Do you agree that religion devides people ?

Question

If you believe that your 'god' is the one and only 'true god' why do you feel the need to argue with people of other faiths ? If you believe that you are on the right path, isn't that all that matters ? And who are you to argue which path people should choose ?

Is there a 'wrong path' in life ? or do you agree that mistakes enlighten us to 'truth' ?

Answer 1

DUH! Yes it does. I don't argue religion i merely express my view point and let you decide for yourself.

Answer 2

Answer to 1st question: Yes, it does, but whatever subject will divide people...

Answer about to-argue-or-not-to-argue: I agree, however I think that there are 2 distinct cases.

Some people "argue" because they wish to help "saving" other people: this is a point of view, and free speech is a good thing. I am free not to listen to their arguments so even if I think that religion is a private matter, they are not that bad.

Some religion insists on killing everyone who do not agree or do not follows its rules. If I go to a country where such religion is the state's religion, I cannot do what I want, for example drink some tasty beverages. And if I say publicly in my country that their spiritual guide was a thief, a murderer and a pedophil (all facts explicitely stated by their religious books), I will have to hide for the rest of my life not to be killed. This is slightly more annoying.

So, altogether, I can bear the first ones if they help protect me against the second ones...

Last question: I think that there are many wrong paths in life, and many good ones, and various opinions and advices can help me find my way, as long as everyone respects my freedom of thinking and living.

Answer 3

Yea I do agree that religion divides people for sure, everyone is part of the right and wrong religion. Here's my take, I believe what I believe and don't care about the rest. I live my life best I can, I try to be the best person I can and what happens at the end happens at the end.

I do think there is a wrong path in life, but those wrongs paths if they don't kill you will only make you stronger, and hopefully a better person in the long run. I firmly believe that things happen for a reason you have to go through things to get to your next phase in life and if that means going down the wrong path then so be it.

Answer 4

Good question.

Its funny, but Christians have this thing called evangelism.... which is supposed to mean spreading the good news, but throughout history turned into annexation of other cultures. I have had friends that found religion late in life, then automatically run out and start challenging other people's faiths and idealogoies. Its not really in a bad way.... but they take what they learn on Wednesday and Sunday and jump into discussions like they jsut discovered fire.

Funny thing about the 'wrong path' it can easily become the 'right path' by realization. Once you realize where you are and do something about it, you are on the right path. Mistakes do enlighen us to the truth.... that's why there's confession, pennance, etc.

So yes.... religion can and does divide people. The earliest form of politics was religous difference.

Answer 5

Ok first of all there is no "Your God". There is only "One God". The difference is people like to believe that there denomination is the only one. When really your denomination and religion isn't going to get you to heaven but it's your salvation between you and God. Remember there is only one true God and it's very easy to tell the difference between the true God and a fake. Once you've been truly saved without a doubt you will know if you're on the right path or not. You'll also find yourself feeling convicted if you're not doing right. So that's when you'll know if you're on the right path and everyone has to find there on right path as long as they put God first then there is no need for debate, worry and arguing.

Answer 6

While I do not agree that religion divides people, I agree with the rest of your ideas.

People being closed-minded divides people. I think I am on the path that is right for ME, while the right path for you may be completely different. All paths (except those that promote causing harm to others) lead to the same God, in my opinion.

Answer 7

I agree religion does divide people because of the wars in their faiths names, but if two people of different faith argue passionately about their beliefs than who are we to judge. So, I agree that we are to follow our own paths in life no matter what religion you are

Answer 8

Unfortunately, yes. The inherent problem seems to be that religions prey on peoples good intentions. Most (not all, but most) religions in their practiced form state that they are the only correct set of rules to live a good life.

Their are plenty of people that believe in 'live and let live' but these people seem to be diverging from the common teachings of their religion.

When you love someone, you want them to live a good life. You want the best for them. And when religion comes into play, it's very easy to convince a person that the only way they can do right by the people they love is by forcing them to see that your religion is the best way.

Answer 9

Oh, absolutely. Religion has currently divided America into an all-out culture war.

On a lesser scale, religion has divided my family, even if most of them don't realize it.

I've endured religious abuse since I was a child, practically all my life. I've heard things ranging from the typical "You're going to hell" sort of thing to the downright traumatic in the form of "You have a miserable life and always will because it's God's plan for you." at the age of six. I've been in and out of therapy for at least the last ten years.

I am at odds with my family right now, unable to talk to them about what few beliefs I may have left that are getting fewer and fewer with each year and each mental and emotional assault. I don't want a church wedding, but I'm forced to have one next year(and for anyone who's getting any bright ideas, I'm engaged, not knocked up) because if I don't have a wedding "before the eyes of God", my family will wonder why, demand an explanation, and disown me when I tell them why.

They see nothing wrong with the shaming and guilt trips, and should I tell them that I feel "forced" to have a church wedding, they'll undoubtedly scoff and tell me that I'm overreacting and that nobody's forcing me to do anything, which is bull. If I have the wedding I want and pay no attention to them, they'll just attack me like a pack of wolves and I'll be forced into having one anyway. They're so arrogant that they refuse to see that they've done anything wrong.

To answer the second part of your question, the reason Christians argue with people of other faiths(and especially nonbelievers) is because they can't stand to hear and see that they're not the only valid religion in the world. They can't stand that they're not the "only" religion, so they try to go out and force people to believe by constant harassment in the guise of "sharing" faith so they CAN be the only religion out there.

Some are trying to get brownie points with God by trying to convert as many "heathens" as possible before they die. If a heathen accepts, lots of points. If the heathen refuses, their loss, just one more minion of Satan to give them more points later during Armageddon.

There are some who are afraid of being wrong, who need to validate their beliefs, so they go out converting as many people as possible so those people will agree with them and so the more people who agree, the more people will tell them they're "right" to do what they're doing.

Next part, yes, if someone believes that they're the "right" path, that SHOULD be all that matters to them, that they know in their hearts they're right and that sort of faith doesn't need a flock of converts under their belt to BE right.

Fourth part, only arrogant people argue about which path is right, let alone demand that someone is on the "wrong" path and had better well change to the "right" path. Intelligent, respectful, mature people discuss and debate civilly, share their faith, but accept that not everybody's going to share it with them and leave well enough alone.

Is there a wrong path in life? Not religiously. All religions are equally valid. If they weren't, there wouldn't be so many of them. But there is a "wrong" path in the sense of lifestyle. Frankly, any lifestyle where a person lives their life with the purpose of hurting themselves and others, obviously that's wrong. But just living a life and making mistakes isn't wrong. It's part of being human.

I'm not sure that mistakes enlighten people to "truth". I do know that mistakes do teach us what not to do next time, at least if we listen to the lesson being taught. If someone were to get caught with pot or in a car with a dope user and get arrested, they'll learn not to do it next time or to be more aware of who their friends are, if they're smart enough to listen and learn. If not, they'll just keep making mistakes until they do.

Mistakes teach, but I don't think they lead to "truth", at least not in the religious sense.

Answer 10

I agree that you should keep it to yourself.
I agree that you shouldn't go around bragging
that you have the ultimate and only answer in
the Universe.
I agree that some people are on the right path
because they have more toys than I do.
I also agree that some people don't think the
way I do.
And I am tired of talking about it.
I will be even happier when you quit talking about it.

Nothing impresses me more than your poor spelling...
"devide" is incorrect. The word is "divide". Check
your Webster's Dictionary.

Answer 11

My opinion is that religion is sometimes the best excuse for some people to prove themselves better than others.There are also those people that are so obsessed with it that they can reach the conclusion that they're religion is the best without knowing anything about the other faiths.If religion did not exist,the same people would find some way to differentiate between the people.