Should religion be banned?

Question

My parents were Christian missionaries. I spent the first seven years of my life in Zimbabwe where I grew up among people who sacrificed easy comfortable lives in their home country in order to help the poor in Africa: doctors, nurses, teachers and ministers who dedicated their lives to building hospitals and schools and supplying medical help and education to the people of Zimbabwe. You can imagine how it annoys me when I see questions posted by people in this forum pointing fingers to Christianity as the source of all evil and pleading for religion to be banned. To me they seem to believe a lie. That is why I did a search on the internet to find some proof of what Christians are doing worldwide. I found this and saved it on my laptop, but I know for certain that it is only the tip of an iceberg:

1. Last year alone, CBN Partners:
 provided medical treatment to over 785,000 people;
 drilled clean, fresh water wells and cisterns for over 425,000 thirsty people;
 ended the suffering of over 625 children through cleft palate surgery;
 provided hundreds of thousands of meals;
 paid the school tuition and gave supplies to thousands of young students.

2. Emmanuel Activity Centre (EAC)
COH runs a day activity centre called Emmanuel Activity Centre (EAC), serving people who have:
Down’s syndrome
Intellectual disabilities
Autism spectrum disorder
Cerebral palsy
Multiple disabilities

3. We operate across the spectrum of violent conflict: from displacement to repatriation, from rehabilitation to the re-development of conflict-damaged communities. CORD’s key sectors are education and livelihoods. Our work also addresses cross-cutting issues: child protection, gender violence, trauma, HIV/AIDS, environmental issues and forgiveness and reconciliation.


And if you feel you could help instead of criticizing other people, here’s a useful website:
http://www.tearfund.org/

Now tell me: Do you honestly believe that religion should be banned?

My intention wasn't to discuss the pro's and cons of missionary work, but to point out how unfair people's comments about religion are. However, Sharmel has brought up a valid point. I agree that there is the danger of Christians coming across as arrogant when they try to convert people from other religions. On the other hand, a lot of missionaries don't force their faith onto people but simply offer their services and invite people to church. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with that. The missionaries who worked with my parents were humble, loving, non-judgmental people who were there to serve. They were greatly loved and respected by the Wakaranga, the group they befriended: people who were previously severely suppressed by another tribe in Zimababwe.

Answer 1

No, I don't think so. Additionally, Catholic Charities is the #1 contributor and source of assistance for the poor and needy in the United States.

Answer 2

All your question proves is that people can band together to take on a task. Which means we can cooperate. This can be religious or not. Working in groups at school to figure out a problem, working as a team to get first place, or getting a group of buddies together to Adopt a Road/Highway, are all examples of humans working together. It doesn't have anything specifically religious about it, save the fact that they stick "Christian" or something before their work efforts.

Religion just proves we can work together under some sort of cause (NOT having to be "supernatural"). Doesn't mean we can't do that elsewhere. If we called the church community a "community service", they could still do all that they do now and MORE if they want, with no religious strings attached.

Your argument proves nothing that us atheists haven't heard before about 1 quadrillion times.

Answer 3

Of course not. People must be free to think and believe as they feel the must. Therein, in fact, lies the one major problem that I have always had with missionaries - that their TRUE mission is to convert others to their own belief system. If a person wants to go out into other parts of the world and serve the interests of the less fortunate, let him do what he is able to in that regard, and quit trying to attach "religious strings" to those activities. Missionaries have been notorious, as long as they've been around, for using the trust and gratitude of the people they targeted for their "do-gooding", as a tool to simultaneously manipulate their minds and begin the work of their true mission, which was to co-erce them into abandoning their own cultures and beliefs and embrace, instead, the beliefs of the missionaries themselves.

I will not belittle the genuine good that has been done by missionaries, utilizing generous donations from the public, in support of those activities. But I have actually spoken with a couple of missionaries I got to know at one time, and they made no secret of the fact that they considered it their overriding objective - to make converts. This is what I find objectionable and arrogant and outrageous.

Help the less fortunate by all means, and educate them where they need it, into ways that will lead to their own better ability to fend for themselves, be healthier, and have a better quality of life. But leave the other aspects of their life the heck alone.

Answer 4

No it shouldn't be banned.

Not because of the many good works some religious groups are involved in, or your personal testimony, but because people should have a right to explore their spirituality, and band together with others as they see fit.

The list of good works is impressive, but the death toll inflicted by Christianity is pretty impressive too. The pope condemning the use of condoms alone is directly responsible for millions if AIDs related deaths in Africa and elsewhere.

Religious wars including the crusades to the present conflict in Iraq (which whilst not explicitly religious has been described by Bush as a crusade and is supported by the religious right) and is responsible for 700,000 premature deaths over its duration...

And you do not have to be religious to do good work in the world, and a great deal of money that supports religious organizations doing good works comes from non religious people.

Answer 5

I first read your question & asked myself why anyone would ask such a thing? As I began to read further, I began to understand why you asked the question about religion being banned. I know from watching tv documentaries, that missionaries do a lot of good for the people throughout the world, often putting their own lives in peril, as well as their family's lives. I applaud your parents for what they have done, as well as the other missionaries. Of course religion should never be banned & you'll just have to excuse the ignorance of others who say it should. Have a great day! :)

Answer 6

No, but it should be censored.. Religion is supposed to only teach people to practice good deeds and become a better and kinder person. So, they will not go off-track. But religions nowadays have gone way beyond than that, for example labelling certain figures as saviours and if you don't believe certain figure, you are wrong or something.. Give me a break, there are lots of religions and lots of ways to connect to God, why certain religions say that there is only one right way. And the more extreme one will teach you how to kill others by throwing bombs. So, yeah, religion should not be banned but should be censored in terms of its content.

Answer 7

Satan is wanting religion banned and he works through man (day and night) to get the job done. He has a degree of dominion in the physical realm. If you read Hosea 4:6, God said, "my people are destroyed because of lack of knowledge." Some Christians lack the knowledge and understanding of their authority in Christ and therefore Satan is able to deceive and defeat many Christians.

Answer 8

as soon as religion minds its own damn business i would say no, at this time, yes it should be banned, its stunting our growth as a country, how will we progress if religion says no we cant do that its against the word of "God".

If a woman wants to have an abortion its her body and her choice, YOU DO NOT OWN HER!!
of course after a certain amount of time being pregnant abortions should not be allowed as the fetus has developed a lot more.

destroying families because of "OMG SHE HAS TEH EARRING AND SPAGHETTI STRAP" she becomes and outcast and her Mother and Father think shes the devil incarnate.

wow did you hear about the $130,000,000 new church being built?
that money could have really helped some people, but no we need a bigger better house of god to brainwash people into giving us even MORE money while some bible thump-er preaches about how you shouldn't do drugs or have sex, and after that he goes out to find a prostitute and to get wasted.
why? cause thats his day job, thats how he makes his money, by giving you people a fairy tale that you will not let go of. hes a salesman, but he doesn't need to sell anything, he just exploits peoples insecurities by threatening them with going to hell.

Everyone wants to know what happens after we die, but guess what, NO ONE is going to have that answer

We usually can tell the difference between right and wrong, Live your life, be a good person, treat others with respect, its really not that hard people.

If any of you think its not a problem than your being ignorant.

Answer 9

Although these charities have some redeeming qualities, consider this...

the book Violence in God’s Name says: “From Indonesia to Northern Ireland, the Middle East to Kashmir, India to Nigeria, the Balkans to Sri Lanka, Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs justify the use of violence on the grounds that they are protecting their religious identity and interests.”

If the churches were taxed their would be more than enough money to pay for these services. But what the Bible says is most important.......

Keeping in mind the way Religions aren't as peaceful as they should be and that they meddle in politics (even steering politics) this makes perfect sense.......

Picture the scene. A harlot is sitting on the back of a fearsome beast. The beast has seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:1-4)

Whom does the harlot represent? She exerts influence “over the kings of the earth.” She dresses in purple, uses incense, and is exceedingly wealthy. In addition, by means of her spiritistic practice, ‘all the nations are misled.’ (Revelation 17:18; 18:12, 13, 23)

The Bible helps us to see that this harlot is a worldwide religious entity. She depicts, not any one religion, but all religions that produce rotten fruit.
The beast that the harlot rides pictures the world’s political powers. (Revelation 17:10-13)

False religion straddles the back of this political beast, attempting to influence its decisions and to control its direction.
Soon, though, an amazing event will take place. “The ten horns that you saw, and the wild beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her devastated and naked, and will eat up her fleshy parts and will completely burn her with fire.” (Revelation 17:16)

In a sudden, shocking move, the world’s political powers will turn on false religion and completely destroy her! What will prompt this action? The Bible book of Revelation answers: “God put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.” (Revelation 17:17)

Yes, God will call false religion to account for all the despicable acts she has committed in his name. In a stroke of perfect justice, he will use her political paramours as his instrument of execution.

Who refuse to get involved in this worlds politics? Who are known by their high moral standards? Who shun pagan holiday celebrations? Who are doing what Christ Jesus said to do and make known His Fathers name and preach the Good News of God's Kingdom?
(Matthew 6:9,10...Matthew 7:21-23...Mathew 24:14)

This is where Jehovah's Witnesses stand out. We are not perfect but we do our best to imitate God's Son and even Love our enemies in addition to being known by the Love we have for each other. (John 13:34,35...Matthew 5:44)

Please request a Bible study and visit jw.org. Thank You.

Answer 10

Yup....in a way. Ourganized religion anyway. Pagans and such are just fine, they don't try to attack/brainwash/condemn anyone. Same with Buddhism.

But I do believe all abrahamic religions should be banned from being taught to children. Children should never be indoctrinated but left to choose what they want.

Answer 11

While I think this question is blatant propaganda, I do agree that religion should not be banned.

It's easy to allow speech that everybody is content with. Whether you allow speech that annoys many people to no end - that's the true test of a Democratic society.

However, just as the religious do have a right to practice as they please, the non-religious do have a right to not be aggravated by the religious. To the religious: Please keep this in mind when you're proselytizing. If they say they're not interested, take the hint.