In what ways can religion be harmful?

Answer 1

Religion is not harmful. It's what people do with that causes harm. We focus too much on the negatives of all religions and forget that people such as Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King all were driven by there strong religious beliefs. They walked in the footsteps of their prospective Gods.

Answer 2

If one does not have or understand the truth of their Religion or if one is a fanatic and thinks their religion is the only truth (which most do). When one conscience conflicts with their religion and they ignore that. (that is if their conscience is clear and coming from God of course)
If one follows blindly without understanding the essence and meaning.
Real religion is understanding that every living entity is an eternal part of God and God is in the heart of every living entity including animals, bugs, plants, fish etc. As long as one does not have this understanding they have not reached a very high level of spirituality. We are not the body, mind, senses, or race, color, job, or even our religion. Our religion can change but the fact tha we are all spiritual eternal servants of God never changes. When comes to this level of realization then they are beyond religion and are self realized souls.

Answer 3

In my opinion, most of the ways religion can be harmful are mental. Religion can be used to justify horrendous behavior at times, although obviously, this isn't always the case. In the hands of a fanatic, religion can be utterly destructive, cause wars, destroy countless lives and bring countries to their knees.

On a less...dramatic level, even an overzealous believer can cause harm on individuals, whether they mean to or not. I've experienced this myself within my own family, which, among other things, drove me to become an atheist. Sparing you a long-winded quarter century history of my life and every little detail, I have a great many issues with my family, with people I love very much and know love me in turn, but have nonetheless caused me years of emotional pain in the name of a religious belief.

I have been frequently shamed and humiliated since childhood for not being "good enough" somehow, even when I was a believer. There were times that misfortunes that befell me were blamed on God in the sense that I did something to displease him and thusly deserved what I got. I was told at the age of six by my own grandmother that I had a miserable life and always would because it was "God's plan" for me.

Keep in mind at that time, I was a believer, went to church and Sunday School weekly(had no choice, really), and didn't know what an atheist even was, so it can't be pinned on my atheism as that's quite recent.

That's just one drop of things that have been said and done to me in the name of God and religion. I have an aunt that I downright dread being around because she has never once stopped harassing me about religion, whether or not I go to church, again, even before I stopped going, when I clearly WAS still going.

As a result of this and other things that I have neither the time or webspace for(and frankly, I doubt everyone wants to hear my life story... :P), I've been in and out of therapy since I was a teenager. I'm somewhat estranged from certain members of my family, which does pain me as I really wish I could share beliefs(or rather, the lack thereof) with them, but I know I can't. I've become withdrawn, afraid that if I step forward and shout out my nonbelief to the world, I'll be attacked in my very hometown.

I know my family will disown me. I know that people in my hometown will come after me verbally and harass me in hopes of breaking me down and getting me to "reconvert" just to shut them up. I honestly wouldn't be overly surprised if I received threatening mail and calls, but that thought aside, people would either shun or verbally attack me.

None of what I feel or experience is healthy, not by a long shot. I'm not saying all religions or believers are this way. But many are, at least where I live, and it forces me to be on guard and live in a form of fear for just being myself. I know and admit I've fought depression over this, wondering why my family and friends could treat me as a sudden outsider and stranger, just because I gave up religion.

So that's one way, the most prominent way that I can personally think of for religion to be harmful. Maybe there are other ways, maybe there aren't. My opinion's based off painful personal experience and that and other things I've read lead me to personally think that the biggest way religion can be harmful is through mental and emotional means.

Answer 4

Religion doesn't represent God and the love of Jesus. Harm #1 right there. You notice religion is what pisses people off and chases them away from God.

Answer 5

Ooh, where to start? Crusades? Most recent wars? Suicide bombings in the name of a god?

Or how about descrimination? Telling people in Africa the best way to prevent AIDS is through not having sex, and then acting surprised when they do anyway and get sick, instead of just giving them condoms, which would have saved millions of lives? Blocking release of birth control and the HPV vaccine in the name of god? Stopping necessary abortions needed to save the woman's life?

Answer 6

simply in that it is an institution of the flesh
putting the flesh of the religion before the word of spirit
sacred word must be read and applied but selective focus on parts of the sacred words leads others in to miss interpritations that then can become authoritive into a faulse interrpritation of the word
whatever that sacred texts foundational beliefs may be

Answer 7

If it's a harmful religion ............or a good religion who's teachings have become corrupt. Simple huh?

Answer 8

Matthew 7:13-14
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

--That is why its dangerous-- Satan leads many astray by using relegion- he even uses God's word against Him, by twisting it to make some believe differently--Relegion is the broad path- the wide gate....Jesus Christ is the narrow gate....What gate are you going to take?

Answer 9

some religions requires their believers to sacrifice animals and I think that it is harmful to animals. other oppressed women.

Answer 10

When a person takes something out of the Bible out of context and teaches others. This is what has caused demoninations.