does religion function as a unifying or divisive force in today's world?

Answer 1

Religion, by its very nature is "exclusive" rather than "inclusive."

The second you set up rules and regulations that state how you are to behave and interact with your fellows and the greater environment while at the same time, making these rules and regulations go against human nature - then state that to do otherwise is a sin punishable by an eternity of unspeakable suffering, you automatically "exclude" those who are unable to behave within the strike confines of your religious law. Further...

The second you state that your path to higher spirituality - or your path to getting closer to your creator - or that your god is the one and only true god - you automatically "exclude" those who think and believe differently.

To a greater rather than a lessor extent, religion is a force of division. The only time it unifies, is within the believing group itself - or - when one religious group attacks another religious group that believes differently. Each group is unified in the destruction of the other. Consequently...

No matter how you look at it, religion is fundamentally exclusive. It is not enough to be unified within a particular group. That unification is the source of all religious strife due to the exclusive nature of religion itself.

The only way religion can become fundamentally inclusive is if it evolves to the point where each specific group is welcoming, accepting and respectful of the other. Given what I've seen on this forum, I doubt highly that this will happen anytime soon.

Answer 2

Count the churches in your yellow pages.

Look at the wars that would not be happening if religion did not serve as at least a catalyst, if not an overt cause.

Watch the practices of "shunning" in many churches.

Then tell me in what way religion serves as a UNIFYING force. The divisions caused by religion far outweigh the small inclusions that would likely occur anyway.

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Answer 3

In theory it should create bigger divisions between the different Religions and unify its internal divisions. In practise, it seems to be entirely divisive, with more and more splinter groups within the main religions

Answer 4

Some religions attempt to globalize, others do not.
Some are 'select,' others are not.

If one follows the Christian faith, it's a bit irrelevant, as their Bible claims the anti-christ will bring upon the world, the first true unified and globalized religion, that attempts to encompass all previous known religions, ...except Christianity.

I always found that a bit interesting.

People tend to forget it's about the unification in the afterlife, not in the mortal life.

Answer 5

Both - it unifies the divisions. Christians (or Muslims or Hindus...) are united with each other, for example, but divided from everyone else.

Answer 6

It depends on the scale but I would say yes, unifying.. A world with 30 distinct belief systems is more unified than one with 3 bil. individual beliefs

Answer 7

Yes it does. Many people unite under a religious belief. In that same regard, religion acts as a tool of division. Many people who would not normally be divided end up separating themselves into different sects because of religion. I have lived through several church splits, and it is quite nasty.

Answer 8

It unifies people into polarized groups which incite division between groups.

Answer 9

The ´Christian´religion has divided into 38,000 different sects to date (Reference available if you email me).
That is not unifying.
Then there are all the other different religions - all at each others throats.
Correct answer by definiton is Divisive.

Answer 10

Both. It unites those who follow a particular religion but divides those followers from others. It's a group dynamic. Look at any group of sports fans and you will see exactly the same thing. Actually you only need to look around here and you'll see people acting like drunken sports fans.