Can it be true that belief actually harms society?

Question

Besides the obvious middle eastern countries in turmoil check out this link about belief and the US

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article571206.ece

Er..stainlesssteelrat, i meant the obvious countries in turmoil...not 'it's obvious'

wgr88 - surely it's 'our' society. And are we really as good as dead?

eastchic - did you read the article? it states that although the US is a highly religous country it has the worst teenage pregnancy and STD rates. Please read the article.

Answer 1

Religious faith is very very dangerous.

Answer 2

Interesting article. There was also a recent one in Yahoo news that said although Americans strongly believe in the bible and use it as a figurehead, a very small percentage of Amercans actually know the 10 commandments, or have read the bible. With regards to your question, and the article you mention, I think it confuses religion with spirituality. Religion is spirituality based on specific doctrine dictated by a hierarcy. Spirituality is a personal relationship with God, and requires no religion. Yes religion can/does seriously harm society, no belief/spirituality doesn't have to.

Answer 3

I presume that by belief you mean religious or spiritual. Belief is the backbone to our life. Without belief man can not survive. Even while driving, we believe in the soundness of design of automobile. We believe the doctor when we go for treatment. We believe the man who sell grocery to us regarding the quality of consumables. When we travel by plane, train or bus we believe in the driving skills of the driver though he is unknown to us. When the question of belief in spirituality or religion comes, we use all the logic at our command. This is the paradox of the world. No true belief can harm society. Only the misguided and misinterpreted belief harms the society. nagarajan.

Answer 4

Well we live in a world that has a total death rate will that harm your society any? Yes than perhaps lets look at that word, in James 2:19,20 we are told the devil "believes" and trembles. Belief is NOT enough, John 3:16 says God [The Father] "SO" Loved you that He gave [Jesus the second member of The Godhead gave Himself] so "IF" you will BE-LIVE in Him should not perish but have everlasting life, John 14:15 says "IF" you [BE-LIVE] love me keep my commandments [not suggestions] so if you believe enough to love Him and keep His commandments you will have the ONLY exit out of this grave called earth IF NOT your as good as dead right now, how does this truth effect your society? God bless free on line bible lessons www.itiswritten.com bible questions www.bibleinfo.com talk to me also [e-mail]

Answer 5

I think that the pendulum swings both ways. I think belief can, and does, benefit society and I think that belief can, and does, harm society. For instance, zealous fanatics take belief to far sometimes - like the Baptist church that pickets military funerals and holds signs that say "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" because they believe God is punishing us for our sins. Crazies.

On the other hand, I think belief lead some people to lead better lives and be better members of society. For instance, belief that premarital sex is bad due to religious teachings reduces instances of STD transmission, abortions, teenage pregnancies, etc. (this is speculation in a sense). Note also that this example is minor, as the practice of abstinence until marriage is a greatly declining value.

So, as I said it can benefit and harm society in different ways.

Answer 6

In my country, there are 2 main religions: Catholicism and Sunni Islam. Both wishes to coexist peacefully and harmoniously. But it cannot, at least, eradicate, religious divisions though culturally homogenous. But at least we're doing something so that a war so disastrous as the Lebanese civil war would not happen on our soil.

Answer 7

Besides the obvious???What is obvious about it. Belief by itself is not harmful. It's what we decide to do with it or how we decide to view it. You have any Idea what we look like. The US Christians, the Brits Christians the "west" christian the east Islam. Christians of the world Rally to me for a new crusade.

Answer 8

Have you seen atheists go to war? Have you seen atheists evangelizing? Have you seen atheists going on missions trying to convert? Atheists, all over the world, contribute to helping others with out tying the strings of conversion to their aid.

But Christian aid always is a means to convert.

Answer 9

It can do both I think. It depends on the rationality of the person and how much dedication you have toward your religion.

Anyone should be able to believe in anything they want , but you should never force it or act it out toward another person of a different culture. When you start pushing it your only going to get grief in return.

Answer 10

the link's webpage article said:
Societies worse off 'when they have God on their side'.
That's very ignorant of the writer!
It should said: Societies worse off when Spiritual Losers believe in religion.

remember:

"religion is Spiritual fraud"; "religion is the Worse invention of humanity" - Jesus Christ

Create a private, personal, direct, divine relationship with Our Creator and save your Soul from religion.

Only with Our Creator's Love and Peace will we be Truely Free!

Without God, there is No Love; Without religion, there are No Wars!

Answer 11

Blind belief in a baseless philosophy is definitely harmful