Is religion just another cancer in society?

Question

Cancer is horrible, yet many would be miracle cures seem to pop up from time to time by people trying to take advantage of people dying from this disease. They give them false hope for money. When these fly-by-night con-artists are caught they are often sent to jail.

Religious preachers do just the same thing. Call people up from their audience onto the stage, push them over, and say God has healed you. This is also fly-by-night con-artist trickery. Why are these preachers not sent to jail as well?

Answer 1

Some have been jailed for it, but not many. The reason is simple. The Bible preaches this crap, and most people in law enforcement are Christians. They don't want to be forced to admit their beliefs are lies.

Answer 2

Which religion and which belief are important issues. Many, many believers have what I call a studied and reason-based faith, not just blind acceptance. In my case, after being hell on wheels against religion, it then was 10 years+ of study and struggle to gain a belief and faith that I knew and felt was real. You can trivialize the wet behind the ears believers, but, to over-generalize or stereo-type is small minded. I have good reason to believe that religion is a solution to societies ills, not a cancer.

Now about those preachers, I'm not into it, but I can understand it, and there might be some snake oil there that acts like a placebo for those that have suggestive minds, or have great sickness and are striving to believe. If you have no hope left, but the possibility of faith, many people might grasp at it. It's their choice, and probably better than wasting money on drugs and drinking.

First edition did a TV show on one of these healers, and the evidence against was not conclusive against faith healing.

I know you will not like or agree with this answer, but it is what I truly do believe.

Answer 3

I've often though of the church as a crutch of society, supplying what society cannot, such as an extended family/community. No one wants to be alone but, society with it's tidy little yards and separated houses has eliminated the extended community of family that people in a tribal life had. Food is no longer guaranteed in this society. Churches feed the starving, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. Without the church holding it up, society and civilization would fall. It will fall any way, the church is prolonging the inevitable.

Answer 4

how can you say that. im not part of a religious sect but the idea of no religion is absurd. without religion where would human morality come from? where would i will to live be? what would people do if they had nothign to believe in? if i believed that im just a pile of atoms then whats to stop me from killing another pile of atoms?

however i agree with what u mean about the false miracles and what not. saw on the tv the other day they were selling "holy spring water" u put it on you at night and the morning youd be rich or healed or have something amazing happen to you. its sad really..

Answer 5

Because it's faith. And through faith anything is possible. Like fleecing the sheep while paying no taxes.
Look at the roman catholic church for example. Mother Teresa raised millions of dollars for her mission, did one person see any benefit? Of course not they simply built more and more such missions. They did'nt alleviate the suffering of anyone in these rank, disgusting places, they just made more of them.
It's a great scam, I wish I had the capability to pull it. But I have these things called morals and scruples. So, I'd never be able to do it...

Answer 6

You're generalizing. A few crackpot preachers do not represent the Faith and beliefs of everyone. You do know there are a whole lot of horrible people among the "non-religious" too right? Should religious people lump you all into that group?

Answer 7

Matthew 7:1 . You cannot judge all Christians for what some people do . Even satan disguises himself as an angel of light . 2nd Corinthians 11:13-14

Answer 8

Hey, don't judge every believer by Benny Hinn. That man is so off it'spitiful. Real Christians aren't like that. I believe God heals, but He doesn't need a TVand a big tent to do it. Prayer works, not a sideshow about prayer, there is a difference.

Answer 9

Of course not! Yes, I believe that some of those preachers and healers on t.v. are phony, but not all. And God does give to some the power to heal. I know this because of my Grand mother, a good Christion woman, who was healed in church, as every one watched. Jesus did miracles, and healed many, many people, and still does to this day. God does answer prayers, but sometimes the answer is "no". God did not put you here to entertain you with magic tricks, he put you here to serve, and worship him, but he gave us "free will" so that we could choose for ourselves. He sent his son Jesus Crist to die on the cross to pay for all of our sins, and that by believing on him we may all enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus also says to keep your eyes on him and not to look to man, because they will disappoint you, And as for why preachers aren't put in jail, well, you can't be charged with fraud if someone is actually healed, as healing comes by faith in Jesus Christ, not the preacher. Try switching to another station. I like to watch "The Shepards Chapel", no frills, hoopla, just good teaching, and they answer Bible Questions beautifully or better yet, find a good church, That believes in the Bible, and that Jesus Christ is the son of God, and that he was born on earth, and that he died for your sins as well as mine, and that he was raised again, triumphant over death and sin. I don't know what else to say, so I will just pray for you now.
Vickie P.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, religion is the root cause for most of our world's wars. Religion is a belief system that is open for interpretation based on one's own agenda, cultural norms and status. Religion has been the root cause of most of the wars in the world today. In fact there are always 80 wars/battles happening in the world at any one time.