Overall, have religions caused more death, suffering,discrimination or saved and helped?

Question

I'm writing something at the moment and any answers would help - preferably not daft ones! This is not a question to any specific religious group, nor is it loaded. I am just trying to see what people think - the general balance, like would we overall, if it was a choice between all religions or nothing, have been better off without it, especially in this day in age? I understand it does help and save and its the focal point of many lives bringing them happiness and security, however i also understand one single religion will never exist unless it is out and out proved and while there are more than one, in the hands of humans, there will be hatred, war and pain too..So does it save more or hurt more?
I am not religious myself but don't generally have a problem with most beliefs. Just intrigued as to what people think.
Responses from all groups of religious/non-religious people would be appreciated.

I understand that it is only sections of society that do such thing "in the name of religion" however, fairly often such sections attack a way of life because the principles behind that way of life are against their own. The principles I speak of often have a strong foundation of religion.

I'm asking everyone - it doesnt work to tell people not to believe, that is not the suggestion or something ive put forward. Forcing people not to believe in a religion is as bad as acting violently or in a hostile manner toward others because of it. The idea of not having religion is hypothetical, it'll always be there.

Answer 1

It is difficult to answer this question because we don't know how many lives were saved.
It is known for sure that there were MANY bloody wars throughout the history that were cunducted in the name of "correct" God.
It seems like every religion teaches good values. It teaches that in general killing is not OK. It is not possible to say how many lives were spared because of one's religious beliefs.

I think religion has nothing to do with wars, believe it or not. Wars are political. Politicians use religion as an easy way to motivate and move masses. In too many cases throughout the history religios leaders were also politicians. It can make a lot of difference when a country leader decides to separate Church from State. Once that happens, it becomes much harder to conduct wars "in the name of God".

Answer 2

More often than not the abuses come in the name of religion not what it actually teaches. Seems to me you are throwing the baby out with the bath water. Just because someone uses a pipe to hit someone doesn't mean you ban or reject all pipes.

Religions help people in their search for meaning for life and in their search for standards to live by. The abuse by the lunatic fringe doesn't make all religion wrong.

Answer 3

Ask someone who comes from a country were religion is forbidden like Communism.

Answer 4

Religion is a dangerous drug. It is the drug that Rev. Jim Jones administered to his followers to commit mass suicide in Guyana in the 1970s. It is the same drug that the Japanese cult Aum Shinrikyo used to release Sarin gas to murder innocent people in Tokyo subway. It is the same drug that David Koresh of the cult Davidian injects in his follower's brain to commit suicide in a blazing inferno in Waco, Texas. It is the same drug that propels the Hindu addicts to demolish the mosques in India. It is the same drug that turns innocent children of RSS in India into murderous thugs. It is the same drug that causes genocide in Bangladesh causing the loss of 3 million lives in 1971. It is the same drug that killed 2 million Cambodians in the 'killing fields' of their country.

Answer 5

I say extra deaths. And that's not by way of wars or the dying sentences given to witches, gays, etc etc. I say it by way of fact faith has consistently suppressed scientific progression, and if it hadn't according to probability we could in all probability have the remedies to AIDs, maximum cancers, etc etc by using now.

Answer 6

Death and suffering and discrimination go hand and hand with "organized" religion