What Positive Impact Has Organized Religion Made on The World?

Question

I know growing up I was never told anything possitive about religion in any history class I ever took. I was wondering if anyone knew of anything good religion has done for the world?

Keep in mind I'm not looking for intrinsic value here. So please don't respond with "it gives people a false since of security."

"saved me from sin" is a good answer but I'm still looking for something that you might find in a history class.

Answer 1

By preaching hatred and actively encouraging the murder of non-believers, it has contributed significantly to population reduction.

Answer 2

1) Not all religions are ethical in nature.

2) Some are, and tend to crystallize a society's norm, giving then the perceived force of a higher writ.

3) As a consequence, religion can amplify both constructive and destructive traits of a set of societal norms.

4) In some cases, a religion can actively CHANGE those norms.

I surmise that Islam has largely crystallized traditional Arab norms, while Christianity took advantage of the void created by the collapse of the Roman empire to instill a few relatively new ones, mainly those related to the principle of equality and a meta-societal respect for life.

Answer 3

For extra effective or for worse, faith has formed our historic past, and subsequently our international as we talk. as an occasion, the Crusades, mostly according to faith, uncovered Western Europeans to the two new products (from the two the an prolonged way and middle east) and 'new' concepts (extremely, classical works and concepts that were lost in Western Europe after the autumn of Rome). This in turn delivered approximately the two exploration and the 'discovery' of the Americas (to discover an much less complicated thank you to get those products) and the Renaissance (application of classical concepts). And with that got here the admired international. look additionally at how lots religious conflict shapes our international. certainly the area interior the middle East could be lots distinctive with out faith.

Answer 4

Very GOOD question!
Many hospitals, schools, universities and orphanages were founded by churches, synagogues, etc. So there have been many contributions by organized religion.

At present there are ongoing tutoring programs for inner city children sponsored by the Mennonite and United Methodist Churches. There are schools and hospitals funded by churches in 3rd world countries. Compassion International provides health care, food, clothing and education to third world chidren in the name of Jesus Christ.

The Salvation Army, an organized religious movement, responds to disasters, provides food and clothing to the poor, substance abuse programs. Caring for people in need around the world.

Look around and you'll find much that has been done by organized religion. All you have to do is ask the question, who started this college, who built this hospital, who helps the poor, who cares for the hurting and broken people in the world? You will see when you really look.

Answer 5

You can not expect in Western countries where spirituality is given least peference. You have to go to Asian countries especially to India where Hinduism,Buddhism,Sikhism,Jainism were born.
Great civilizations in India and china have depended on religion.
Religion united people made them lead Selfless life, righteous, truthful, peaceful life.
Religion teaches that if you coomit sin you will be destroyed by god. Due to this many religious people never think of commiting sin.
Religion teaches you all the good morals in the world no other thing teaches you that.
But the same religion can be used for Violence by those interpreters of the religion, so that is why people criticize the greatness of religion.
Any religion teaches you to be Be Good and Do Good, and the people who follow it will have positive results in thier life.

Answer 6

- It abolished slavery
- It preserved learning (with the collapse of the Roman civilisation the only people who could even read where the clergy)
- It fought against child labour
- It fought for penal reform
- It informed (quite profoundly actually) the philosophical systems that underpin the liberal democratic systems we now have.
- It abolished the circuses of Rome
- It has fed, given education and medical aid to countless millions.

Organised religion has a lot to answer for, this is true, but

1. Set it against how things where in the pagan past and the not to distant (Nazi, Communist) past where the individual was owned by the State and not him/herself.

2. You tend to hear about the extremist nutters and not the quiet good people trying to make a difference as a result of their faith:

These guys, for example, http://www.christian-aid.org.uk/ or these guys http://www.freemuslims.org/

Christian, Hindu, Sihk, Jew, Pagan or whatever you owe quite a lot to the organised believers who came before you.

Answer 7

well, for one, as the name states organized, ( speaking from Hebrew and christian Greek scriptures) It has helped mankind in incorporating trade with other nations, rules and laws that protect others as the ( 10 commandments ). It has also helped in ---if applied--- with diseases. In the O.T. they quarantined persons, so that the rest of the tribe/population would not get ill. ( they do not apply this in our time ). Some things that are of benefit. Not to mention social structure, like a method to help the less fortunate, and becoming a slave, which in those days would simply be paying off a debt to someone.

Answer 8

Religious-based charities have probably done quite a bit of good in the past, especially in organizing aid to the suffering and needy. Religion established several schools and universities, educating the poor, back in the day.

Answer 9

it allowed for a structure to base the first civilizations and economies on.

it developed a guide for modern ethics and morality that is the cornerstone of western law.

though religions was the first serious study of science and nature.

History as well was first documented and studied due to religion

in that vein a system of writing was first developed because of religious ritual.

The concept of peace and world harmony, and yes even ways of war and hate were refined and crafted by religion.

almost everything you can think of that is fundamental to how we think live and learn was once developed and used by religious groups. With out religion as part and parcel of society all of human development in the last 5,000 years would never happen.

Answer 10

I guess speaking for Christianity, I would point to the many advancements in society. It was through Christianity that hospitals came into being, the Ivy League colleges were all started by Christians, Christianity led the way in the abolition of slavery and rights for women. It is Christianity that led to the homeless shelters, food pantries and caring for the poor and sick. It was through Christian principles that democratic societies were started and sustained and the idea that all people, regardless of color or position, were equal under the law and before God.

Answer 11

Religious charities have done incredible amounts of good for the homeless and poverty-stricken. They have helped out greatly in times of natural disaster, as well. Face it, some of the best charities in the world are faith-based. Millions have been fed and clothed by charitable religious organizations.