Is Religion A Good Idea?

Question

Maybe its just because I have never believed in something as profoundly as some people, but I have always wondered whether or not religion is a good idea. The wars that we have been fighting for so many years have mostly been due to religion, and I feel that if we are to ever have world peace, we need to start with sorting out the religeous differences that exist. What does everyone else think? Don't criticise me for my view, it is a serious question.

Answer 1

NO

It is the cause of most wars throughout history.

Answer 2

'The wars we have been fighting for so many years have mostly been due to religion'?

If by that do you consider the world wars to be because of the Jews? Not neccesarrily their fault but is that what you mean?

Also, what about the cold war, the falklands war, gulf war.

The fantastic 'war on terrorism' courtesy of the wonderful George Bush has not a lot to do with religion, just to do with a few religious fanatics. In fact by calling it a war on terror, in fact encourages the terrorists more by acknowledging them so significantly.

Iraq was because of Saddam Hussein and WMD. Iran could well follow for similar reasons. Afghanistan was because of the Taleban and Bin Laden after 9/11.

Of course the whole Palestine is almost completely down to religion, but I would hesistate to blame it on the Jews, having no home land since eternity, you can hardly blame them for wanting their own country.

Give me some wars down to religion. I do apologise, as I have undoubtedly missed a few ones, but I would disagree that all wars, or even most, are down to religion. However, I can only really speak for my own religion, Christianity, and forgetting the Christian crusades for a moment, there are no wars at present or in the recent past that have anything to do with Christianity, apart from morals and ethics, shared by many other non-religious people.

Sorry for criticising you but everyone opens themselves up for criticism on Yahoo! Answers.

I think a better idea than to "sort out the religious differences that exist" would be to get rid off the dictators of our world, I'm talking Robert Mugabe, Saddam Hussein (thankfully he is gone now) and the leaders of the communist world, North Korea, China, also the leader of Iran.

Wars are in fact mostly political differences and it would be a better option to wipe those out first. Relgion is so well established that you will not be able to simply erase the differences, do you not think that this has been tried.

And whatsmore, that is the whole reason why these wars on behalf of religion occur. Because one religion thinks it is better or more accurate or whatever, than the other. You could only hope to start the biggest world war of our time if you tried to sort out the differences between religion.

Answer 3

There are 2 main schools of religion:

Animistic religions that believe that the world around us is full of magic and spirits and that we should respect it and celebrate it. Back in the dawn of time all people were animists. These include religions that worship their ancestors, totems, and gods & goddesses of earth, sea, sun and air etc.

In the last few thousand years humans have developed another type of religion; the 'how to be saved' religions that tell you how to live your life so that you can be saved in your next life or reach enlightenment or heaven or whatever.

All these religions claim to have a monopoly on the rules of reaching the state of 'saved'. Follow their rules and you'll be fine they say... oh but everybody else is screwed.

The people who preach these religions have a lot of power and money to gain from their followers when the 'product' that they are selling only comes about after you are dead. Sounds like the biggest con in history to me.

The reason the vikings used to sack monasterys and churches is because of all the gold that was kept in them.

Answer 4

The more Humanity progresses, the lesser religion becomes necessary...

Upon realizing this, religious people undoubtedly feel oppressed. Society is on the verge of moving on without them.

To answer your question, simply look at the long list of atrocities, and wars, and conflicts perpetrated throughout the ages under the name of mainstream religions.

In all honesty, it is a hard question to answer whether religion has done more good than harm... In the first place, it divides us severely. In the second place, it has good intentions.

However, I must stand by the old axiom, "The stronger we are united, the weaker we are divided."

Answer 5

The concept of religion is a good one!!

It instills in us fear!

In catholisism there are the 10 comandments
and in Islam the Pillars of the Koran.

THese are all basic socialogical ideas!

Don't kill, Don't steal etc

So before law and police, there were rules that were governed by "GOD" or priests.

However, mankind has now developed to a point where these fears of GOD or eternal damnation are no longer adequate!!

So is religion needed? Yes.

It offers solice, and the belife of an after life. Everyone wants to see the people they love and lost again, and it offers that hope for us all.

Hope that helps!!

Answer 6

I agree. Religion has been the central driving force behind every conflict in human history in some way or another. But look at it this way: Instead of concluding that because of this, all religions are bad, maybe this just means all the "major" religions are not truly practicing what they preach. There is one religion though, that through political neutrality and refusal to shed human life truly live peacefully with thier neighbors. But I'll let you look into that on your own.

Answer 7

No, not at all.
Religion is a part of Rulers since begining of the history to ruled over the country and society. Religion divided the society and the cause of many war of human history.
Still its remaining.

Answer 8

There are two ways of looking at it really. On the one hand religion comforts and reassures people that there is a god watching over them etc. It also gives people a set of values to try and live by. On the other hand it can be said to divide the human race, to set people against one another and give them apparent justification for doing terrible things to their fellow human beings. Religion also encourages people to accept a story that appears fanciful to say the least.

In my humble opinion the worst thing about religion is that it relies upon fear of the unknown to control people.

I'm agnostic myself, leaning towards atheism. I cannot accept that any god would allow such terrible things to happen to people. If there is a god I imagine they must be pretty fed up with the way religion describes them.

I believe that human beings are fundamentally good and that religion (at least christianity) tells us we're not. That is untrue and devalues people. We have enough to worry about in our daily lives. Lets start caring for each other regardless of our nationalty,
race, gender etc.

Answer 9

religion is not an idea its a belief you either have it or you dont, while i am very strong in my belief that jesus christ is our one and only savior i also know that my lord tells me to judge not lest ye be judged so why should i condem another for there beliefs, afterall most religions are based off of good will and love for others, and as far as i can see thats pretty dead on with my faith, so why should i criticize? why should you? we should all work toghether for peace, whatever our figurehead is if the goal is all thesame then acceptance would make all the differnce

=)

Answer 10

in 3rd world countrys ,the people have nothing,it hard to understand this in uk/europe,if you dont get the majoity of the people{ie the poor} to belive that by struggling to get by and living a peaceful life,no stealing ect then they would be stealing and rioting.an example of why some religions are vegatrain,in india you didnt have frigdes,freezzers till the 20th century so how could you store meat for any lenght of time,with out it becoming poisions,religion are rules to keep the poor happy,so they think they will get there reward in heaven,for their rotten life on earth

Answer 11

Even if it hadn't caused so much death and destruction, I would agree with the late great Robert A. Heinlein that religion should be despised for being the most profitable and least productive business in history.