Should religion be encouraged or discouraged?

Question

Surely encouraging religion leads to acts of extreme bravery, hope and a sense of purpose, while it also brings sectarion violence, like that seen in countries around the world, ranging from Northern Ireland, Israel and Palestine, Iraq, Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, India, Pakistan, Thailand, and Russia.

The best answer must have reasons supporting your view. I am completely undecided on the matter.

Reva..... Your way of thinking fascinates me, but I am not quite convinced by either arguement yet

the dude..... By anyone or anything. Parents, Family, friends, teachers, government. I am not saying they are but should they if they aren't, or should they stop if they are?

Answer 1

I think that religion helps us explain what is inexplicable. My sole problem with religion today is that people do not allow for criticism and reform. I believe that that will help it become more reasonable and helpful for those in need of guidance and support.

Answer 2

Discouraged. Completely. There's a quote that reads, "Religion doesn't answer the questions. It stops you from asking." I was raised in an enviroment where religion was neither encouraged, nor ignored. Both of my parents are religious, but not overly so. I had the opportunity to go to church. I chose not to. I am a courageous, optimistic person without a religious influence. I think religion gives people nothing but an excuse when they do something wrong. A way out. Beat your child? Go to church, pay your alms, confess your sins, and Jesus says it's okay. Religion is what tells people, "Go. Fight those who don't believe in me. Kill them if you have to, because that is the only way to save them." If you don't believe me, then explain the (multiple) Holy War(s). Into battle, cross raised in triumph.

Christianity can't even get the believers of the same GOD to stop fighting, let alone accept those who don't believe in "God". Religion should be discouraged. If a person needs religion to lean on for emotional support, then that person will find religion on their own. If they don't need it, then let them stand on their own two legs and face the sun as an individual person, not just another one of God's drones.

Answer 3

Religion should definitely be discouraged. Of the things you listed that support religion..all of those can be achieved without religion. I would argue that extreme bravery can be a very bad thing. The 9/11 hijackers were "brave" and that was a very bad thing.

Atheists do do things that are extremely brave...Look at this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1Uo5DQTtzc

I would argue that just being an out of the closet atheist is an act of extreme bravery. Especially here in Bible Belt and in Islamic countries.

Hope can be a bad thing. A lot of people hope they are going to win the lottery and it causes them to have a false sense of security that can hinder them from giving their all to better themselves.

I as an atheist have hope for many things. Hope is not exclusive to religion. Hope for life after death is actually very detrimental. If you think you're going to live forever this life loses its value. Diamonds are expensive because they are rare. If life is eternal then it is cheap. I value this life immensely because it is rare...my only shot at life.

Without gods humanity becomes the top priority.

Sense of purpose? How is that tied to religion? I am an atheist and I have all kinds of sense of purpose.

Answer 4

i imagine, Hindus neither inspire nor discourage debates, even as Buddhists inspire debates of their religions. Buddhism is specifically in accordance to meditation and it truly is a nicely favourite incontrovertible truth that discuss or reasoning or doubt act like a fertilizer on the way of the meditation. Doubt and debate wash away all it truly is not real from the thoughts of the seeker, who's left on my own with the truth contained in the suitable that could be a void. So even Atheists locate it confusing to deny the theories and ideas of Buddhists. Zen or Chen masters Koans are between the perfect sort of non secular debating developed by Buddhists that lead the seeker to deep meditation. So Buddhism consistently inspire debating. Hinduism on one hand inspire questioning or debating as contained with regards to Upanishads and Vedas, the position as on the different hand Hindus inspire believing by following Snatan Dharma or idol worshipping. So Hinduism neither inspire nor discourage debates and through this sense is extra massive than Buddhism.

Answer 5

By whom?

I think businesses, government, and other public entities should neither encourage nor discourage religion.

Personally, I discourage it. As far as I can tell, the least religious places on the planet (Sweden, Northern California, Japan) are the most peaceful, and the most pious places on the planet (Oklahoma, Saudi Arabia, Somalia) are the most problematic.

Answer 6

Love and Truth and God is reality not religion. It is Truth that the World needs, not according to man, but according to the Mind of Christ. Christ is the creative aspect of Truth and Love and God. If you can grasp that then He will send His Holy Spirit to teach and comfort you. It is part of the human creation and not some religious dogma. We all were created in the Spirit of Truth and we don't even know what that is. Truth is still truth and always has been and is and will always be true. Our perception of that can only get clearer as we learn from the source of Truth. God knew that man was off target by the fruit of their labor. He sent himself to Earth in the form of a man to bring a wake up call to the Planet, in the form of Jesus. We now have the option of Truth from Truth or floundering around with a perception based on an off target mindset. To me it is a no brainer. Lets just not get hung up on any human concept, that is religion. Lets get in turn with the creator of Truth and let Him lead us into the furture that has already been created since the beginning of His creation.

Answer 7

Religion should discouraged,a lot of unrest are following religion,competition and hypocrasy.Even God Almighty that baskets the whole universe has been sending His angels to us that all places of worships worldwide be changed to factories because of burning of churches by the bloody muslims and aggressive christians retaliating by pulling out guns.Recently because of Mohammed drawing caused a lot of lost of lives.To my surprise,Pope was begging the muslims.If one is really of God,we shouldn't be afraid to call a spade a spade.We should rather fear God not men.Pope should remove his regalia before is too late.Pope John Paul II was the last pope on Earth he was so closed to the heartbeat of God Almighty.The late Pope stated in one of his writeup that"Parent have the specific responsibility in introducing their children into the gradual discovery of the mystery of God and into personal dialogue with Him."Only parent in these lines of understanding of the wisdom of God can exercise firm control over their children.Such parent by praying together alone with their family will be able to have maximum control of the system that makes a happy home.God wants to use the two headings from the scripture in judging the world finally"Use your soul your mind and your strenght in loving God and the other like it is ,"Love your neighbour as yourself for these sum up the laws and the prophets,Jesus mentioned these too when God first sent him."As to this the Prayer for the whole world has been dictacted to us from heaven as this "GLORY BE TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST:PEACE BE UNTO THE WHOLE WORLD;GOOD WISHES TO ALL MANKIND;GOD ALMIGHTY,THANK YOU."

Answer 8

I think that religion should be the way it should. people are starting to get out of control with the whole gay people are horrible and abortion is bad thing. they should believe what they want and everybody will believe what they want. if they believe that jesus is wonderful...thats fine! but its also fine if somebody doesnt believe that. There are some great people in this world that are religous and non-religous. it all depends how you act about it. if you are discriminating people because of it then that is not good. i think that religion should be just left the way you believe in it.

Answer 9

Discouraged as the majority of people out there are too intolerant to accept another's beliefs.

Answer 10

Faith is best persued on it's own and by the individual.

It should be encouraged that people find what they believe for themselves.