Does religion have a positive or negative influence on society? [ENDS 31/01/2010]

Does religion have a positive or negative influence on society?

Ends 01/02/2010

In recent years, religion has received a lot of negative press from the media. Religious extremism has been the cause of many terrorist attacks, from the IRA bombings to the 9/11 attacks in America. Some would argue that if religion didn't exist, a lot of problems we face in modern times would not even exist.

Nevertheless, religion is also a tool for good. It encourages many things that most people would consider morally correct. It is, in fact, the basis of most modern day values and law.

The question is, do you think religion has a positive or negative impact of society?

NOTE: This is not a debate on whether certain religions are or are not valid. The existence of God is not the debate here. We are talking about the influence religion has on society.

Negative

The biggest problem surrounding religions is racism. Racism has been a big problem since religions began, putting a massive strain on the world and governments and most of all society.

If there was no religions in the world there would be no terrorists, religious riots and proably no wars.

On the flip side, riots would still exist over things such as skin colour, money, and rivalry between countries & their governments (laws etc)

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Originally Posted by Special

Negative

The biggest problem surrounding religions is racism. Racism has been a big problem since religions began, putting a massive strain on the world and governments and most of all society.

If there was no religions in the world there would be no terrorists, religious riots and proably no wars.

On the flip side, riots would still exist over things such as skin colour, money, and rivalry between countries & their governments (laws etc)

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All of them would still exist if there was no such thing as religion. Conflicting opinions and ideas will always exist, it doesn't have to be over who created the world, it could be over rights, land, rules etc. It's kinda obvious religious riots won't exist without religion, but what about normal riots? You seem to say it's bad, but say without religion it would still be bad. Can you go on further with this? Like your views, would be interesting :)

Anyway, I tend to see religion do more good than bad, the only negatives effects are what leak into mainstream media as with the usually media huffing stories that only revolve around bad/negative news.

For example; alot of charities are relgious based. Aviation Fellowship is working in Haiti now helping with the rescue and recovery missions. Although the charity primarly functions around giving aid as well as religion to poorer countries, it helps out alot within local, small communities and puts the religion side behind :) The Salvation Army is a good example of localised religious groups who selflessly help the poor. Alot of volunteer work is done through churches. At my local church, a group went to Kenya to help at a school, and as they were sponsored the money went towards sending food and supplies.

At Christmas, churches fill shoe boxes to give to the poor, either those on the streets or families with problems, be it money or relationship problems.

The silent majority of all religious groups are the good, and minority groups e.g. extremists are the bad. Notice how the silent ones are the majority ;) Yes, the bad ones exist because of religion, but let's not scrap the good ones aside, who are righteously passionate in what they do, voluntarily helping the elderly, the young, the rich and the poor.

i hate religion because it brainwashes people into believing nonsense. but that's just my opinion, i would not try and rub it on anybody else as i respect peoples' opinions.

Positive.

Imagine being told there is no God, no afterlife, this is it. Your one and only chance.
Society would imploud. The 7 Billion People in the world who believe in faith would kill, rape, steal and rob their way to the best life they could get, as this is their only chance.
Religion is what separates us from the animals.

Like it or not, without Religion, there would be no need to conform to any society, to any law. War would be a thing of the past, war would be routine.

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Originally Posted by TaffTalk

Positive.

Imagine being told there is no God, no afterlife, this is it. Your one and only chance.
Society would imploud. The 7 Billion People in the world who believe in faith would kill, rape, steal and rob their way to the best life they could get, as this is their only chance.
Religion is what separates us from the animals.

Like it or not, without Religion, there would be no need to conform to any society, to any law. War would be a thing of the past, war would be routine.

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i didn't know there was 7bill peeps in the world nvm 7b who are religious?!

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Originally Posted by TaffTalk

Positive.

Imagine being told there is no God, no afterlife, this is it. Your one and only chance.

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I've always believed that, it wouldn't phase me in the slightest.

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Originally Posted by TaffTalk

Society would imploud. The 7 Billion People in the world who believe in faith

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There are ~6.6 billion people on Earth, and not all of them are religious.

**Implode

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Originally Posted by TaffTalk

would kill, rape, steal and rob their way to the best life they could get, as this is their only chance.

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No. Sweden is one of the most Atheistic countries in the world and also one of the most peaceful. Shock horror.

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Originally Posted by TaffTalk

Religion is what separates us from the animals.

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Humans are animals. We are of the kingdom Animalia.

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Originally Posted by TaffTalk

Like it or not, without Religion, there would be no need to conform to any society, to any law. War would be a thing of the past, war would be routine.

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You really don't give human morality any credit do you? Go watch "Why do people laugh at creationists? Part 29".

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Originally Posted by DrLacero

I've always believed that, it wouldn't phase me in the slightest.



There are ~6.6 billion people on Earth, and not all of them are religious.

**Implode



No. Sweden is one of the most Atheistic countries in the world and also one of the most peaceful. Shock horror.



Humans are animals. We are of the kingdom Animalia.



You really don't give human morality any credit do you? Go watch "Why do people laugh at creationists? Part 29".

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marry me irl

Edited by Jamesy (Forum Super Moderator): Please do not post pointlessly.

I see you point, however I would like to argue your case (I would quote you, but I cant understand to what of my points your relating to).

I've always believed that, it wouldn't phase me in the slightest.

- Count yourself lucky that believing that this world is the "be all and end all", 'doesn't phase you'. If you fell to a terminal illness tomorrow, you wouldn't even contemplate an afterlife?

There are ~6.6 billion people on Earth, and not all of them are religious.

- Statistical error, there is no definitive number for the worlds population regardless. Atheism accounts for 2% of the total population.

No. Sweden is one of the most Atheistic countries in the world and also one of the most peaceful. Shock horror.

- Sweden is by no means a measure to how fanatic religious countries such as Israel, Afghanistan, India, even America, would react to how leaning their God does exist will affect them. Could be a coincidence that Athesim happens to be the dominant Religion of that country. Could also be coincidence that the Number One, more peaceful country in the world is 60% of a Religion.

Humans are animals. We are of the kingdom Animalia.

- I'm talking metaphorically. Also, who told we are apart of the Animal Kingdom? Scientists. I don't know about you, but I consider myself completely different to an Animal. The Animal Kingdom is just a crude umbrella in which to place us under.

You really don't give human morality any credit do you?

- No I don't give humanity morale credit. Without religions we are forced into facism, hence Caesar, Tse-Tung, Stalin, Hitler, Amine. These are the rule of the men who had no faith, no Religious conscriptions or beliefs.

I'm certainly going to say negative influence.

First I'm going to say I do believe in God and this isn't a hate-on religion all together, I just don't believe in a lot of the things different religions want me to believe and I think some of these things have influenced the world badly.

Churches have a horrible track record of being over controlling and the amount of deaths in the past caused by different religions fighting for control and power is absolutely sickening and disgusts me.

I'll pick on the catholic church here a second. I think it is absolutely outragous that females cannot be catholic priests. I think it's the absolute stupidest most sexist thing I have ever heard in my entire life. I think "God made man and woman equal" and it's pretty lame having sexist rules in a place where you worship god. Apparently they're only just starting to relax this rule now. Only a few hundred years too late.

The amount of Homophobia in the church and a lot of churches is very petty. Who do some of these people think they are. If two guys (or girls) fall in love then it's absolutely none of the churches business. If you're homophobic that's your own problem, but why publicly be homophobic thinking it's ok:eusa_wall. On WBZ news (a USA news station I pick up from Canada) there was seriously coverage on catholic churches with signs saying "homosexuality is a crime" and "god hates gays". I don't know how people who believe in god would think god still likes them after they put up a sign like that:S

I think if religion didn't exist there would be a lot less sexism, homophobia and you could probably throw less xenophobia in there too.