I see Religion more as a devisive force, than a uniting force ,,, how about u?

Answer 1

Yes, those who seek the way of life must transcend religion in all its brand names.

Answer 2

I agree, religion does separate people from each other but it's not only religion that does that. Nationality, race, traditions, ideologies, richness, poorness, education, sports etc. also separates people from one another. But religion does unite people too like the Catholics around the world unites when there's something going on in the Vatican, the Muslims around the world united when the Danish embassies publish those cartoons of Muhammad...well thats a few example I can think of...but it's not religion that is destroying people or bringing wars around the earth (except for the muslim faith), it's quest for power and money. There are really peaceful believing God in this world otherwise this world will be in total chaos if all just follow their own will and not God.

Answer 3

Number 1---Religion IS a devisive force and NOT of God. Think about Jesus for a moment, if you will. He was a rebel of His time--He hated the teachers (pharisees and saducees) of His day because they had made a complete MOCKERY of EVERYTHING God was truly asking of people. All our Father has ever asked of us is that we come to Him---and still, we don't lol we hide, dependenr on the things of this world to make us content with life and faith.
But religion is like 'truth', relative to the believer and him alone sometimes---this is NOT to say, there won't be another, or many others, who believe similarly--that's their bag.
It's an individual responsibility---most especially when learning about your Father, His Will, and developing a relationship with Him (which IS an actual relationship).
I'm not saying that there aren't truly kind hearts out there, eager to teach---I am one of them---but the important thing here is, that mankind is fickle, his beliefs, needs and wants at a chance to change at any moment, for better or worse. When you are given actual TRUTH, it isn't relative, it is FACTUAL and UNDENIABLE. And any change within you is natural and unforced.
Religion is like doctrine. It is merely a man's attempt, however good his intentions may have been, to control his fellow race. Allow me to point out, that but a handful of mortal men have been trusted in the ages past, with the honest Word and Prophecy of God.
I write these things for you, hoping to 'help' you. In no way do I expect to change your entire outlook on things---that is Religion! The truth is always avaliable to you....

Answer 4

I sadly agree. Tho, I am of the opinion it is really the followers that cause this division, not the religion. Sometimes the followers twist and distort the words around to their own agenda and claim that "god" is on their side---no matter what religion it is.

I have friends who will staunchily disagree with me. Ok. I stand fast in my optimistic view that religion is a tool often misused and mishandled. Some tenents of the various religions I disagree with, and I find questionable, tho.

Answer 5

I see it as a uniting force. Looking at Christianity, although there are many denominations to it, the doctrine teaches that all believers should come together as 1 body of Christ and move as 1 body. Also, taking the commandment," love your neighbor as yourself", christians are called to become more accepting and to become a more united people.

Then again, if you meet really religious people who are not accepting of difference,they are not at all spiritual or follwing the right doctrines.

Answer 6

Religions, by necessity, MUST instill in their followers an "us vs. them" mentality. The whole idea is that the believer is chosen by God, while unbelievers are not. This makes believers special, as they receive special privileges such as going to paradise when they die. As a result of feeling special, they are free to look down upon others, and that leads to persecution of those who refuse to believe in the deity. This is the main characteristic of all three of the world's main religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, all three claiming descent from Abraham yet always in disagreement with each other. Hinduism, too, has had its share of religion-inspired violence.

History shows that it is the religious who persecute the non-religious, not the other way around. Christians, for example, instigated the Crusades, sending thousands to their deaths. They came up with the lovely idea of the Inquisitions, in which thousands were tortured to death for heresy; and the witch hunts, in which women and girls were brutally raped and tortured for the imagined offense of witchcraft. Christians today have turned to homosexuals as their whipping-boy of choice, and if they had their way, would undoubtedly round them up and torture them all to death. Some will argue that those weren't REAL Christians, while failing to give a universally agreed-upon definition of what a Real Christian is--and implying, of course, that THEY are somehow "real" and every other Christian is not. If someone calling himself a Christian is pouring acid down your throat, butchering your family, burning your house down, or beating you to death for your sexuality, you tend not to care about the difference between "real" and "not real"--a Christian is a Christian, they are all born-again, Jesus-believing, God-fearing members of the same screwed-up religion.

Answer 7

I neither agree or disagree. Religion unites and divides. However, do take note that it is the people (religious leaders, preachers, etc) who decide which path it should take.

Answer 8

Maybe,but it all comes down to how a non-believer or a believer sees themselves as individuals for as bringing unity or trying to divide unity. There's too many victims on both sides who cry foul. They're both wrong.

Answer 9

Definitely a dividing force.
Nothing divides people more than religion. Nothing.

Answer 10

It seems to be that way, despite most religions declaring that their way is for unity.