2007-02-19 05:29:26 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think it HAS to be but I think it can be. Many religions embrace social and scientific progress and then there are those that simply will have none of it (I'm not naming any names). The religions that hold tightly to there dogmas and power are the ones that stunt growth and ultimately harm their followers. I think that one of the wisest moves every was the separation of Church and State that our forefathers envisioned. It is the only way that society can ensure growth in spite of itself.
2007-02-19 05:35:42 · answer #1 · answered by Huggles-the-wise 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is. :) Do I really need to reiterate the evidence others here have mentioned? Just do some searches on the behavior of both "Evangelical Christians" *and also* "Wahabbi Muslims", don't just look up the quotes mind you, look up recent behavior in the past *century alone*. Look up the bombings and lynchings and miserable acts of petty destruction.
For every man of faith who does good in this world, like Martin Luther King Jr., you have a dozen who want to drag the rest of us kicking and screaming back into the Dark Ages. *IF* they don't just want to see all the world and its civilizations blown up instead.
And the sad part is....I'm not sure we can do anything constructive about this. The rich men, your CEOs, *support* the worst excesses you see....they *bankroll* Big Oil (which IS Big Terror), and they *fund* your Evangelical and Dominionist ranters at every turn...
And....it's been proven that at any given time, that as much as 1/3 of the human population of a given area just *will not* be bothered to think for themselves. As in, they have a defect in their personality that *demands* that they follow a leader, that they not desire to be free for themselves....I don't pretend to get why we have this defect, but it will likely be the utter ruin of our kind if we don't find a way to fix it.
But yeah. It's a problem. Religion as societal institution and as political organization has *Long Since* outlived its usefulness on this earth, and that has been the case ever since our Founding Fathers in the US decided to create a government that "respects no establishment of religion".
I'm just not sure it is solvable. If the separation of church and state doesn't fix things, courtesy of the meddling of the zealots and their filthy rich backers.....what will? What will get people to follow basic, ordinary *reason* in their lives again?
Just wondering....thanks for your time.
2007-02-19 13:51:40 · answer #2 · answered by Bradley P 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Easily. Just look through history, it took forever and a lot of kicking and screaming before society was able to accept that the Earth moves around the sun and that germs cause illness instead of witches and demons.... And this was all religion derived.
It was the primary thing stunting our growth, promoting violence and murder. All free thinkers, scholars and scientists tended to be hunted down and burned as heretics.
Some historians and scholars have estimated that without religion we would have developed computers and the internet back in the 1600s.
2007-02-19 13:35:00 · answer #3 · answered by Mike K 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In our current american society? Absolutely... it prevents scientific progress on stem cell research, gay rights and goes as far as to limit personal decisions of non-believers.
Think of all the scientific advances that will be made controversial in the future because they do not agree with a 1600 year old book (yes, not 2000 years old, it was compiled around 400 CE) such as the cloning of replacement organs, or even whole bodies.
Oh and for Randy G:
Religion did not give us hospitals and universities, societal formation did, they just happened to be groups of similar minded peoples, all of which held different beleifs among different groups. And religion (christianity specifically) was one of the organizations to utilize illiteracy to maintain power as it could only be interpreted by those gaining from it, look at the dark ages, religion at its best.
2007-02-19 13:33:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Obviously it is a hindrance. Think about all the death and destruction it has caused. It has brought wars, slavery, persecution, and all kinds of evil
2007-02-19 14:09:24 · answer #5 · answered by Billybww 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
True social progress and social justice is impossible without following the teachings of Jesus.
2007-02-19 13:38:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Zealots, yes, spiritual people, no.
It depends a lot on what the focus is on. IE pro-peace versus anti-war. If all the attention is paid to the "sinners" then what comes of the good-doers?
2007-02-19 13:35:33 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Let's see, religion gave us the first hospitals, orphanages, nursing homes, the concept of human rights for the common people, the concept of the University, the idea of universal literacy (to encourage Bible reading), most anti-slavery movements in England & American were lead by Christians, Woman’s suffrage started out as a movement in Christianity, the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. was started out by the Baptist Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. and the congregation of Ebenezer Baptist Church, and many others (try the link below).
It seems that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
2007-02-19 13:34:12 · answer #8 · answered by Randy G 7 · 3⤊ 4⤋
No. I think it is a hindrance to intellectual inquiry.
2007-02-19 13:36:57 · answer #9 · answered by Subconsciousless 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only for those who want God to live their lives for them.
Me? I believe and respect GOD but this is my life, and I will live as I see fit. But fanatics of the religion are too close minded.
2007-02-19 13:33:47 · answer #10 · answered by danksprite420 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋