would society be a better place without religion?

Answer 1

Much better.

Answer 2

You could believe that taking religion out of society would somehow make society a better place, but when the same problems persisted, what (or who) would be the next target? If we took all the things out of society that we felt would make it a better place, what or whom would be left? Subjective and arbitrary judgement would become the norm of the day until the people would be screaming for reinstatement of the very things they lost. This is in no way a slippery slope argument-you need look no further than to the Soviet Union, China, and all the other nations on earth who tried (and succeeded) in doing this. When the people's faith was crushed and suppressed, you had a conquered and hopeless people. Whatever your thoughts or attitudes about religion are, religious beliefs are just as much a right as are speech rights, land ownership rights, gun ownership rights, etc.

Answer 3

The answer is definitely not

Yes there is a lot of conflict between different religions because most people are resistant to change

For most of my life, I have been interested in religions and other belief systems

I was brought up as a Catholic, but at thge age of 16, I began to question My religion and eventually I joined the Communist party

Some years later I adopted Yoga and the Hindu religion

Afew years later I embraced the Taoist pholosophy

Now I am a member of the Bahai Faith

It seems that each new religion is an unfloding part of a progressive revelation and although the core belifs don't change, the social laws do

Hower most people are resistant to change and stick with what they know

It seems that the purpose of a new religion is to unite the factions created by the demise of all the previous religions, update the social laws and build new institution on the ruins of the old.

If u are interested checkout www.bahai.org

Answer 4

I'm not religious myself, but i do believe (and my belief is backed by many reliable scientific studies) that religion is good for your health. It has been suggested that religious people have lower blood pressure, a longer life and low stress levels. This is probably due to being part of such a close community as the Church. I do however feel that alot of the current conflict in the world is caused by religion ( or at least the minority in the religion that are misguided), and can't help feeling that the world would be a much more peaceful place if we did not have the barriers of religion. Thanks

Answer 5

Not really. Remember, it was Napoleon that suggested religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich.

Religion does have a utilitarian function; just like traffic laws.

But, as they say, a padlock is just to keep honest people honest.

I think the problem with religion is really a problem with people; they get so deep into it that they somehow just loose their grip on reality and common sense.

That, and I think that whatever your religion or belief (or non-belief for that matter), if you are truly content with your belief system, you have absolutely NO motivation to go around poking sticks at other people about what THEY believe.

Answer 6

It depends. Religion also functions as an integrative element in society. But to some extent, some exceeded and becomes dysfunctional. However, it would be a sweeping generalization to say that religion is dysfunctional. Religion per se is not the cause of divisiveness. It is our prejudices and indeference towards others who differs from us.

We would have a better place if we get rid of our prejudices.

Answer 7

Yes but if it never existed not just if it was taken away tommorrow and left a hole in people's lives who are religious, but basically nearly every war EVER has started due to religion. Northern Ireland, Kosovo, Russia and Chechnya, Indo-Pakistani war, even George Bush said that God told him to evade Iraq lol. Then there's genocide, ethnic cleansing etc.. People say that we had to go into Iraq because Hussein was persecuting but w/o religion that persecution would not have occured.

Answer 8

Fat chance. Someone would just come up with a new one. Karl Marx hated religion because he wanted communism to replace it. Most every one who wants to knock down a religion has another mind to replace it. Scientology? Wicca? Global Warming? Humanism? It's all just another belief system. It's not the religion, some idol or words on paper, that ever does evil, it's humans, using religion to justify their evil deeds.

Answer 9

I think a vast majority of conflict in our society today revolves around religion. I think society would be a better place if everyone could come to an understanding that different groups will explore different religions, and come to an understanding that we can find peace regardless of the different religions around the world.

Answer 10

depends on ur perspective
marxist:yes it's a terrible source of oppression for the working class.
functionalism: it has it's place and roles within society
femminism: yes, it is partriachal and opressive to all women eg sadawi's study the hidden face of eve.
post modernism: people today are free to pick and mix their religion as the grand mettanarative (religion eg christianity ) has collapsed.

Answer 11

Probably. You have to keep in mind though that even the Constitution has some religious background, and without that religious background the civil rights and liberties of the citizens won't be fully protected. Chaos is one possible outcome if this was so.

Also, people need something to believe in in order to have that driving force in life. Without that, we'll just be pointless wanderers of the earth.