Has Religion done more good or bad?

Question

I want examples and then commentary

Answer 1

fifty-fifty
religion is a one which guides the people in a successful, moral and in a human consciousness way.
the first fifty percentage includes the charities done by a religion. in the name of religion there are educational institutions, hospitals, asylum etc....
the rest fifty percentage includes the revolution, racism and evils caused by a man to another man in the name of religion.
it occurs thro' all over the world.
finally religion is like a glass tumbler.
if we use them constructively, then we can enjoy the fruit.
but if we use them destructively,then it will broken and pierce the human lives. so it is in our hands.

Answer 2

Impossible question as the things that make history are all the bad but there is no record ( nor would history take note of) little goods that may add up. Two thousand years of miserable people taking comfort however small in their beliefs, countless people facing death better than they otherwise would. etc. The many of the evils of religions are recorded, while many of the good may simply be silently acknowledged by those who recieve them. Of course many of the evils go unrecorded as well ( imagine st augustines father beating him becuase he was such a $1ut or poor Velma who couldn't come out of the closet).
Religon has been around forever and history hits the high points. There is no way to tell how the billion little things through the ages compare to the few ( relatively) huge things.

Answer 3

Religion did wonderful things for this world in the past. When the human race was young and uninformed religion was there to explain the unexplained. The problem is that we grew in intelligence and gained a better understanding of the things happening around us. This conflicts with early teachings and therefore we have massive contradictions and disagreements. In a perfect world everyone would be free to believe in what they feel comfortable with. The problem is that the fanatics cannot agree to disagree. So my answer is that religion has done as much good as it has done bad but its effects are definitely heading in the wrong direction right now.

Answer 4

What do I see as religion's contribution to society? Religion creates divisive power structures which pit the various packs against each other on an ideological basis. It causes people to focus on belonging instead of on being a humanist or a moralist. It encourages people to engage in meaningless ritual and thereby permits them to believe that such participation is primary to being a good and moral person. It permits people to reinforce their dominant and submissive programming (instead of reinforcing their spiritual side by shifting a focus to moral behavior). It creates a sense of superiority in people which dehumanizes people who have alternative positions.

Therefore, religion exists as a result of the very programing which is contrary to the will of God. It exists for it's own sake and is (for the very most part) a total failure in either saving souls or binging humanity closer together.

Would the world be a better place without religion? You bet. What we need to do is move away from national, religious, ethnic and social class divisions and toward a more humanist approach to the world. By placing ourselves together in the common human race and eliminating these divisive frames of reference we would contribute to our collective good. Can you imagine for a moment if the billions of dollars spent each year on military supplies was instead put in to a world coffer from which social programs and relief for less fortunate individuals was made? Oh there I am dreaming again....

Answer 5

It is man that has had the choice to do good or bad , not Christian religion ! The guild lines set forth by God have been ignored by man , and man choosing to do his "own thing" with no regard for obeying Gods` Word. ** John 15 :10 -12 .. If ye keep my commandments , ye shall abide in my love ; even as I have kept my Father`s commandments , and abide in his love . These things have I spoken unto you , that my joy might remain in you , and that your joy might be full . This is my commandment, That ye love one another , as I have loved you .* I can`t find any bad that Jesus said in the 3 verses from John !!

Answer 6

Those who have true faith don't strap explosives to their children, don't abuse their positions as missionaries for their own monetary gain, don't kill in the name of a God who has told them Thou Shalt Not Kill, don't declare war in the name of a God who has forbidden unjust war.

Those who have true faith undergo amazing acts of courage and fortitude, they obey the laws that teach them to shelter the needy, they contribute to their communities and organize charities to give stability to families worlds away, they give their lives so that others might live.

Religion is a wonderful thing in the right hands.
What would you do with it if it was in yours?

Answer 7

Considering that most of the wars that ever occured on earth were religious I would say bad.

Answer 8

Bad...its the worse thing ever created by man, worse than the nuclear bomb.

Answer 9

bad.

just look at the middle east

enough said

Answer 10

Good for the "NEO-CONS" of the U.S & Jews.
Bad for the rest of the world esp. for iraq & afghanistan & muslim world in general.