. Why, when societies obey God, you've got a good society. The Israelites were doing fine, though sometimes they would stray from God and do things of their own desires, which then resulted in immorality and problems for them. Likewise, Christian Europe had some pretty strong moral regulations.

Answer 10

Of cause religion is a good thing. How do you think we would be able to control all the humans if religion was not invented?
As for the men it’s even better as long as they are Muslims. They will get 72 virgins or 72 grapes ( in either case at least it is something compare to what you get from Christian GOD).

Many ppl confuses GOD and religion.
GOD does not need religion. Religion needs GOD!
Besides all the stupidity that humans point to the GOD ( all possible sins that we ever will be able to get we assign to GOD in the bible ( ex. jealousy, genocide , sexual contest and so on..)
Imagine the creator who was so smart to glue the billions of stars and create moon became so primitive in the bible that he wants us little humans to worship him on daily bases and follow his genocidal grand master plan. And then you ask your self how the religion can be bad? It can't. Jesus is the saver. He told us ignore our parents, Keep killing unbelievers. Torture children’s and punish every one up to 4th generation. Of cause it's a good thing.
What most ppl don't get it that GOD keeps learning too. And we are here by design to help him to learn the basics of engineering.
Remember he is perfection. First he create Angels and oops. He got screwed. They rebel. Of cause he realize his mistake and said let me make a better one. So he creates Adam out of the dust and gets ****** again on Eve's sin. Well then he understands that 3d time is a charm so he realizes that creating intelligent been out of nothing ( or planet ferment is not going to work) and he made a great move and decide to use human female for his next product. Boom. Next thing we know we got Jesus. So all those green peace, democrats and females rights organizations should be proud of GOD. He uses female to finally create such a pure , intelligent been like Jesus. Of cause we should ignore what he did to him. Put his own son to suffer and pain for all sins that he invented. But hey , who can blame him for that. It's the part of grand master slam :). And what can be bad about GOD choosing the female? Nothing, it shows how superior female is. Some ppl may ask wtf happened to free will for Mary. But who cares, big deal GOD inpregnant Mary without her even know. But he is the GOD, it's his plan, It's his miracle way of doing things. So look around you. DO you see computer? Do you see Monitor, keyboard and mouse? Then ask your self how Men could create such a thing? Therefore GOD exists. God sow all this things way before he create even the first angel. It's The Grand Master Plan.

And i dare you to ask same question about religion to any normal human been. They don't just ******* understand that all the evil in the world is for greater good. God flood the planet and destroy every child and human by torturing them during the 40 day fun. And it's for greater good, God let Christians to go and destroy life’s of unbelievers for greater good. And i would say lets drop few nukes to Iran, Syria, Lebanon, UAE ( don't think about china, we will need them later , some one has to supply walmart) so we can bring greater good by using little evil.

Of cause religion is not good, IT’S GREAT. Therefore GOD exists.
Peace.


PS :
For Brittany P
“I heard that Hitler used some religion to make him sound good. He pretty much said anything to make himself sound good. He even used Nostadamus' quotes to act like everything that was happening was predicted and ment to be.”

There is a slight confusion here. Hitler never was religious. The main idea trough all his ruling is that they are superior to all and coming from Arian Race (originally it’s Indians and was on Indian territories) There are many stories to this race but the main idea they are from ancients aliens (search the Google or yahoo for more materials). Though Hitler was smart enough to realize that ideology is the real power tool to turn ppl into the freaks and he uses that at full extend .He did uses Christianity is the base for his plan but he never had anything to do with that him Self.

To legio_xxx_30th

“"Religion is the opium of the masses"-- Stalin “
Sorry Dude, first of all it was not Stalin who said, it was Karl Marks. Second it has totally different meaning that is used these days. At that Time many ppl suffered from being poor, abused, slaves and so on. Opium was a legal drug at that time and widely used. SO when he compares religion to opium he ( I assuming) uses that to show that ideology is powerful as opium and can substitute for many bad things that were popular at that time.