I often hear people say Religion causes problems in the world. But shouldn't that be 'Intolerance' instead?

Answer 1

Religion breeds intolerance.

Their books tell them to distroy their "God's enemies".
They justify their action according to their religion.
Crimes against humanity, committed in the name of their "God".

Answer 2

Our concept of tolerance gets us even further in the hole.

Today society has to accept everyone elses behavior. And to not do so gets one labeled intolerant and called all sorts of names. We end of tolerating a lot of behavior that we shouldn't be - making excuses for it.

Intolerance isn't religion. Intolerance isn't speaking out against something that you think is wrong. But if that is what intolerance is then you'd better stick me with that label. Because I don't have to give you approval nor accept what you do as right.

And for those who claim all evil is from religion - take a good look at the communist countries. With an absolute lack of religion.

Evil comes from humans - and it can only be blamed on us. Blaming a belief system for the attitudes and behavior of humans is circular at best and blindness at worse.

Answer 3

Religion creates intolerance. Just look at the OT, for instance. "God" had the tribe of Israel go around killing all the tribes who didn't believe in "Him" - you don't think that creates intolerance? Look at the Sunnis and Shiites. They basically fight over a prophet and hate each other because of it. I would call a hatred that severe to be intolerance, wouldn't you? Intolerance by definition is the absence of tolerance for differing viewpoints or the people who express those viewpoints. Religious intolerance, rather, is when a group (a society, a religious group) specifically refuses to tolerate practices, persons, beliefs or whatever on religious grounds. It was intolerance that caused the Crusades and the Holocaust, after all....

Answer 4

I think that closed hearts and minds cause problems. When religion is used as a political tool under the guise of the will of god it causes a lot of problems.

Like it did in the middle ages in Europe. Unfortunately some systems and places have not evolved past that point yet. If they would open their hearts to the true meaning of their scriptures they would see deep enough to see truths.

But alas! Where religion is no longer used to control people, capitalism has taken over.

So.. lust for power, greed, intolerance and closed minds... they are great sources of problems.

Answer 5

Yes Intolerance causes lots of issues in the world.

Answer 6

I cannot stand it when I read "religion should be banned from the world because it causes all our problems" Anyone who believes that lacks critical thinking skills. Religion is not the source of problems. Newsflash! People are. The Bible clearly teaches that you should love the enemy, and when Jesus healed a non-Jewish women, He showed us that all are God's children. Perhaps if people stop being cruel, cold and unfriendly towards each other, many of our problems will go away. People just hide behind religion. Bin Laden and his followers, as well as Christian fundamentalists, have hijacked religion for their own sakes and it worked because for many religion is at the core of their existence. The world is more complex and lets not forget Satan and evil- which are very real in our world. But don't blame everything on religion and God.

Answer 7

You are right. It's not the religion that is the problem, but the people who are intolerant (or downright mean) to people who do not believe the same as they do.

That's one reason I love the Living Insights Center in St. Louis so much. It brings together people and artifacts and ideas from many different religions, many different cultures, to learn from one another, share insights, share love. This modest little converted residence may just save the world.

Answer 8

Religion serves to organize the intolerance and excuse it. But the religious mindset is about totalitarianism and any fascist policy can be made to serve the purposes of the intolerant.

Answer 9

Intolerance is what causes problems in the world. The tenets of my religion (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) give room for tolerance for other peoples beliefs.

Check out these scriptures in the Book of Mormon:

"Now there was no law against a man’s belief; for it was strictly contrary to the commands of God that there should be a law which should bring men on to unequal grounds. For thus saith the scripture: Choose ye this day, whom ye will serve. Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him; but if he did not believe in him there was no law to punish him. But if he murdered he was punished unto death; and if he robbed he was also punished; and if he stole he was also punished; and if he committed adultery he was also punished; yea, for all this wickedness they were punished. For there was a law that men should be judged according to their crimes. Nevertheless, there was no law against a man’s belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes which he had done; therefore all men were on equal grounds." (Alma 30:7-12, in the Book of Mormon.)

Even the beliefs of Anti-Christs were protected under the law. They could believe and preach against Christ all they desired so long as they did not murder, steal, commit adultery or do any other thing contrary to the law of the land which maintained order and peace. This is almost the exact situation of America today except concerning adultery.

Answer 10

Actually it is religious intolerance that screws up the world. A group of people who worship God/Allah/whatever-you-wanna-call Him in a certain way, might think that it is completely unacceptable for someone to worship Him in any other way. And thus pronounce that other group of people unfit for living or whatever, Much like the Christians in the Crusades who wouldnt allow the Muslims to worship in their own way, the way modern day Muslim extremists denounce the entire Western Civilization as Infidels and thus unworthy of living in Allahs Kingdom...Its all a bunch of BULLCRAP. If God doesnt like the way I worship Him, then He can deal with me Himself. Im sure he didnt appoint people in the middle east my judges...As I know I am not their judge either...

Answer 11

Yes. But the strongest source of intolerance today is in tyrannical government and religion, which work by stopping others from questioning different perspectives and by condemning those who do not share them.