Can religion help people to justify even the worst behaviors?

Question

I have noticed that many people have done horrible things because they thought God wanted them to. I admit many were psychotic, others were scared, whatever.

My question is this. Can religion help the normal person justify their terrible thoughts feelings and actions?

Does religion enable people to forget their horrible pasts and continue to view themselves as good people?

Answer 1

Why do you think the Nazis justified killing jews, or the catholics doing nothing while the Nazis committed mass murder? Why else would the KKK and slavery be seen as acceptable? The US to mass murder civilians in Iraq?

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."
- Blaise Pascal, from the book "Pensees" (the same book which carries his "wager" on believing in "god")


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Answer 2

I would have to say no. People do a lot of things in God's name, but it does not mean that God has anything to do with it. People can use any religion and their God as an excuse for their behavior. Most people know the Ten Commandment's, they just need to take them to heart. Or as Jesus said I am not here to change what you know of God, but if you can do one thing, treat other's as you would have them treat you, then all of the Commandments will be met. I hope I don't upset too many Catholic's, this is just my point of view, but it is factual. The Catholic Church has done more horrible things in God's name than any other religion has. There was the book written by the Catholic Church called The Witch's Hammer instructing people on how to kill free thinking women, the Spanish Inquisition was done by the Catholic Church, they tortured people that did not believe as they did and would not give up their own God or God's They turned Mary Magdaline into a prostitute until in the 1990's they recanted that and admitted she came from a very wealthy family in the line of French Kings.The Catholic Church says Mary the Mother of Jesus died a virgin, come on people, does anyone honestly believe that Joseph, her husband never knew Mary (in the Biblical sense)? That is absurd, we know that Jesus had brothers, ergo, James the Lesser, Judas, Jude and sister's also, but the sister's weren't deserving of names in the Bible simply because they were women.There are over 29 books of the Bible that Constantine and the Catholic Church at the meeting in Niceia saw fit not to include in the Bible because they portrayed Jesus as a man, a prophet but not the son of God, so they decided what should and shouldn't be in the Bible. Using the Bible for their own benefit has been used forever. You can take one verse from the Bible or the Torah or the Koran and make it mean anything you want it to mean. If people think religion will eliminate their horrible pasts and help them view themselves as good people they are dead wrong. They must ask for forgiveness and then live life as a child of God. We are all responsible for our actions.Just my opinion, I could be wrong.

Answer 3

People could use all sorts of things to justify bad behavior and religion is an easy target since it deals directly with forgiveness of sins. Christianity, for example, is about mercy and forgiveness so people can easily use it to "justify" what they do. The reality is that they are NOT justified but sanctified. In other words, it should be used to help people get better with the recognition that what they've done wrong is in the past and has been forgiven. They still need to suffer the consequences of their actions even though they may now be "holy" in God's sight. I hope my view was helpful to you.
Be blessed.

Answer 4

Religion is nothing more than MAN'S view of God. Therefore, no one religion can be used as a guideline for justifying any one behavioral pattern, for all of the religions/schools of thought and etc. would consider themselves right! Only the TRUTH that we're all supposed to be diligently seeking can help us OVERCOME, not justify any bad behavioral patterns. The Scripture says, "Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God......", not some manmade solution based on what one THINKS the Bible is trying to tell them.

Answer 5

Yes, but that is delusion. It is amazing what humans can rationalize away...and what they can use to excuse themselves.

Nothing can justify your behavior...least of all religion. For if the religion was practiced, there would no "horrible pasts" or "worst behaviors."

~Eric Putkonen

Answer 6

No

Never

Nothing can justify the hurting of another human being with the intention to hurt for the sole purpose of hurting.

Lets say a man has professed to be a serial killer, he is neither ashamed nor is he going to apologize for his behaviour, his punishment would be justified on account of Justice.

But anything else, cant.

Answer 7

No -- but a lack of religion sure makes people justify the worst behaviors.

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Answer 8

Of course it can. Humans have a remarkable ability to justify themselves through a variety of means.

Answer 9

true relgiion, undefiled and pure, is to care for the widows and the fatherless.

it is also repentance from sin, and forsaking sin.

it is not backsliding and joining the works of the devil, because of terrorism or harrasment, by american citizens upon american citizens.

YOU dont need religion to excuse the worst behaviours. You already have psychiatry and pscychology.

Answer 10

Ever wondered why so many prison inmates change religions while in the Big House?