On a scale of 1 to 10, how dangerous is religion in general?

Question

I mean all religions.

Since I think it is pretty much the single most destructive force on the planet, I give it a 10

Answer 1

I have to agree; 10.
No other force on earth has done more damage, given more false hope and held scientific progress back more than religion.
Yes, it has MUCH to answer for...

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

If Abrahamic religions were the only ones on the planet, I'd agree with your 10. But the Pagans, Wiccans and most Buddhists are actually a positive force and offset some of the negativity of religion as a whole. So collectively, I'm giving religion a 7.

Answer 4

It depends on the ideology and how far the followers of that religion go in attempting to push that ideology on others. I would give Islam extremists a 10, for example, but other religions are actually very peacful, such as Wicca. I would give that one only a 1 or 2.

Answer 5

Let's see...

Islam - 9
Christianity - 7
Pagans/Native American religions - 1.5
Hindus - 4
Eastern religions - 3

So, added all together you get 24.5 divided by five rounds off to a solid 5 for religion in general.

But here's the larger problem - all these can change at any time with little warning and for no good reason... because religious faith does not require reason. And *that* is the real danger.

Answer 6

1-10.

Religions are only as dangerous as the people who follow them.

I was under the impression that famine/disease was the most destructive force on the planet. My mistake...

Answer 7

A 10, when put into the hands of the wrong people anything can become destructive especially religion.

Answer 8

A religion is a system of beliefs that is based on our own reasoning. This system of beliefs determines how we choose to live our lives.
If our religion is Atheism, we choose to live by our own rules, under the impression that there is no force in the universe that might be higher or more intelligent than ourselves.
If our religion is Agnosticism, we choose to believe that we can know nothing with certainty. Agnostics live their life after the philosophy of Atheism, as though there is no "proven" force in the universe higher than themselves.
If our religion is Theism, we choose to live by an ethical code that is fixed. We follow this code because we believe that a force higher than ourselves should guide our ethics.
If our religion is Pantheism, we see god in everything, and oneness with everything. We are meditating a lot, and our ethics are very similar to those of Theists.

Everyone has a religion, and religion is what gives us our ideas of how to live our lives. I think the religion of the idolatry of ourselves has caused the most destruction on the planet. (Self-Worship, that is)

Answer 9

It's not dangerous at all. It's the person causing the danger, not some religion even though they believe in that. Anyone in any religion can do something bad. It's what we like to call sin.

Answer 10

In the same manner, I will ask you a similar question: On a scale of 1 to 10, how important is it for you to close your living room curtains before abusing your children?

(Hopefully you're intelligent enough to get the point, but just in case you're not, I'll just explain it for you - both questions, yours and mine, are just plain nonsensical and presumptuous. However, yours was asked in a mean-spirited attitude, while mine was asked to teach you something and show you what your question sounds like).