Would the world be a 'better' place without religion?

Answer 1

Its not Religion that causes these problems that people whine about
Religion has NEVER caused a war
Greed of money land and power has
Humans will find other things to cover up ther vile actions if there was not religion
They would call it Nationalism
Or some other things
The world would be no different with out it
except people would find some other cause to blame things on

Answer 2

What if it wasn't?

Let's say that it caused chaos and war.

In that case, do you think that the world would be a better place if we convinced all of mankind to believe something that was not true, if it brought peace?

Personally, I could see using something like that as a band-aid. But I certainly wouldn't keep it forever.

I personally think that mankind can use philosophy to maintain peace. And I wholeheartedly believe the world would be a better place without false religions. (And this is assuming that the religions out there are false, of course)

If being honest and truthful caused chaos and war, personally, I'll take the chaos and war. Eventually only the smart people would be left, and the wars would end.

I am forced to wonder though, if many of the "believers" that are so afraid that they would go off the deep end without a religion, may do exactly that.

Answer 3

The answer would depend on some definitions.

I don't object to faith. I believe some things are unknowable, and the only way to form an opinion on those issues is through faith. I prefer to remain without an opinion in most of those cases.

I do object to subjugation of reason to authority.

Many "religious" leaders expect people to take their word that they know best, want what is best, or understand the tenet of faith best without much other than their own word to justify the faith, belief or choices being suggested. Thus if the leader does not "believe" in global warming or evolution, anyone who does is labeled something bad, from ignorant to delusional to infidel or heretic. One who questions the foundation of the belief or disbelief in the subject at hand is often vilified.

But this doesn't have to be so. I actually increased my appreciation for the Dali Lama when he was asked if, when there was a conflict between his faith and science, would he change his belief or reject the science. He said, "I'd have to change my beliefs if they were wrong." That is real humility in action. To believe that one has the hot-line direct to what God wants, thinks, did or intended is unmitigated hubris.

If honest measurement, thoughtful reason, and humility were more a part of religious practice, then no, the world wouldn't be any better off without it. However, with things as they stand, yes, probably better.

Answer 4

Ask the French' in the French revolution [religion was banned]
Ask Stalinist Russia [25 million died]
Mexico' at the turn of the century, religion was banned
Germany' Hitler put nuns priests in the concentration camps
and the religion became the Third Reich
Do you really think the world will become a better place.

Answer 5

As with anything that is a belief system, there are reasons why an individual would adhere to that system, or seek it out. Even if you managed somehow to "get rid of" religion, some would still not accept scientific explanations and theories for various reasons. Remember, each of us is a product of our environment. If I were to ask you why my entire family died in a plane crash, what answer would you give? What answer could you give for why I was not on that plane? What answer could you give other than "luck" "chance" "fate"? Or that "everyone dies, it is just a question of when"? I've found better answers and come to terms and found peace with these matters in religion. So as much as you might disagreee with it, you nor were any of your friends there to console me, but the church was.

You might not like religion, but it has done more for me than science has.

Answer 6

Not really that's an old atheist argument which has already been shown to be nonsense with the soviet union and the rise of amoral materialistic society in the west. Some militant atheists like Richard Dawkins create straw man arguments by focusing on fundamentalists than try to paint all believers as the same . But he ignores the role of Christians in the creation of education for all and the welfare state also the abolition of slavery and overseas support among many others. The foundation of our country's law ,values etc in Britain is Christian it what made our country civilized and for a time great sadly this has been undermined by ignorant militants in the misguided belief it would make the country more progressive but in fact it is destroying moral society and effecting our youth and making it intolerant .We have a rise in broken families , teenage pregnancies , abortions, STDs , it is not what i call very progressive but a sign of a society which is falling apart.

Answer 7

No, Religion may not be perfect, but it fulfills an important need, and does provide some emphasis on moral behavor. The former soviet union was no wonderful place without religion. Religions tend to be stuck in the past, and not open to new ideas as science is. Religion needs to update itself, with the newest and best in spiritual ideas and training techniques, so that it can perform its role of elevating morality, and building stronger spiritual character in people. Technology has intense moral consequences, if misused or misdirected. We need people in the future who have strong controll over their emotions and desires, so that they will be able to do the right thing under pressure, and under conditions requiring get precision.

Answer 8

I am not in favour of religion in any respect but it does have a place in society none the less. If it wasn't there there would still be power struggles in other aspects.

It is a mindless thing to kill over- I would have liked to have though that humanity had evolved passed all war but no amount of evolution could eliminate **** holes!

Answer 9

We would lose hundereds of groups like the Salvation Army, Samaratians Purse, Mother Teresa's Sistere of Mercy, etc that sustain the lives of thousands of needy people every day.

We would lose the orphanages and schools that the Christian church runs around the world to help rescue children from poverty.

We would lose the medical missionaries who go into impovered nation and offer free medicine, treatment, dentistry and surgery that save or enrich the lives of multitudes.

We would lose the comfort of the church community in times of loss or tragedy. We would lose the joy of the church in community of marriage and baptism. We would lose the counsel of the church when we struggle in our marriages or families with the evil of sin. We would lose the aid of the church in times of financial need.

None of these are things that we can do as an inidividual. It takes the organization of the church to accomplish these good things in the world. We would lose much if the organized church was not there.

Answer 10

It's a difficult question, and if one were to continue to apply the general moral values society seems to hold, then the answer is a unanimous "yes". Even if they do have a "golden rule", turning to religion as a form of moral guidance is moronic, given the number of self-contradictions each holy text holds.