Don't religions undermine honesty?

Question

Truth isn't an opinion and religion is, but religion claims to be the truth. Religious people are, therefore, incapable of honesty and undermine this fundamental aspect of civilisation.

Why does civilisation continue to tolerate, let alone respect, religions?

I’m picking this as best answer but I simply don’t agree there would be devastation caused to anyone if religion was suddenly denied recognition. I think a big fuss would be made by some for a while and devastation would, no doubt, be feigned but any apparent devastation could realistically be called petulance. People DO NOT NEED religion and can easily get by without it.

Answer 1

Yes it's a sad fact that religions manipulate and lie.

Christianity has hindered the advancement of science for centuries. It has caused war after war. It has also (perhaps indirectly) played it's part in the terrible poverty of developing countries - shunning birth control and dominating inadequately educated communitites who blindly invest their desperate soul and livelihood in the common belief system of a horrifically rich brotherhood. The churches should be pulling down their golden statues and abbeys in the West and helping these people, encouraging them to think for themselves, not blindly following the path laid before them.

The Church has lied for years about many things. Why exclude certain gospels from the bible? Wouldn't it be fairer to see a portrayal of Jesus the man, the TRUE Jesus? Would it be so terrible to find his living bloodline? Surely it would renew faith to see that his seed is still amongst us? Why have women been persecuted so long, when all that Mary Magdalene did was carry on his one true message?

Having said all this, there are millions of people in the world who are just not ready or able to open their minds. Can you imagine the devastation it would cause around the world, to those for whom religion is all they have, to suddenly be told they have been lied to, and that which they have held dear for so long is in fact not the whole truth? Religion is a great comfort to many, helping them to accept the many trials of life and keeping them on the straight and narrow, it would be cruel to snatch this belief from them. So for the sake of our brothers and sisters who could not cope with such revelations, we must tolerate religion. For those of us, however, who are ready to open our eyes, the truth will always be blindingly obvious.

Answer 2

Because Islam is the truth. First of all, i thought this was a so called free country. Why can we not believe in what we want to believe? Why does civilisation continue to tolerate people who DON'T believe in God? Religion is not an opinion, it is a way of life, and everyone has the right to believe in a religion no matter what it is.

Answer 3

While I agree that what your saying is sometimes true, I think this pushing of faith as fact may be biased, but you statement "incapable" seems to push a very unhealthy negative stereotype onto those who make up a majoriyt of the people in the world. Atheists and agnostics do the same thing, lets consider it. In many humanist sect and atheist belief systems, it is up to the person to decide what morality to live by, thus, they decide what morality is best for society. It becomes so relativistics that in some cases its as if anything legal is moral and finally even illegal activity is allows, because you don't care if you are put to death or thrown in prison.

Answer 4

Religion (most religions, anyway) encourage honest and honorable behavior between people by invoking a standard outside the self. Without such a standard, ethics (including honesty) takes on the status of personal preference. This would hardly improve the level of honesty in society.

Answer 5

Hmmm, the dichotomy! Believe this nonsense because it is the truth. If you don't believe it you will be an abomination and sent to hell. Doesn't leave a lot of choice for the gullible or ignorant, does it? However, once they've been taken in, they don't regard it as being dishonest because 'evidence' has been prepared to back the truths up. Clever, isn't it!?

Answer 6

Not all religions claim to be the only truth. Civilization, mostly governments, continue to tolerate and respect religion because most of them have money.

Answer 7

No, but truth is a perception and so is religion, like I might feel that the crap you just wrote is uneducated and doesn't make sense, and you might think that it makes perfect sense, that doesn't mean that either of us are wrong, it is just our perception. And not all religious people are honest, just because they go to church every Sunday doesn't mean that they don't go home afterwards and beat their wife, or cheat on their husbands, truth has to do with you, and how honest you are in your daily dealings.

Answer 8

I dont mind the morals they spread but why make up all the (clearly) unbelievable storys to teach em ? One word for religeous people- GULLABLE !! If I told people my mate could walk on water no-one would believe it (rightly) so why beleive it cos its written in an old book by someone you dont know ?

Answer 9

Civilization is filled with victims and victimizers, leaders and followers, sheep and wolves. It is a shame more of us cannot think for ourselves, and cast out the disturbing trend that is religion.

Answer 10

Religion and Honesty don't mix.
Religion is faith. Honesty - Truth.
As Kipling said. ' East is East and West is West, and never the twain shall meet'.