Are religions the source of most of today's problems in the world?

Question

If you study history, both ancient and modern, wouldn’t you agree that most of the troubles of the world have been caused by religions? From the Islam/Christian battles of the Crusades through the schisms in Christianity through to modern times religious differences have been the primary source of persecution and bloodshed.

In recent decades we have seen Muslim v Hindu, Catholic v Protestant, Sunni v Shia and hosts of other violent struggles. We have seen ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, violence in Sri Lanka, cross border conflict in South Asia, insurgency in Iraq. We have seen the persecution of Jews by Christians and of Muslims by Jews, the banning of Christianity in Saudi Arabia, the barely disguised infidel rhetoric of George Bush. We have seen school text books in Saudi Arabia calling Christians pigs and Jews apes.

Surely the world would be a happier safer place if religions didn’t exist?

Just to confirm that my question is genuine and that my mind is far from made up. Alternative points of view more than welcome!

Answer 1

Of course it would be a better place.

Some people are so weak that they have to have a security blanket to wrap around themselves. This is the service that religion provides to them.

I don't believe that they are so stupid that they actually believe in this primitive, superstitious garbage.

The only contribution which religion has made to society over the past several centuries is to hold back the development of science (something which it is still trying to do as in the case of stem cell research) and as a means of exerting control over people.

I think that these creationists should all be forced to read Richard Dawkins' excellent book The God Delusion. It will help to educate their minds to the truth!

Answer 2

No.

Religion does not *cause* man's inhumanity to man. It merely provides acceptable cover or justification in some cases.

Religions provide yet another way for human primates to divide themselves into in-groups and out-groups. The same divisiveness can arise from ethnicity, culture, language, appearance, economic status, and so forth. It just seems to be in the nature of social primates to treat members of out-groups as unworthy of the respect and consideration due to members of in-groups.

Occasionally the disrespect and inconsideration becomes violence. And occasionally religion stiffens the division into institutional violence. But it also happens that religions (or, perhaps more accurately, charismatic leaders using religion as justification or backing) heal divisions and reduce violence and mistrust -- just as art, friendship, and shared tribulation can do.


Having said all that, I *do* think the world would be a happier and safer place if religions didn't exist, although I don't imagine human nature would change for the better or for the worse.

I think that most religions have a vested interest in suppressing critical thought and, in its place, promoting uncritical deference to authority and tradition. Such behavior may have been helpful and productive for cultures that assembled in small tribes or bands in a hardscrabble struggle for survival against both the uncontrollable elements and unknown hostile tribes, but it is not conducive to helping us all become global citizens of the world.

Answer 3

No. And it's never been the source of most of the problems of the world.

The reason why I can say that is that people are screwed up. Sometimes those screwed up people are Christian, or Muslim, or whatever. When those screwed up people find themselves in power, they screw up any adherence to basic decency. Often this leads to persecutions of various types.

But sometimes religion is not even a factor. In fact, it's shunned. The Soviet Union being a prime example. The lack of religion in the Soviet Union didn't stop the killing of thousand of Jews, and the persecution of other faiths as well.

So I would postulate that the problem isn't religion, but something more basic. The Bible says that we have a tendency to go our own way, to lean upon our own understanding. Not seeking after him. I think that going away from God is the basic choice we make that brings us ruin, not religion per se, but our tendency to wander away from God-- religious or not.

Answer 4

I realize that your mind is already made up so this is for others that may be reading.

Hitler's favorite book was Origin of the Species. He was an atheist. His track record. Holocoust About 6 million. World War II about 39 million.

Stalin was an atheist. The Russian cleansing of the first half of the 20th century about 15 million.

If religion was not at the base of their reason for war, then what was? When you can answer that convincingly then you will have the reason you seek. Saying that it is religion is too easy a cop out.

Answer 5

No, religion is not the cause of the majority of the problems in the world.

The major cause is the greed and ambition in the individual heart.

I don’t care what the religion is, if there is trouble look for an individual preacher, priest or mullah who is inflaming the people to advance his own agenda.

If there were no religions, those with ambition would just find some other way to inflame passions.

Answer 6

Initially religion was useful in polarising and guiding people to civilisation..It was good as long as there were unattached people scattered all over the world.Once all such people were exhausted the domains of religions started overlapping and there started the clashes.
It is time to realise that religions should understand each other and live in harmony instead of encroaching others.

Answer 7

No. Most religions teach love, compassion, tolerance... etc.

It is acts in the name of religion, that spring from lust for power... land grabs in the name of... culture clashes in the name of... Religion is a great excuse for anger, pride, jealousy, ignorance, & so on...

There is so often an individual or group who is the source... one using peoples insecuriities over differences to gain power, wealth, etc etc... Take away religions & colour/culture will become the "issues"... the cover for the grab for power...

Answer 8

Obviously every person not following the ten commandments is the major cause of evil in the world. The ten commandments is a summary of religion and it includes things that many people find very hard to do like not coveting and not lusting and not stealing.

Answer 9

totally agree my friend - religion can be accredited for starting the majority of the world battles, struggles. Having been to a few places that have been infested with this hatred i find it very powerful and incredibly sad!

Answer 10

As you stated...some of the bloodiest conflicts in history have been fought in the name of religion. Most of the hatred in this world is caused by some religion or somebody's interpretation of their religion. Sort of makes me glad I'm Atheist. I don't hate anybody.