wouldnt the world be more peaceful if religion didnt exist?

Question

religion is useless. all it does is instill fear, guilt and violence in an individuals psyche and is just another corrupt institution craving money.

Answer 1

ok there karl marx.......
Yes, it's true religion has had negative effects on poeple. And even Jesus rebuked "religious" people, the hyporcritcal knowledgable types who flaunt their beliefs like a badge. Indeed, religion has negative effects on people, but God has great effects on humanity!
We went and visited the tsunami area in southern Thailand. It was full of poeple who had lost everyhting and were looking for answers. And many found their answer in God, who provides healing, shelter, and peace.
In Pakistan, the poverty mindset has trapped much of the society into the idea that, as long as they can make it thru day by day, they'll be fine. And then God comes along and brings them out of that poverty.
These are just a couple examples in a very large world where God is moving on his people and, in fact, removing much of the religious holds that ensare the poepl of this planet.

Answer 2

I think the world would be more peaceful if there were no predators, rapists, robbers, murderers, despots, violence or unreasonable people. You generalize and stereo type all religion. Not exactly good accurate thinking. I see what you see, but it is not all that way. I happen to know that Billy Graham is a humble man and murder and avarice is far from him. He is rare. Most of them crave money and some of the fringe even advocate violence. Yet that is not the way the majority of religious people think. Even Muslims are not all terrorists or believe in violence. There is a lot of evil in religion and outside of religion. There is some good too. And you have to admit that a society cannot exist harmoniously without a moral code common to all. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not murder. Thou shalt not covet your neighbors property. That could keep a society functioning forever if people took those commandments to heart. The more an individual governs himself, the less the federal government has to govern. So a moral code is intrinsic to a good society. Yes, there is the bad in religion, but there also is the good.

Answer 3

That must be a clear yes and a no. It is true, that we often find hostilities between religions, but on the other hand, religion may also help form peacefull relationships between cultures.

I belive (as an ateist with respect for religion), that religion was "invented" not only to help explain matters that are otherwise hard to explain (like death, life, rain, thunder), and to provide comfort in times of sorrow or trouble. It also can form the basis and common rules for interacting with the other members of your society. It sort of acts as an anti-anarchistic drug, that keeps us from stealing, raping and murdering, and otherwise do as we please.....at least within the society we live in. Most religions also teach respect for other cultures, animals and the environment. Religion may also be seen as a characteristic of your culture. It is your tradition and the laws of your society, that you will try to protect even if you dont call it a religion.

In a modern world you may argue, that religion is obsolete, that the knowledge we have about good behaviour in general should be enough, but that may work only for some people, and requires a sound and effective education system and society in general - and that may not even be enough.

So yes: Billions of people have been slayed in the name of religion.

And no: Billions of people would have been slayed anyway, as the differences in culture is there even if there is no religion, at people would have tried to protect their "tribe" or, as an agressor, push there ways onto people that they didn't understand using other exuses.

It is impossible to make any kind of mathematical equation or death-toll to say that a wordl without religion is better or worse. The only thing you CAN do, is to accept the world you live in, and respect people for their culture, tradition and if any, their religion - and hope they respect you back!

Answer 4

it is true that "religion" has been said to be the root of evil by an atheist extremist, because of muslims and such being motivated by religion to commit suicide bombings and such, but you have to take this into matter, without religion, who's to judge whats evil and whats not? Religion keeps the good in us all, a great percent of people surveyed said that if they absoloutly knew that there was not a God then they probably would have killed someone by now, and our constitution is based upon the ten commandments, so you can't say its just the law that keeps people in order. I mean, think if the world was like without religion, if you think about it, a fly can annoy you, and when it does, you kill it, the same thing could be applied to a human if that person wanted to. I would also like to say that Christianity is not a religion, but a lifestyle, and you can live it without fear, guilt, or having to die a martyr's death to get to heaven. If you want to know more, contact me.

Answer 5

Yes I agree, but only without religion who teach violence - ear for ear and this stuff - this I dont even threat as religion!

The real religion teach you to love one's neighbour -is this a right thing or not? If all follow this simple act, then the world would be a great place to live.
The world would be more peaceful if all be religious!

Answer 6

The world would be just as peaceful if everyone actually believed and followed their religion.

I do find it strange that 'religious' people talk of how loving their religion is then say, 'kill the infidel!'

FYI: I am Christian.

And to the moron dissin' history: Seneca said 'Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.' History is not brainwashing any more than Islam or Christianity is. It is how people warp these things that makes it bad. HIstory does not teach hatred, people do.

John Lennon was an idiot.

Answer 7

I doublt seriously that the world would be a more peaceful place without religion. The world would still act like a bunch of kids fighting over a toy of one kind or another. Always something to disagree about.

Answer 8

This is true. And a question for Chris K if god is all-powerful and all-loving and all-knowing then why did he allow it to happen?
People put too much in this thing called faith and when something bad happens they do not know why this god allowed it to happen.
And there have been more negative things about religion then postive, christian misssionaries killed native american indians for not converting, jim jones, david koresh, salem witch trials, galileo sent to jail for stating the sun was the center of out solar system, opposition to stem cell research, punishing people simpley for their lifestyle, wars being started and fought in the name of god.
Yes the world would benefit greatly if we gave up religion

Answer 9

Ya know, you are absolutely correct religion is a pain in the butt, People don't need threats from a higher power and his son to enjoy life and live well. All people from birth and all throughout there lives , know the difference between good and evil, and right and wrong

Answer 10

Murderes, child molestors, theives, adulterers, scam artists, prostitutes, whores, pimps, gang members, race haters, etc.......are people who do not follow Jesus or care about where they are headed. What a sick world this would be if people are left to do as their wicked heart desires. When you see millionare preachers out there, decieving people they too will have to answer for what they did paying for it for eternity. ......my pastor is a modest man who is not getting rich at all from being a pastor.......now the muslims on the other hand are killling in the name of Allah and there are 164 verses of Jihad in the quran. They think it is noble to blow yourself up killing people and it is acceptable to kill people in muslim countries who chose another religion.