Has organized religion been a positive or negative thing on humans and how we behave, associate, and work?

Question

and why?

Answer 1

More positive than negative. Irrespective of the religion it provided certain guidelines and rules to live by. Without that there would have been total anarchy

Answer 2

You can argue for both, I think a lot of people need something spiritual in there life and they have needs that can only be fulfilled by whatever their religion is. It brings families together and can help communities. As well as spreading out to other people across the world. But History also tells us fighting over Religion has probably taken more lives throughout the human history then other things.

Answer 3

Religions seem to have a tendency to impede progress and oppose the accumulation of knowledge. They tend to form a collection of beliefs that are often incorrect and then try to suppress all evidence that is found that shows their beliefs are incorrect.

I'm sure some good things have been done for religious reasons. However, on the whole, humanity would probably have been better off if no one had come up with religion.

Answer 4

It is a sad truth that uneduacted or iuncivilized people often require religion in order to behave well enough to get educated. Unfortunately, religion tends to hang around well past its useful life.

Answer 5

Negative.

Despite some of the good things that churches can do in their communities, and the sense of hope that they give to people who need that kind of thing - the overall effect of religion is breeding unquestioning sheep who are easily controlled through fear. This makes it possible to disseminate misinformation and lies that promote a certain agenda.

Answer 6

Overall, I believe it has been a good thing...However, like many things that do good...men get greedy for wealth and power and ruin it.

God commands Christians to feed the hungry, care for the orphans, widowed, poor and needy. ...churches used to be the "storehouse" with which to coordinate these efforts. People would bring their money, talents time and love to church, and from their would share with those in the community most in need....those helped would see the love of Christ through these good works, would in turn believe, become a part of the church, and help others....and the world would be one big happy place.

However, churches/organized religion has lost sight of their calling...and instead, focus more on being political. They stand in judgement of others...claiming to have the one "truth" and that all others are wrong...they spend their time alienating others...instead of helping others...forcing our government to get involved in social programs instead of governing the military, economy, etc...

I believe the troubles that our nation now has is a result of churches losing their direction...and not focusing on God and doing God's work...but, focusing on their own agendas and greed.

So, in conclusion....organized religion has done a lot of good...but, I believe they have taken a wrong turn...and now are inflicting more harm than good...turning many away from the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ...than bring others to it.

Answer 7

It may have a positive effect in giving people hope and a reason for their morality instead of understanding it. On the negative side, it encourages a lack of cognitive skills development and fosters ignorance in many of its members.

Answer 8

back when our species was contained in more primitive societies, religion was a positive thing in that it helped establish cohesiveness in said societies, as we've advanced in our knowledge and understanding, however, religion has become a divisive, stifling subject on further human advancement

Answer 9

What kind of fruit have produced? better persons? less hate ?

2 Timothy 3:1-5 " But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.

2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal,

3 having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness,

4 betrayers, headstrong, puffed up [with pride], lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,

5 having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.

the last verse says that people have "godly devotion " or religious and with such kind of attitude are false.

Answer 10

600 years of Dark Ages
200 years of Crusades
600 years of Inquisitions

You work it out...