Do you think the world would be a better place without religion?

Question

I'm not saying a world without God, just a world without religion.

Answer 1

As much as I'm tempted to say yes, I have to be objective.

There *are* people who have become better persons because they believe they will have someone to answer to when they die, so they strive to do as many good deeds as possible. We cannot deny that such people are productive to the society.

So I can't really say that religions are the root of all evil, although they do contribute to its amount.

In high doses.

Very high.


.

Answer 2

Until roughly the 17th century when most countries became what you could call 'civilised' religion was a good thing, mainly cos it controlled people. Since the 17th century, religion has been the set back in the development of the world as a whole and thus i believe it has stouted the growth of technology and knowledge. Basically, i blame religion for the fact i'm sitting here in school learning things, instead of going out into the world and developing other technologies because religion has indirectly prevented such technoligal growth that means i can learn everything through some form of brain influencing.

Obviously people would think i'm probably a complete retard for thinking that way, but people always go on about in the next 100 years, you'll be doing this and driving that. Imagine what could have happened in the last 300 years without religion?


Christians, Muslims and other religions would argue that the world is a nicer and more friendly place to live because of religion, but how come Iraq and other middle east countries are torn because of religion?

Answer 3

Well that would put me of a job as I am High Priestess of a Temple. Some people say that "money is the root of all evil" others say "religion is the cause of misery in the world" when neither are true. People can be evil and people cause misery. People generalize far too much and do not look at the root cause; people. There have been many atheist tyrants that killed thousands so one cannot logically say that religion is at the heart of all suffering. People are supposed to follow religion and it is meant to teach morals, values, manners and respect. Yes they can be learnt from elsewhere however it is religion that set the foundations for these. Quite frankly the world would not be "the world" without religion, however I will say that the world would be a better place if there were no people on it. No murders, no rapes, no robberies, no fraud as well as no communities, no love, no respect and no kindness. People have a choice they can be a decent moral being or they can be indecent.

Answer 4

That's a tricky question. Cause it's like saying a world without GOD. If that's the case, then there would be no world.
However in some aspects with religion, we would be better off without it. When religious talks come up, it just brings about confusion because everyone thinks that there way of life is the right way. Now people, I'm not pointing fingers I'm simply drawing a reference:
Like the Muslims they think that everyone should listen to them or else.

Roman Catholics pray to Jesus through Mary. That I don't understand. They think that carrying around a holy rosary will protect them.

Jehovah Witness they don't celebrate anything. Which is whack because in the bible, Psalms 100, 148, 150, just to name a few, they all say to come before his presence in singing. i.e. celebrate him celebrate his life what he has done for us and will continue to do for us.

However religion acts as superstructure to have some order in the world. It helps to bring people together. Even though in some ways it segregates society, by the sects, groups. However, I still stay with what I said in the beginning: A WORLD WITHOUT GOD, IS NO WORLD.
I have to agree with silverback, religious leaders are corrupt and mislead people into inflicting emotional and spiritual harm on people. Even though one may not share the same views as others, people should respect other peoples' religion.

Answer 5

Currently the Christians contributes more each year to "charity" then all other origanization in the world combined. When there is a disaster, usually the Christians in the form of either the Salvation Army or the Red Cross) are the first their with food, clothing and other disaster aid.

Organizations like Franklin Graham's Samartitan's Purse of Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity feed more hunger people every day then all the government programs in the world combines.

Christians operate more orphanages and schools then any other organization on earth. My own church runs a school in Honduras, where public education only goes to the third grade, that takes in about 500 students a year and provides food, clothing, schooling and a trade to each of those improvered children fro free. Christian doctors supply free medical aid to impovered nations across the world.

When an earthquake that measured 8.0 and lasted almost 3 1/2 minutes hit conteral Peru in August of this year, it was a local church (La Camino De Vida) which was first on the site with food and water for the thousands of victims. They would coonstruct three refugee camps (each holding over a thousand families), and are working to building new homes and businesses for each of the displaced families in those camps. All at the churches expense.

Add to that alcohal and drug treatment programs such as AA, and most of the other "12 step" programs that use religion as an important part of the treatment.

My own church maintance a "benevolent fund" that is used for helping people in fiancial need. We have raised money for a woman with cancer who had no insurance for treatment. We have paid off the mortgage on people's homw. We have purchased cars for people. We help with food, clothing, utility payments, rent, car repairs, home repairs, etc. on a weekly basis.

All of those things are only being done because of "religion". Can you name me an theist group that does the same work as the Salvation Army?

If the Christian religion were to disappear, the results would be the death of millions around the world every year.

...All of that is only possible because of organized religion. No individual could do that on their own.

Answer 6

You, miss, are my new best friend.

We don't need a book to tell us how to live our lives and to be decent people. If people need to live in fear of what terrible things will happen to them in 'the afterlife' should they steal /murder / rape, and that's the only thing stopping them doing it, then they need some therapy.

PS: Pussicus,you can still have Christmas. My Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus, and very little to do with presents- it's the time of year I look forward to spending real time with my friends and family and showing them how much I appreciate them. And before the Christians go crazy, think about this: what date was Jesus supposedly born again? December 25th? No, try again.
A world without religion? Fantastic. 'God', whether he / she / it exists or not, is more than welcome. The way God is painted by the various religions is a joke. I think I'm doing an OK job of being a fairly decent human being without religion's help actually.

Answer 7

Religion is one of the three main causes of war so i would have to say the world would be a better place without religion in my eyes

Answer 8

Thats a good question.. thoughout history we've been fighting and killing in the name of religion. So in that sence the world would be much better, but the reason for all the fighting is because religion is one of the most important things to have in this world. I couldn't go a day thinking that there was no god and nothing matters.

Hope this helps

Answer 9

Not even on a good day (and this is Monday). Since our laws come from the Ten Commandments, which is from the Bible, and is the fundamental basis of all religions it is not hard to feature a world without religion. Chaos would reign supreme, there would be no law, no freedom.

Answer 10

I understand what you mean, so many atrocities in the name of religion. Perhaps you should be saying lets take all the extremists and fanatics out of all religions and put them on an island together and see what happens. Whilst the rest of us who do believe in God and all the wonderful things that He has given us and who are blessed with an open mind and are able to see all points of view, maybe we could then get along as one happy family.
Thing is it would have to be a big island.....One can live in hope.

Answer 11

some parts of the world would definitely be better off without religion.