2006-06-20 07:52:44 · 28 answers · asked by ponyboy 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
On the local level? Good.
On the national level? WAY more bad. Wars and deaths caused by religion way outnumber the amount of charitable acts done in small communities by good Christians/Jews/Buddhists/Whatever.
2006-06-20 07:56:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
That's tough to say. Interestingly enough I think only God would know. I think the idea of religion is a convenient way of coping with the fact that we don't know or control everything. Think about it, religion comes into play when ever we are faced with a curiosity. During the middle ages people said that colds were caused by demonic possession, believe it or not this is why the tradition of saying God bless you after someone sneezes exists.
They didn't know what was going on so they used religion to explain it. When people face a problem and they feel they have no influence over it they use religion and pray or make a sacrifice or light a candle depending on what religion you are. Face it, wouldn't you feel better if a super natural force was in your favor? Humans fear what they don't understand therefore since we cannot understand everything the only way to elliminate fear is to create a belief system. Whether or not religion continues to promote the most moral behavior will remain to be seen, but what is clear is that religion fullfils a need people have and for many people this need will never go away.
2006-06-20 08:21:00 · answer #2 · answered by Dr.C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you look back at the inquisition and crusades, you think bad, but then when you think again, you realize what the world was like before, and you realize how beneficial it's really been. Notice that state and federal laws are pretty close to the 10 commandments or at least were at some point? Missionary work has brought food to very remote places where people were dying unnoticed by the rest of the world. So it's had its bad sides, mostly the result of bad people, but the good has outweighed it in the long run.
2006-06-20 07:59:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Prolly more bad. Don't get me wrong. I'm am a devoted Christian my self. However, some people become extremist when it comes to their religious beliefs (thus the act of 9-11). When people view their beliefs as a guide to life, it's good. Most religions have a basic right and wrong concept. However, when people view their religious beliefs as permission to treat others however they want to, it becomes a problem. Being how that is happening in all parts of the world right now, i can say more bad than good.
2006-06-20 07:59:32 · answer #4 · answered by Hope 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Typically the bad effects of religion get a lot more media attention. The good parts of religion are little improvments made in the lives of lots of individual people on a daily basis. Hard to track!
2006-06-20 07:56:17 · answer #5 · answered by dirtyrubberduck 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I don't think that religion has caused more bad than good! I think that a few who have abused position in religion or have twisted the word of scripture to suit their own ambition have made a bad name for those of us who live their chosen religion in quiet dignity and devotion. Religion is a vehicle to help average people commune with God not for a few elite to oppress.
2006-06-20 07:57:41 · answer #6 · answered by Ethan M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
BAD. Religion is the reason for many wars in the history of the world. Religion creates discrimination. Religion creates hate & violence. Religion creates brainwashed people. Religion creates Idiots.
2006-06-20 07:57:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
bad. very bad. I'm sure at one point a person or group of persons got together and decided that something else must be at work here and pondered what or who it could be. once man figured out religion could control the feeble minded and make them do whatever they wished, then it ceased becoming a philosophical matter and more a politcal one. My opinion, religion is the worst atrocity ever inflicted upon humankind.
2006-06-20 07:57:33 · answer #8 · answered by DIE BEEYOTCH!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it has done more good based on the fact that the united states was created because of it. So many good things have been done for the world by people from the United States. . . so inevertantly, religion has done good things.
2006-06-20 07:57:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good, through the word of God it saves millions of people from doing sinful things and that alone has made the world a better place. It causes other people to witness and saves lives.
2006-06-20 07:56:02 · answer #10 · answered by baby_genius2005 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋