Atheists, Agonistic etc. Do you see religions as pure evil? Don't you see anything positive in any religion?

Question

If so what good, in your opinion, did religions bring?

Answer 1

Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unseen being, or system of thought considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or highest truth, and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions, and rituals associated with such belief or system of thought. It is sometimes used interchangeably with "faith" or "belief system"[1], but is more socially defined than that of personal convictions.


Which means, Atheism is technically a religion. So, if it is a religion, how exactly can they see it as being *evil*?

Answer 2

I see a few religions as good. Buddhism, and Jainism come to mind. But certainly not the hateful, torture threatening religions of Christianity and Islam. Any religion which depends on fear and threats to gain converts cannot be a good thing. Also Christianity and Islam have a long history of destroying those who refuse or are unable to believe in them. Anone who thinks centuries of witch burning, inquisitions, stoning and torture, burning at the stake etc is a sign of a good religion badly needs a course in ethics.

Answer 3

"Agonistic"?

I don't think that religions are pure evil. They do motivate some people to do good - people who otherwise might not do so. They also motivate people to do evil, of course, and more importantly, excuse a lot of evil that people would do otherwise. But there are quiet religious people of all religions who do plenty of good as a result of their faith.

It would be nice if we could somehow separate the good of religion from the superstitions, the excuse-making, and the fear/hatred of others.

Answer 4

I am a Christian man who absolutely ABHORS religion. Religion is so chock full of ridiculous doctrine and various legalisms that there is no wonder why we have such confusion in the world. You can have a room full of people who follow Christ, yet "religion" with it's indoctrinated diatribe and rhetorical mumbo-jumbo can make the people feel they have nothing in common even though they are all on the same team! What a shame!! Jesus WEEPS that His children can't even proclaim His name amongst themselves without somebody stepping on anothers religious doctrines. Why has there been a cold war fought for thousands of years, all within the living body of Christ? Religion. Religion, by itself, is the biggest human ripoff devised by MAN to subvert and divide the Kingdom of God. This is why I am a member of a non-denominational congregation that has eyes focused ONLY on Jesus, not on a bunch of ridiculous do's and don'ts mandated by legalistic neo-pharisees who are headed south when they die. After all, doesn't scripture tell us that our leaders will be judged more harshly than the flock? So, here I am, a devoted follower of The Way who proclaims that religion is a divisive and negative force acting upon the body of Christ. It is a hindrance rather than a blessing, a complete curse to behold indeed!!! Peace

Answer 5

First of all, you have a very poor choice of words.
There is no evil.
Just good and bad as defined by society.

Sure, religion has done a lot of good.
It has helped and continues to help the poor.
It gives inspiration to those that need help.
It gives guidance to those that are in need of it.
Religion isn't all bad.

However, Karl Marx said it best when he said, "It (religion) is the opium of the people." or paraphrased as, "religion is the opiate of the masses."
(this doesn't mean I support Karl Marx or his ideas, but I do like the quote.)

So, live by the golden rule.
Leave this place better than when you found it.
What more could you ask?

Answer 6

I can't think of a single actual religion I've ever heard of that I'd call pure Evil...

I think Karma is too harsh on humans for even the most negative "just plain people" to do "evil" things more than in limited quantitys for their most important things....

as evil as humans can be, bottom line is, the evil human-ness, is not religiously related.

the most evil religious related things that humans have much involvement with is teaching spiritually blind and/or misleading things... and even that has its place, and is passing.

so IMO:
Religious/Spiritual evils perpetrated by Humans = limited signifigantly by risk, karma, and human ability.
Mundane evils perpetrated by humans = not related to religion, or not intentional.

Answer 7

Religion gives people a sense of community, which I guess can be a good thing. Although this same feeling often leads to the "us vs. them" mentality which typifies religious extremists. The one good thing I think religion has done is art. So many great artists were inspired by religion.

Answer 8

No, I only see literalist interpretations as evil because if literally forces one to abandon common sense as well as reason and logic. For instance, saying how "loving" god is but yet defending the horrible atrocities accredited to "god" in many religions. Saying that "god" is loving but yet that it would torture people eternally for finite sins...the unbeliever but good-hearted and loving person suffering the same fate as a genocidial maniac, murderers, and rapists! It is INSANE and it causes people to start wars, abandon good friends, etc.

Religion is myth intertwined with some historical events, with a spiritual message. When the spiritual message is lost, only then do I see religions as evil...the main two being LITERAL Fundy Christianity and LITERAL Extremist Muslims.

Answer 9

as a atheists to view religion as pure evil would be contradicting the whole atheist view. to admit there's the force of evil would go against our whole philosophy. to answer the question I do view religion as a positive thing, its principles are the main factor. if u are not religious you can still follow the ten commandments its a matter of how you want to live your life. the likely hood of Atheists becoming criminals is higher of that religious folk due to the fear of dam nation and eternal existence in the after life spent in hell.

Answer 10

No religion is evil. None at all. And they all have good stuff to bring to the table. They're just not for everyone, and some people without another cause take it overboard.

Answer 11

The Christian ethos brought us movements for social justice, free hospitals and universities, abolitionism, the Civil Rights movement, the concept of human rights, and most of the great art of the western world. Just to name a few things offhand.

There's a Russian fable about a pig who has a good feed of acorns under a tree, and then complains that the tree should be cut down because it's dangerous and inconvenient. Agnostics and atheists can be a bit like that when they refuse to recognize the cultural achievements of religion.