Do you think there would be less strife in the world without religion?

Question

This will come off as caustic to a lot of people but just think about it. Maybe a good rebuttal will change my mind.

Answer 1

When you have many beliefs that people are willing to die for (or kill for), that conflict with each other's political agendas, you will have conflict. Without religion, there would have been less death, and science would be thousands of years ahead. As for "we would have just fought about other stuff", yes. We would fight about important things, like resources. There would be less conflict, because we would not blindly fight. When you fight over resources, you fight less. Without religion, man would be more unified, and could share more. If we had no religion to divide us, we would be less likely to fight for resources, and more likely to work together. John Lennon covered this in imagine, "imagine there's no religion......imagine all the people living life as one". I am not saying the world would be perfect, just closer to it.

Answer 2

I believe there would be less strife in the world without religion; I support this with my idea of religion, all together.
Religion is a means by which people who choose to worship, share ritual, and bond together in a group which is defined by dogma, ritual, a set of rules, i.e., the Bible, and has primarily one leader. The glitch in my opinion is, within the leadership. Too much power is given to the few - not the many.
Much like the craziness going on around the world, so much violence in the name of god, (whatever one chooses as a name) and strict adherence to a set of principles which are all too often very suspect.
I believe spirituality is the true and best form of sharing beliefs. Spirituality whereby people can learn from one another, without the bias and prejudices wrought by a sect, a belief, a dogma, or standard form of experiencing the presence of the divine.
Answering a question with a question is not always greeted well, however, I will.
Wouldn't it be a great experience to be in a place - space, where many forms of spiritual expression are offered without prejudice?
The opposition will give reasons why this is not alright - I say to them, "religions" have a way of profiteering from, and exploiting the people they are supposed to be serving.
Some religions have split-off groups, i.e., christianity - which has splintered and split-off many, many times. Even the word christianity is derived from the Christ (Jesus), yet, the religious of the organization too often forget the most important lessons which are intended to be at the utmost top of ones' priority of beliefs. The person Jesus taught some very important ideologies; yet, many, many christians conveniently forget - or perhaps never learn the real truths of the risen Christ' message... "Love God, Love your neighbor as God loves you, and Love yourself..." Just take a look at some of those self-proclaimed "Christians" in leadership positions, in America, and see the despicable behaviors and words spewing out of their mouths! These are the types I consider as FAKE Christians! Would be, wannabe, should be - don't act like it, though. This brings to mind Jesus' reference to the man in the temple praying loudly and making sure everyone can see how "holy" he is... the hypocrit! This example is so symbolic of those self-proclaimed christians who cause harm and death, yet, dismiss all this as a part of their necessay roles and decisions for the good of the world - bunk! You got me started... I was on a roll but, I'll stop.

Answer 3

I chuckled at Duncarin's answer ... so I guess that means I think the world would be better off without religion, yes, I agree. Between the wars the Jews waged to get their Promised Land, the wars the Christians and Muslims have waged to retain their Holy Land, the Protestant Revolt against The Church, the purging of the Jews by Hitler, and the lives being taken now, supposedly to fight religious zealot terrorist ... well it does seem to act as a great population leveler.
But then with the Catholic Church preaching no birth control and all the other fundamentalist screaming for the Rights to Life of the unborn at any cost to the poor mother, I am not totally convinced religions are the best way to control population or enhance the intelligence of the human race.
I just finished attending an open house at our elementary to meet 4 mothers 25 and younger who are mothers of 4th graders. Their children are having a few problems with school, so they are punishing the kids and embarrasing them in front of all of us ...
Religious fevor has so influence not only anti-abortion, but anti-bith control measures to the point that kids are having kids and they are both so inexperienced as to come across as stupid.
The world needs to accept that God gave us brains and the ability to adapt to our environment for a reason. If the world's religions cannot allow that, then we are better off without them. God and religions are not inseparable. Problem with most main stream religions is they are not about honoring God as much as controlling others. We really need to get away from the intolerance, judgemental attitudes that come so easily from the superficially "saved" religious, and start thinking about how to become better, more tolerant images of God taking care of the earth and its inhabitants as we were asked to by the Maker and his Son, Messenger, or whatever.
If God is Love, Forgiveness, and Understanding; then why are the religious so into jugding (who is saved, who is blessed, who is ... God's children?), condemming, and killing (death penalty, religious wars)?
If all religions were to disappear tomorrow, yet everyone remembered they were to love each other as themselves, the world would be such a better place, sigh.
Today, most religions are failing their members, and yes, we would be better off without them.

Answer 4

It would eliminate a whole slew of demagogues that manipulate people, spreads hatred and bigotry and misunderstanding. It would sure put a stop to much of the killings and acts of terrorism by a few zealots who've been misguided by those religious fanatics that have personal agendas of control and are power-mad (hungry). John Lennon had it right in his song, "Imagine." Well, imagine people all over the world no longer enriching those demagogues but instead helping the poor, the hungry and malnutritioned, those homeless, those in need of education and vocational training, those suffering from treatable diseases, illnesses and sicknesses and disabilities, poverty, etc... not a bad idea at all, and it would end over-population, too!

Answer 5

there would be more strife if there were no religion,it is religion which has kept majority of the population from fighting excetp for the concept of jihad and crusade, if this two concepts were not there at all and if religion was used to give individual spiritual strength and preach the system like non violence,helping others and non egoism what so ever the situation then the world would not see any fight. and the world would be a safer place for all..

Answer 6

What If faith Is All lengthy previous, And Crime/Evil nevertheless Exist. What would you assert Is the reason Then? the element Is, Its no longer faith That Makes Evil yet somewhat the human beings. faith isn't any diverse Then A Knife. A Knife Has Many makes use of, And One consists of homicide. So I Ask, who's Evil, the guy Who Made The Sword Or the guy Who makes use of The Sword To Kill?

Answer 7

less strife? probably not. what exists exists because we are what we are and religion is certainly here to stay, so why not ask, what we can change realistically rather than an abstract question. i mean, if a person decides not to 'be' religious, they still 'are' something, they still believe in something. it may not necesarily be formalized but we all have frameworks we operate from. some are just more maladaptive i guess and some can be enlightening, depends doesnt it on what you think or rather what you believe.

Answer 8

Of course. It's the most widespread form of juvenile brainwashing the world over, plus the one that generates the strongest reactions (violence).
Trouble is, how long could the world remain religion-free?
Less than a week would be my guess!

Answer 9

Sure there would less fighting. But to think of the world without Religion is like to lose our artistic side. Think of the Sistine Chapel, the enlightenment concept of Martial Arts, the beauty of the city of Mecca and Jerusalem. We are driven by what we believe. Because of this, we will be in constant tormoil, but despite this, it will also bring out the best in us.

Answer 10

I'd like to say yes to this, but imagine how crowded the world would be today if so many lives hadn't been wasted in the name of religion!