Is religion actually a PRIMARY source of evil in the world?

Question

And that's why it tries so hard to self-promote itself as the source of benevolence. It's not all that unusual for people to overcompensate in their defense of something by trying to say it's exactly the opposite of what it really is. (Look at the Bush administration trying to call other people fascist.)

Answer 1

No, human beings are. No single raindrop ever blamed itself for the flood.

Answer 2

I was going to write "Yes" here... but see below.

First some definitions:

Religion: the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

Evil: the force in nature that governs and gives rise to wickedness and sin.

Combine the two and you'll see that when a religion with any set of beliefs struggles to promote itself, the opportunity will exist for evil (either as a force resident in nature or as some Satanic influence,) to encourage that rising religion to take steps that may, in ways unknown to it, damage others.

Therefore religion+evil can = an evil force

However that would not be the source of that evil, more the responsible party in promoting the evil visited upon it by Evil itself.

Religion isn't normally a source of evil, even an evil sect would only be a pro-motor of an evil force. Religious people are often a sadly mislead bunch too lazy to determine that their act of following is not without error.

Answer 3

What exactly do you mean by religion to begin with? Also what do you mean by evil? Defining such words clears confusion, and since I know your an atheist Evil to you has nothing to do with the concept or morality. And religion to you view is a belief.

So if your asking if religion causes killing in your eyes no. Because a belief can not cause any thing related to observation that can be directly related to you. Then you must ask yourself to base it on observation of your view human nature and need of power... its not beliefs that kill people its people that kill people. (then again how does a person with no beliefs believe in causation?)

Now a religions defines "evil" it is not the source of evil. Evil in action is not caused my religion it is caused by man. Just because something is defined by something does not mean its a source.

Its a question of two incompatibles, how and why, bottom line.

Answer 4

First thing first, the word religion means belief, and in Isa 14:12-15 it says satan has a "i" problem, and the same book Isa 53 talks about the self sacrificing Jesus Christ self should NEVER be promoted not the "i" but THE I AM John 8:58, self has NO defense possible, as for the word source, every scence Adam and Eve sinned mankind has been born with a sinfull nature, in Romans 3:23 For "ALL" have sinned and fallen short of The Glory of God, so we all have that source that sin in us but PRAISE GOD He does not leave us that way, find out the conditions upon which life is offered free bible lessons www.amazingfacts.org OR www.itiswritten.com talk to me also [e-mail] God bless

Answer 5

Evil is a stupid imaginary thing. Ignorance is the closest thing to evil if you want to call it that. Religion dumbs people down which makes them ignore common sense. Religion is the hereafter not the now and here. Only ignorance can start a war or make people not feel for one another. Only ignorance places monetary value over people, animals, and nature.

Answer 6

It can be, and frequently is.

But I believe there is more to it than that. As other posters have said, humans take religion and use it for their own evil purposes. You can't blame the hammer for the holes in the wall - somebody picked it up and used it.

I'd like to think religions were invented by people who meant well, but that unscrupulous people decided to use them as a tool to control other people and seize power.

"Religion" is one of those things that requires human minds in order to exist. No people would = no religion.

Answer 7

yes the source of evil on this planet for 2000 yrs all you have do do is look in the history books from the crusades on to now

Answer 8

There are those that will say "The devil and his demons are responsible."

Considering religion created such silly ideas, I would say that even the fundies agree that religion IS a primary source of evil in the world.

Answer 9

religion is used to control and suppress the masses
the most powerful soon realise the power in religion an usurp that power for their own purpose

Answer 10

As statement in Toa; my worst is I have body, if I have nobody, I will have nothing to worry. Everything running are for our body and minds. Those are sins. We ask for and is sin.