What positive accomplishments has Religion achieved?

Question

0_o For our species, not your personal problems.

Answer 1

Look in your Yellow Pages under hospitals. Count the ones that are affiliated with churches. In my city 3/4 of the hospitals are Catholic, Baptist or Methodist. I had surgery in a Methodist hospital.

Check out the private schools and universities. Again you will likely find many of them affiliated with one religion or another.

These institutions are the result of the inherent desire of religions to help their fellow human beings.

Next, check out the charities in your area. How many of them are affiliated with religions? In my city the major community agencies which help the poor and homeless are affiliated with the Catholic Church or with interdenominational efforts.

In Europe law was promoted by churches. The Gutenberg Press and movable type were invented to print the Bible. Literacy was promoted to read the Bible.

In the 17th Century there were colonists who came to North America seeking religious freedom. Because of their principles our Constitution includes protection for religions and those who choose not to practice religion.

Religion codifies the desire of many people to be good, to be principled, to have strong families and to help others.

I'm just getting warmed up, but I think I've answered your question and I have other things to do.

Answer 2

What religion. There are so many brands that it is difficult to give an answer. In antiquity religion was rather loose but achieved great things. The gods tended to be local and when a Greek went to Egypt he paid homage to the local gods. There was no religious animosity. Same can be said for a lot of the eastern religions and philosophies. Nobody claims to be better or truer just different. Which brings me to the Judeo/Christian/Islamic complex. Christianity is arguably the most blood thirsty an inflexible religion in history. Islam is more flexible and tolerable to other religions. Islam never came up with nightmare concepts such as the Holly Inquisition, the Jesuits or the crusades. Islam never persecuted the Jews like the Christians did for at least 5 centuries. The Christians have burned intellectuals at the stake, have wiped out countless civilizations like everything in south and central America. They also took care of the north. I'm really hard pressed to find any redeeming quality in these three exclusive religions. "There can be only one" syndrome is scary and has so far provided ample proof by their respective accomplishments and benefits to mankind.

Answer 3

The translation of the word religion means remembering. Every culture usually adopts a higher power to answer the questions:
Who am I,Where did I come from and Where am I going. Each culture passes down their beliefs to the next generation. Religions may have no basis in fact. They usually provide comfort and consolation to the grieving and ill. Compassion is invoked for the less fortunate and generosity for the well off. Religions usually establish guide lines for living a good life. Religions usually help keep things orderly.
Religion is positive unless used to enslave people.
The study of Religious Doctrine will guide ones choice of a Denomination.
The CHURCH is a entire different question.

Answer 4

Quite a lot, actually, including some incredible art, and the preservation and transmission of knowledge.

In Western civilization alone, the Monasteries were responsible for preserving pretty much all of our culture and civilization through the Dark Ages.

Much of science and technology have come from religion - A lot of labor saving devices were devised in order to free up more time for prayer.

Outside of that, a lot of the morals and mores of every culture are transmitted via religion, Relgion has provided - and continues to provide - much of the 'glue' that holds any society together.

Europe has moved to a post-religious phase, in many ways. And they are dying out. Birth rates of less than 1.25 per couple and an on-going immigrant invasion by young, vibrant, and religious peoples who are driving out the Europeans.

So, I would guess it has provided a LOT of plusses along with the negatives. Much like anything else in the world.

Orion

Answer 5

For our Species as you put it... oh, what a fine specimen of evolved monkey you are!

Let me say this to you straight, you should visit more countries, get in touch with different ways of thinking (and consequently new ways of living).
To answer your question, I shall quote the universal answer given to atheists: RELIGION IS THE BASIS OF MORALITY, (you can figure that out for yourself, if there were no moral laws and people would do the first thing that popped out in their tiny little heads, then there would be orgies and murders everywhere... you're telling me that religion isn't good? it's the best thing that happened to mankind)
You can also read THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS, which is a book, and you might even read it if you would turn off your tv...

Answer 6

The Salvation army, the Red Cross, Alcoholics Anonymous. The church provided the welfare state, especially in pre-Tudor times. Hospital and nursing was done by religious orders.
Our laws and government were based on the laws of the church - it all goes wrong when men add their own bits - like witches, celibate priests, etc

Answer 7

I don't believe in religion, and i dont think its usually a good thing, but it did start charitable organisations and things which really help people. Im not talking about missionaries, because as far as im concerned all they do is go to someones home and tell them what they have believed and how they live isn't good enough, even if they were perfectly happy as they were.

But they do stop some people hurting others because they think they'll go to hell if they do.

Answer 8

Well, they started the Red Cross, I think. And they did build a lot of beautiful churches that are nice to go see when you're visiting europe.

Answer 9

Salvation Army - Hospitals - emancipation of the black man from slavery - medical break throughs to name a few.

Answer 10

Given order to an otherwise chaotic world