Every day, I hear someone saying that religion is the cause of all the world's problems. People go to war, they say, because of religion.
It is my contention that people go to war over their own greed. A "holy war" is pretty much a war over which group gets the booty, hasn't it always been that way?
Seriously, honestly, think about it...is "religion" evil...or is it really that men are inherently selfish and greedy?
2007-06-12 13:20:48 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
For "men" read mankind...let's not leave the ladies out!
2007-06-12 13:21:26 · update #1
The Bible says God has put a desire for him in the hearts of all men/women. If you got rid off all the religions mankind would created a new one.
2007-06-12 13:27:04 · answer #1 · answered by † H20andspirit 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would probably be a much better world with less trouble. A system of laws without religion seems to work much better. If anyone doubts how religions have held countries back just look around. Look at the South American countries first. What is their predominant religion? You guessed it. There is a definite pattern of strong religious influence for Third World countries. Then that same Religious order being run from that little one acre spot in Italy, constantly berates the US for not providing more support.
2007-06-12 20:37:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I used to be of the opinion that religion itself was not necessarily evil - that it was the churches, and the men who sought power by leading the churches. Of course greed plays into it in a huge undeniable way. I still find fault with organized religion, in that it's become far too political. People think that the Founders wanted to keep government out of the church - not so. They wanted to keep the church out of government, so that the church could not have a stranglehold on our leaders, as in France and England.
I really don't care about what other people believe in - I wish there was a way to make people really understand that. I believe in people being able to freely practice the religion (or not) of their choice. But let's face it - when you're talking about the Inquisition, that was less about greed and more about converting and killing. The Alhambra Decree springs to mind... I don't want religion abolished. I want fairness and equality for everyone.
2007-06-12 20:46:44 · answer #3 · answered by ReeRee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think religion itself is evil, but I do find that organized religion is often corrupted by people with ulterior motives.
I think if all religions were to suddenly disappear, something similar would quickly take their places. The names and stories would change again, but the basic premises would be the same. the underlying principles for living a moral life wouldn't change just because the religion itself is gone.
2007-06-12 20:30:53 · answer #4 · answered by Chuck S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any religion that claims to be the only way to God is a dangerous lie. People falsely believe they are superior to all others who think differently. They want those beliefs in the laws of their country. That is what is wrong with religion. You can love God and not believe in any idiotic man made books or religion.
2007-06-12 20:31:18 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
there might be no war. But I don't know if people would know or understand right from wrong. if people don't have religion and don't believe in God then what reason would they have to not hurt other people or themselves. Alot of people get clean and sober because of religion. Alot of bad choices I made that have effected me in the long run were made before I discovered religion or while I was questioning religion like you are.
2007-06-12 20:28:05 · answer #6 · answered by Melissa Y 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would certainly end the strife in Iran, Chechniya, Palestine, Kashmir, and of course Iraq. Religion, per se, is not inherently evil -- just foolish.
2007-06-12 20:25:49 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Monotheistic religions are evil, polytheistic and pantheistic religions are fine. Monotheistic religions are pretty new in the scope of the evolution of religion from the early polytheistic weather based religions, and they have been the worst creation of the human mind for our species.
2007-06-12 20:25:41 · answer #8 · answered by Starvin' Marvin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there would be chaos and things would get much worse without a religion. ppl r naturally evil and religion is needed as a means of control. even if there is a such thing as 'holy war' promoting such destruction internationally, the majority of ppl who dont take part in it are restricted by there own religion to keep the peace. it's what holds me back frm destroyning the ppl around me who annoy me.
2007-06-12 20:52:21 · answer #9 · answered by evanescent_eclipse 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, of course all of the Christians would go on a murder, rape and rob spree. They keep saying that the only source of their morality is their religion.
Yup, I guess the religious would simply run amok!
The atheists would simply carry on as normal.
2007-06-12 20:27:12 · answer #10 · answered by U-98 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋