2006-10-08 17:50:08 · 15 answers · asked by sergey c 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I think is has done both but in the long run it as increased happiness more or it would not still be around. People do not keep what they do not want and they do not want things that bring them misery with no happiness.
2006-10-08 19:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by # one 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's both. In the physical sense I think misery would be the case more often than not. Christians are sometime mocked, discriminated against, and just seem to have a tougher road to hoe than others. Jesus Himself, in bodily form, was tortured and ultimately crucified. Some of His followers were put into prison, martyred, killed. In the spiritual sense I think happiness would be the case. A Christian knows that it isn't over. The best (salvation/heaven) is yet to come. Paul said he'd rather be the door keeper in heaven then the king of an earthly kingdom. IE. in a FIGURATIVE sense, it would be better to be the least in heaven than the best on earth. He also said that he accounts all hardship as gain (good) for the sake of Christ and what will come after death.
2006-10-09 01:17:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus never said that following Him would be easy. But think about it, if we got rid of the Bible in the say 12th century and the commandments and the love that Jesus said we should show, what do you think life would be like? Most orphanages were started by Christians. I'm thinking of 10 in particular. In Europe. They wouldn't have been started. Homeless shelters were started by Christians. My church runs two of them(subsidized by the State. Catholic Charities help alot of people too. People would still be using human sacrifices and animal sacrifices. Certain tribes would still be cannibalistic. Wonable tribe. People never would have left other countries for freedom of religion in America. There would be no Santa Claus (started by a Christian, Saint Nicholas) Women would be treated like property.
This world has a lot of misery because of the sinfulness of man.
Man can still act the way he wants, but true religion teaches love and kindness, patience, temperance. Man just twists it a little for his own benefit.
2006-10-09 01:11:18 · answer #3 · answered by sunny 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shortly after being born again .Excepting Jesus as my Savior, an old brother pulled me off to the side and said "your walk with the Lord will be the most wonderful thing you will ever experience if your faithful , but if your not it will be the most miserable thing you ever did." He was right. I know this doesn't give you a direct answer to your question,but I am not sure there is an honest one because it really all comes down to if you live it or just want everyone else to.
2006-10-09 01:04:55 · answer #4 · answered by don_steele54 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can't say that religion is the cause of the increased violence in the world. Rather, its the "use" of religion.
Politicians, priests, etc of various religions use religion as a tool to move up the ladder, destroying world peace in the process. Enemity between people of different religions, killings, bombings are all a result of the works of the politicians and not the religion.
Every religion wants peace.
2006-10-09 00:54:25 · answer #5 · answered by Huda_Alee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Law and order have always been based on religion (moral values, costumes, etc). So, I should say that religion has and can promote both: missery and happiness. It depends on how laws affect different people.
2006-10-09 01:24:23 · answer #6 · answered by Tune 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It isn't religion or belief in God that causes misery, that would be evil men who don't keep the commandments of God. It is the kindness, service, and the love of believers in Christ who make a difference in this world, They are salt & light to this dark world. They give the world flavor, hope & happiness, thru Christ Jesus.
2006-10-09 01:05:57 · answer #7 · answered by Faith walker 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its a personal thing ... people use religeon in politics to try to justify things but you can blame liars for that .. not true followers of the faith... let me put it another way ... you absolutely wont change human the suffering or wars that were BLAMED on religeon by removing the religeon ... the religeon didnt cause the problems corrupt and greedy people did ... most religeons give their followers hope and the promise of a better way to live. there will always be those that want to use that goodness to try to back their bad actions....
2006-10-09 01:00:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Over the last several hundred years religion decreased in the life of people that is why misery increased in their life.
2006-10-09 01:02:12 · answer #9 · answered by Haroundb 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let us not forget Communism which by some estimates has killed nearly 200 million people in the 20th century alone. That was perpetrated by radical Atheist regimes not religious ones.
To answer your question, for me it has increased my joy for life and living.
2006-10-09 00:59:40 · answer #10 · answered by Adyghe Ha'Yapheh-Phiyah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋