Do you think organised religion halts a culture's progress, especially in the modern world?

Answer 1

Wow... it's a big question, but I tend to think so, yes.

Religion's primary benefit to humankind over the centuries has been, as I see it, the promise of an everlasting life (and, debatably, a measure of morality -- for those who need an external motive for such things). While this everlasting life may or may not be what's really in store for believers (and many would say I am doomed to Hell merely for not pretending to be sure) religion has given a great many people a great deal of hope. I have to respect their desire to live forever and to believe that in the end, all will be "just."

But I do believe religion comes with a terrible price. It tends to distract people from learning about the world and our place in it (including how we got here, the overwhelming evidence for evolution being a prime example). It creates invisible borders, tensions, and wars between "good" peoples of different beliefs who are each certain they -- and only they -- are right. It gives leaders, such as the current Presidents of both America and Iran (to name just two), an excuse to do any number of foolish--sometimes atrocious--things to the environment, to science, and to other people in the deluded belief that their own desires are actually communiques from God or Allah. And perhaps above all else, it allows -- maybe even encourages -- sloppy reasoning and an apathy for seeking the truth about a subject... any subject. It encourages (I dare say threatens) believing and doing what you are told without further investigation or reason.

Rampant misinformation and all its accompanying damage are the result. Consider the critical parts misinformation and blind obedience played in allowing Adolph Hitler's rise to power. Even more on topic, consider the various widely-reported religious cults of the last few decades which drove congregations of believers to mass suicide. It's difficult for a culture to progress when it's killing itself off.

But there are more subtle impediments. Thanks to religion, many people think the earth is roughly a millionth of its true age, that scientists--true seekers of truth--aren't to be trusted (since they "lie" about evolution) and there are countless other examples of science knowledge being ignored or buried. Thanks to religious fundamentalism and extremism the promising research on stem cells has been hindered... terrorists have been emboldened to kill... many who are unsure of their beliefs merely toss integrity aside and fearfully pretend. Without integrity and weakened by fear we, and society, are critically injured. And there are daily examples of society's ability to communicate and progress having ground nearly to a halt in fear of "offending" or excluding someone of a particular faith.

In short, I question whether religion hasn't brought more harm than good to the world over the millennia, and certainly in the modern world.

Answer 2

Both organized religion and culture are ideas that would need to be defined. In my opinion, and since this question is in the "Religion AND Spirituality, neither organized religion or culture -regardless of how you define them- are of any real significance to the spiritual progress or spirituality of mankind.
In other words, organized religion may (or may not) halt culture's progress, and -in the end- it doesn't matter. Neither organized religion or culture exist except in the individual's imagination. Only what happens at the individual spiritual level matters. Only there can there be any "progress".

Answer 3

Yes. It halts the two major aspects of culture, the arts and the sciences. Probably the best example of organized religion halting the arts was the reaction to the art of Gustav Klimt. His work is just genious, but religion called it pornographic and perverted. Luckily, this made his supporters become even more in love with his work, but now adays I seem to notice that art is becoming more and more safe. Music is not speaking out any more, and the visual arts are becoming more conservative. But the effects of religion in the science world are obvious. They want to stop kids learning evolution in school and instead learn "intelligent design" (pretty much creationism). Also they are rabidly opposed to embriotic stem cell research, which could save millions of lives. Organized religion is really the plague of our society.

Answer 4

Not religion - the Abrahamic religions. My religion is perfectly in harmony with Progress. Christianity has been a 2000 year setback for humanity. We are only now rediscovering ideas that were known in the ancient world. Imagine where we'd be if they hadn't destroyed the library at Alexandria

I wrote about it here: http://the-goddess.org/blog/2005/08/antikythera-mechanism.html
and here:
http://the-goddess.org/blog/2005/08/light-of-learning-was-deliberately.html

Answer 5

There is definitely a place in culture for organized religion.

I have met many a person who is completely unable to run their own lives. It is for these people that religion is necessary.

It is just short of inpatient treatment. I do not mean this in a derogatory way. Religion has its place. It is important and can not be overlooked. I don't think it should be as mainstream as it is, but I see that a lot of people do tend towards it. As most people are sheep, it can be extremely harmful. Thankfully, in recent years..it hasn't been as murderous as it was in the past. They used to kill people for not believing. Except for the middle east, that isn't an issue anymore. However, there are many people who are still frightened not to be religious for fear of some form of punishment...be it in this life or the next.

In conclusion, religion has a place. It should be used widely for people who are constitutionally unable to run their own lives. By this, I mean people that are not "insane" by our current definition, yet these people, if left to their own defenses, will be harmful to both society and to themselves.

Answer 6

Yes. It insists on ancient beliefs and anything else they can make up along the way. They impede minds, they impede scientific investigation, they impede human decency in that they tout they and they alone have the right path. They promote magic and supernatural events as facts without logic. Anything that cannot be explained must be done by some supernatural god creature. It is an abomination to mankind and stunts logic and reason.

Answer 7

Depends on the religion. Non-denominationals seem to fit today's tandards, while CAtholicism is still entrenched in the ways of the apostles of old. It really depends what you seek in a chaurch, and where you decide to placve your values.

Answer 8

Not like it did in the dark ages. When Galileo began saying things about the earth that the RCC didn't like, he really had a tough time. While many evangelical christians today believe Darwinism is a lie, the evolutionist scientists don't have the kind of opposition that Galileo had.

Answer 9

It depends on ones definition of progress. What your goals are. If technology alone is your goal, then yes. If a moral and orderly society is your idea of progress, then no.

Answer 10

organised is spelt organiSed in australia and i'm sure else where to. Just becasue americans spell it organized doesn't mean everyone has to.