2006-07-22 02:30:52 · 45 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the librarian of Alexandria was pulled off her carriage and skinned alive. Literacy dropped. Even the Pope had to have the Bible read to him. In the first crusade, Christians killed tens of thousands of people they called "infidels". The Children's Crusade (1212) caused the deaths of nearly 50,000 children. Preachers sentenced to death and executed thousands during the Inquisition (1233-1834) for heresy and witchcraft. There were the the Salem witch trials (1692) in America. The 17th Century Thirty Years War (Catholics v. protestants) wiped out tens of millions in Europe. In the Taiping Rebellion in China in the 1850's a Christian cult started a war that resulted in the slaughter of twenty million people. In the Holocaust six million Jews were murdered. Muslims and Christians in Bosnia reached a death toll of over 250,000.
2006-07-22 02:34:03 · answer #1 · answered by acgsk 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Does this question go round on a perpetual loop? It certainly seems to, as do the barbed idiotic and infantile so called answers. Perhaps this is the way it is!
Religion is a faith system which believes in a caring and loving Diety. Trying to follow a particular faith pattern should make the world a better place, but does it?
We always, like the question come back to the start and say its the human element that's the sticking point. The question that begs to be asked then is, if there was no religion would the world be a better place. Back to the start again, No! See these Humans!
2006-07-22 02:44:11 · answer #2 · answered by Raymo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, what I consider Religion can do harm(and good) as it is people who are involved in it. However, what I consider FAITH, which you probably consider religion, can only do good. It is a personal relationship with God and a resultant lifestyle that follows the example of Jesus.
Did Jesus ever harm anyone? NO! He only wanted what was best for us becuase he loves His father's creation.
Sooooo, if people of FAITH choose to follow the example of Jesus then when they are in His will nothing but good can be done. Once again though you have the fallen human factor, and we all know there is not one that is perfect, so we will all fall short of that perfect example. And those who don't have faith will blame it on their religion. It's really just a cop out though to blame anything on anyone other than the humans who caused it.
2006-07-22 02:41:12 · answer #3 · answered by reteach007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it does do more harm then good, then you are not following the right religion. You should be following God, not man. And know the difference between traditons and actual things that you should do. If something is harmful to you then it is not what God wants for you and you may want to look for a new place to worship.
So my answer is No, religion does not do more harm then good, it saved me......
2006-07-22 02:34:07 · answer #4 · answered by free2praise76 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion is not bad, it is the use of the religion that is bad. Just like guns are not bad, it is the use that is bad. There is no religion I know of, including Islam, that does not teach tolerance and a moral way to live. The majority of those who study the Koran, the Bible, the Torah, or any of the other holy books, are good people who try to live a good life. The minority who use religion as an excuse to institute violence are the evil ones. Their use of a belief system - any belief system - to further their own grab for power is what we see in the news.
Look at people like Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama, Pope John Paul II, one of the Imams in Baghdad (I forgot his name) - all of them have done extraordinary good for the world in the name of their religion. So don't condemn or generalize.
2006-07-22 02:41:36 · answer #5 · answered by TLBFH 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does if people blindly follow a cult leader. If one uses religion, or any belief system, to simply study and understand the world around them, that's fine. But if a religion is composed of artificially imposed rules (created by a human not a god) which go against human nature and cause damage, that is dangerous.
Have you considered how many wars have been fought in the name of religion? That alone should answer your question.
2006-07-22 02:34:06 · answer #6 · answered by Nefertiti 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All religions are based on myth, superstition, and questionable traditions. Any belief system whose core tenets are based on untruths will ultimately do more harm than good.
How many have been killed in the name of the "right" religion, i.e., god, throughout history?
Sincere, but misguided, true believers in any religion must take the "leap of faith", abandoning reason, logic, and truth. Psychologically, religious belief is based in: fear, conformance, pain and ignorance. No way to go through life, imho.
Science is the pursuit of truth and ultimately our candle in the darkness.
2006-07-22 04:50:55 · answer #7 · answered by oro_veritis 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
overall no but religion has caused some problems obviously. The only problem with religion it is used as an excuse for terrorism and wars if religion wasn't around these people would only find another excuse. I agree with above tho the good generally out weighs the bad
2006-07-22 02:39:02 · answer #8 · answered by tweetypie88888 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On an individual level, religion can do great things for a person. When it goes gang level(2 or more people) it has more potential for harm than good.
2006-07-22 02:36:33 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it does when people use religion as an excuse to do harmful things. To spread there views through the use of violence would seem to be the greatest modern example.
2006-07-22 02:45:45 · answer #10 · answered by DC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋