Does religion cause more harm than good?

Question

As an example, many Christian fundamentalists believe:

- The world is 6000 years old.
- Evolution is not true. God put everything here as is.
- Homosexuality is wrong, and they have the right to preach hate against them
- killing for democracy(oil) is okay but stem cell research is wrong
- Jesus is coming back, and will take them all to heaven, leaving the rest of us here

If you read what Jesus said (which has been filtered through many peopl before being written down) he doesn'say hate the Homosexuals, or the world is only 4000 years old, or that killing for one reason is better than another.

I think we should flush all the holy books away, and use our collective efforts to advance the human race rather than keep us stagnating about what god we believe.

http://flushaholybook.com

Answer 1

Yep, and it has ever since the very first religion started. People use their religions to feel superior to others, that's why religious ppl hate homosexuals ans atheists and anyone else who doesn't think exactly like them. Religion puts restraint on logical thought and any new science that may prove them wrong. They say evolution isn't true and we cannot prove it, they said the exact same thing about the world being round a few hundred years ago, ppl will only believe what they want to and what suits them. I do however believe that most religious people are generally good, it is there teachings that need an overhaul so they can be brought in to the 21st century.

Answer 2

First of all, let me say that Jesus does NOT hate homosexuals. You are right on that part. He hates homosexuality , but not the people. People who say otherwise, aren't reading the Bible enough. It hurts Him that they choose a sinful life. We all sin, but we should try not to. Yes I do believe the world is 6,000 years old, and that evolution is NOT true, and that Jesus is coming back, as for the 'killing for democracy thing' I don't understand what you mean. And 'religion' it has 2 meanings. 1. being like the Pharisees and the Sadducees: that's bad. 2. living completely for Jesus and accepting Him into your heart: The best decision you could ever make...

Answer 3

Most religions are not fundamentally evil or bad and people who follow the true spirit of them are likely to be better people (defined as geniunely trying to make the world a better place for us all).

The problem is that there is an enormous amount of "religious abuse" going on. Most will probably think of WTC attack, catholic choir boys or the crusades. But there is day-to-day abuse at a much smaller scale going on, too, fostering disrespect and even hate towards other religious beliefs or other ways of believing within the same religion.

Unfortunately, religions are perfect vehicles for abuse, because there are "leaders", who assert influence over a group of believers, who, by default, has to follow the word of that "leader". Disagreement is rarely encouraged. The rules are set by the "leader" and if he/she says that the divinity doesn't like a or b, the believers are expected to agree.

I think the moral that is imposed by most religions does not fully counter the negative aspects of religious abuse. Religion, collectively, is therefore more harmful than good.

Answer 4

Yes, religion does more harm than good. The Bible is awash in blood and the Koran is trying to catch up.

You might want to read "American Theocracy" by Kevin Phillips and "The End of Faith" by Sam Harris -- both are very provacative about the geopolitical damage done by relgion.

Carl Sagan's book "The Demon-Haunted World : Science As a Candle in the Dark" has a checklist that can help distinguish between what are facts and what is superstitious b*llsh*t.

Good news -- teenagers and young adults stay away from religion and church as if their souls were in peril -- how very wise.

Answer 5

depends what religion u follow. there are ppl from all religions who think they are something special , but actually they are not. over the years ppl started adding rules into the holy books saying u cant do this and that. i think god has had enough and there will be a major world war coming killing half of the worlds population, and then the ppl that are left will be changed ppl and live like god wanted us to.

Answer 6

Religion will do more harm than good if people let it. Anyone can be religious, but just because your religious doesn't mean your a good person, no one is good in the eyes of God. We are all sinners. That is why God sent his son on earth to die for our sins, he knew we were in need of a savior and he didn't want no one to go to hell. God gave us a gift called free will, to let us make our own decisions and he gave us a conscience, to know right from wrong, so it's up to us on how we want to live but we are responsible for our own actions. Salvation is a gift, you can accept it and go to heaven or deny it and deny God and Jesus and go to hell, it's up to you but God wants you to make the right decision. God doesn't hate anyone, God is perfect love, he loves us but he doesn't love and accept what we do, its the love the sinner but hate the sin concept. As far as sin goes, God doesn't let sin of any kind in his Kingdom, so if we accept Jesus as our savior, and believe in him, and repent and ask for forgiveness then our sins are washed away in his blood and forgotten....so when we die, and our spirit goes before God, we are purified and sinless. In the Bible, what God says is a sin, is a sin, homosexuality is a sin, because God said it is, we are not better than God.....so we shouldn't doubt or contradict his word, nor blaspheme him for it. Read the Bible, then most of your questions will be answered.

Answer 7

I agree with everything "Holy flusher" says and have you ever noticed that neither bible Old or New ever mentions Dinosaurs! The reason being, the old Farts who made up the stories were so ignorant of the real Earth's history that they knew nothing about them. BUT do the massive , real,skeletons in the Natural Histoty Museum lie ??

Answer 8

Relgion reasons extra injury than stable as a results of fact it teaches human beings to settle for innovations with out any validity. It creates an unrealistic set of standards which the followers of that faith generalize to something of humanity. maximum latest religions are per mythological premises and used or have been used as kit of indoctrination and manipulation of super communities of persons. many of the ideals prescribed with the aid of religions are previous as they have been used to describe phenomenon that may not be understood human beings many some years in the past. As there have been no scientific explainations for many of the events in the international, human beings had to make issues up with a view to have some form of awareness of such issues.

Answer 9

You can believe in God and at the same time use your collective efforts to advance the human race. That is part of God´s plan, my atheist friend.

Answer 10

So, you want people to rewrite and remold God to fit their personal needs instead of listening to what God has to say about himself.

Too selfish for me -- I'll stick with the Bible, thanks.

And regarding the issues you listed above, none of them have anything to do with Salvation, which was the entire purpose of the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Get a clue.