In religions name, millions of inocent men women and children have been killed and entire nations oppressed. Can you truly be so audacious to say it is not and why?
2007-01-20 02:19:23 · 15 answers · asked by apothis sharp 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Violent, oppressive men hijack and twist various religions to justify their actions and to attract naive followers. This does not make religion itself evil. Non sequitur, my friend.
::EDIT:: The absence of religion has actually resulted in more death and oppression than its presence has. Cases in point:
- The killing fields of Pol Pot's Cambodia
- Josef Stalin's slaughter of millions in the Soviet gulags
- Ceauşescu's Romania
- Mao's "Cultural Revolution"
- ...and many more.
How easily atheists forget their own legacy of horror.
.
2007-01-20 02:26:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The concepts of "good" and "evil" are fairly broad terms, and can mean VERY different things depending on your usage. What do you mean by "Evil"? Do you mean a malicious sort of evil? Are you implying that religion willfully wishes harm on people?
Furthermore, how can a concept such as religion be evil? In its purest form, religion is only looking for what it believes to be the best course for humanity. The "evil" you talk about can only be found in the hearts and minds of the PEOPLE, not the concept.
On another note, and I hate bringing this one up, Stalin. There we can show that atheism does not have clean hands either. So, according to your apparent definition, religion, and now the LACK of religion are both evil. So, in essence all of humanity is evil.
Sorry, I just don't buy it.
2007-01-20 02:28:35 · answer #2 · answered by Infidelus_Prime 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Everything has yin and yang. I don't believe that anything is pure good or pure evil. While wars and all sorts of persecution have been committed in the name of religion, so have countless charitable acts.
2007-01-20 02:34:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Religion in and of itself is not necessarily either. It is a tool of humanity. When that tool is used by evil people it becomes evil and, alternatively, when it is used by good people it becomes good. Unfortunately it is all too often co-opted by the former, especially the paternalistic, abrahmic monotheisms.
2007-01-20 02:28:11 · answer #4 · answered by Murazor 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although I don't like "evil" as a concept, it's a bit supernatural, I believe that religion is definitely a negative disguised as a postive.
2007-01-20 02:24:43 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost nothing's ever pure.
Even the popular religions have some decent ideas mixed in with all the hate and arbitrary rules.
2007-01-20 02:22:31 · answer #6 · answered by eldad9 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anywhere there is "power" there is greed and jealousy, also. This always leads to senseless wars and killing. Religion is no different, it's Pride in it's ugliest form.
2007-01-20 02:25:04 · answer #7 · answered by INDRAG? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No and no, no such thing as 'evil' and religion may be called many things but 'pure good' is not one of them.
2007-01-20 02:22:15 · answer #8 · answered by fourmorebeers 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You couldn't have spoken more clearly when you asked such a proper question, my friend. Religion IS pure evil. (I do mean PURE) and it's masked alright, but only to those who don't understand.
They use words like "Christ" and "Jesus" and "God", and automatically, people are afraid to offend, speak up, speak out, and explain what's going on. It is evil to the core, and nothing more. Be it Catholic, Jehovah Witness, Islam, Mormon, or a denomination spinoff saying "you have to do this to be a church member here, but not there"....it's crowd manipulation, heart tearing, and pure evil masked.
Christ died FOR your sins by shedding God's perfect blood as a sacrifice, a substitute for me and for you and for ALL. He willingly laid down his life and allowed himself to be crucified to a cross.
Believe in his shed blood as a once and final payment for your sin debt unto God, and put no trust nor faith in your "good deeds", deep thoughts, religion(s) or religious dogma, world or personal circumstances, philosophy, lifestyle, education, evolution, your senses, church attendance,religious attitudes, feelings, family traditions, supposed "holy or religious saving" laws or ordinances, self serving prayers, etc.
Christ alone went in your place as your substitute to pay for the sins you've already done, the one's you're currently doing, and all that you'll do in the future. The only way to be made perfect is to be in Christ.
It's nothing experienced nor felt, but known by reading what the scriptures say in the bible, the word of God.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved! (Acts 16:31) God will judge you to be whole and sinless in his eyes, imputing Christ's righteousness unto you; Christ's faith unto you; and you in Christ.
You won't feel it based on experience; you'll know it based on the word of truth.
2007-01-20 02:33:45 · answer #9 · answered by The (1Cor.15:1-4) Ambassador 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
:
2 Peter 2:1-2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of
2007-01-20 02:27:37 · answer #10 · answered by Sirius 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋