So I asked a question if a tool can be blamed for evil and the majority said it is the user of the tool.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlWZlucvq_iXTtTx31QJ4bDd7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071130091005AAZzJB9
If that is the case then why do people blame religion for being evil? The religion is a tool, it is inanimate and can be used for purposes both sacred and profane. Why do the people insist on blaming the religion when it is the people who use it for evil? The evils done by the church are done by men for their own selfish motives, but that does not change what the tool was meant to accomplish. It also does not mean the religion actually teaches people to do such a thing. It works in the same way with science, by itself science is neither good nor evil it is how you use it. Curing disease would be a good outcome but if someone started a war to give natural selection a helping hand it would be an evil outcome of the use of science. So why do we call religion evil if it is man?
2007-11-30 04:29:52 · 11 answers · asked by mrglass08 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Ludwig Van- many things exist solely in peoples minds and yet are still tools, education for instance.
Jeff S- I will support peoples right to believe in it and decry people perverting it to their owns purposes.
Kool-Aide- I do not find it to be a waste of time and so it is valuable to mean so your premise is false.
Brainstorm- You have experienced people using religion for their own purposes, that is my point.
Barchanon- Religion is a tool. In my case it is the tool through which I understand God's love for me by the sacrifice of Christ so that I might reconnect with God.
Richard F- Social entities are tools. Education, politics, science, language, mathematics and philosophy are all non-material and yet all tools.
Adam G- It is still not the religion, the religion can not do anything but must have people who do evil acts.
2007-11-30 05:31:00 · update #1
I think the best way to sum it up is using the old saying, "Guns don't kill people; people kill people." That is "religion isn't evil, people are evil." Yes, God gave people free will, to choose, and just because you are a representative of religion, wearing a outfit, and do wrong, doesn't necessarily lead to the conclusion that religion is bad. However religion bashing is always a popular sport throughout the centuries.. Why should I follow religion if they are just a bunch of hypocritical, money scamming fakes? That relieves me from the responsibilities of doing God's will. I have cart blanch, free rein to do what I want to. This is faulty logic of course, it is just someone looking for an excuse. People want to use logic, to neutralize and trivialize religion so they can run riot. I'm not really "religious" per say but even I can see what religion bashers are all about. Peace
2007-11-30 04:40:24 · answer #1 · answered by Clipper 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess my first contention would be: I don't think religion should be considered a tool. People's actions can and should be considered right or wrong. But, I'm also not fond of using terms like Good and Evil. That seem to enhance extremist views.
Maybe it would be useful to see if people actually consider religion to be a tool, symbolic or otherwise.
2007-11-30 04:36:00 · answer #2 · answered by barchanon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. Religion is an antiquated tool that causes a lot of confusion in minds who cannot understand the ramifications of doing something out of the name of a religion.
Sort of like a Iron Maiden, a tool, which was used to extract information from all kinds of people...especially those who felt it their religious rite to not practice as the masses did.
The tool itself is not evil...but it represents evil to anyone with the knowledge of what it is used for. Just like a flag can be a representation of evil to some people, but a sign of hope and prosperity to others.
All tools, all taken for granted by those who use them. Its called human nature.
2007-11-30 04:36:24 · answer #3 · answered by GayLF 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You are equating a material object, a sword, with a social entity, religion. Not sure you can do this. Weak analogy at best.
Religion CAN be evil if it's created as such. If one founded a "religion" that has as its primary goal, "death to all redheads," then that "religion" would be evil. The people the belonged and followed that tenet would be evil as well.
p.s. I'm not advocating the annihilation of all redheads.....
2007-11-30 04:36:55 · answer #4 · answered by Richard F 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Semantics.
They are decrying the horrible/ moronic/ outlandish things done that use religion as a sanctioning reason for justification. If licorice was involved in as much slaughter, strife, and violence, we'd call licorice evil, two.
It may be a a poor description, but it is a powerful association.
2007-11-30 04:35:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
A group of people with similar belief structures (religious beliefs), who find a common thing against their beliefs, have a tendency to use a "mob mentality" when disagreeing with a certain something....
The mob mentality can be dangerous....
2007-11-30 04:38:23 · answer #6 · answered by Adam G 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Religion exist in the minds of people. How can you classify that as a tool. It is more like a cause.
2007-11-30 04:32:47 · answer #7 · answered by Small Victories 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Yes, but you've neglected the point that RELIGION IS A WASTE OF TIME AND ENERGY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF SPENDING YOUR LIFE THINKING ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE NOT EVEN SURE EXISTS--AND CAN NEVER BE SURE IF IT EXISTS
2007-11-30 04:33:35 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Ramen to that. does that mean you are going to help me defend Islam? i see a lot of hate against that religion today.
2007-11-30 04:33:07 · answer #9 · answered by Jeff S Phoenix_AM 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I have experienced religion and I can tell you that it divides societies. They all have their own agenda
2007-11-30 04:33:45 · answer #10 · answered by brainstorm 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋