Religion - Good or Bad?

[Lewis]

Hi. It's a question I've beginning to wonder --- (This is nothing to do with god, just every religion in general)

Does religion really do a lot of good? It does some good, but in the end religion ends up in fights, deaths and so on. Many bad things and horrific things have happened and it's all because of religions. Of course good things happen to...
So whether god is real or whatever someone believes in or if they don't believe in it, is religion really worth all the fighting, arguing, trolling and actual violence in real life. So... do you think religion is really worth all the bad things, but let's not forget the good things...

(Please don't argue what you believe about god or something, unless it has something to do with religion violence. thx)


>Sorry if this has already been posted not long ago<

[lawrawrrr]

Religion gives people an EXCUSE to be violent. Oh, he insulted my religion, oh he said that etc. It's such an exclusive society it's hardly surprising people do this; in almost every exclusive society people end up doing shocking things...

...but the way the News portray events, such as terrorist bombings, where they say 'Muslims did this' 'Sikhs did this' is not right either because it's not everyone. Some Muslims, most muslims in fact are NOT terrorists and should not be portrayed that way.

I am a liberal member of a religion, but I refuse to be defined by it. I will never do something because other people will, no matter in society or because of what I believe in and I'd never be violent if someone offended my beliefs.

[Special]

bad

empty hope, violence, greed, terrorism

i cannot think of one positive thing what religion has brought to the world

[Mathew]

Before the debate escalates into a fierce spiral, and people end up making themselves appear extremely narrow minded, let's be clear that extremist groups do not equal religion. A religion is a lot more than just a simple belief, and I think we should concentrate on accepting the various forms of religion: one man's opinion can be no more valid than another.

[Johnathan]

bad

empty hope, violence, greed, terrorism

i cannot think of one positive thing what religion has brought to the world

Nuff said. Agreed.

[Inseriousity.]

Religion is neither good nor bad. It is simply there and always will be regardless of your opinion on it because faith transcends knowledge. Hope always wins. I suppose my question to those who say it's bad is that if those things they accuse it of causing, would they still happen if religion was non-existant? The answer is yes, they will be. We'll just find another excuse to maim and kill each other.

[dbgtz]

Religion is a reason for some to manipulate for their own, selfish desires. Religion itself is neither, but it's down to the people who follow it. I think it can be a reason to hate, but there would just be another reason should religion not have been there.

[Munex]

I have only read the title - I don't want other posts to bias my answer.

I think religion, like many things, has good and bad sides. Many religions teach rules that promote peace, but then there are a few extremists that take things a bit too far.

Religion is great for the rules it offers; it's pretty much the law, but instead of prison, you are damned to hell. The rules aren't always right though, I can think of many 'sins' that are very outdated in today's society.

Another good side to with religion is the hope it offers to people. Who else do you turn to when you are going through a difficult time, and it seems that you have lost everything? God's 24/7 protection must feel pretty great as well.

I think people need to find a balance between religion and the 21st century. I don't think people should force others to obey their religion, but rather live their own life how they want to live it.

[-:Undertaker:-]

The notion that religion is a force for evil or is not needed to some degree is ridiculous, and can be easily disproved with historical examples and modern day examples. The truth is, our western values are Christian-Judeo and are the reason why the west (in general) has advanced more so than any other area of the world. Indeed, the break with the Roman Church under Henry VIII and creation of the Church of England are an example of a better faith within a broadly Christian faith - from which England, later Great Britain, went on to develop a democratic and accountable system of government which you will find less of within Catholic countries and virtually non-existant in non-Christian countries around the world. Had we remained Pagan or had other forms of faith, then events which shaped our culture and constitution would never have occured (the Magna Carta, the Bill of Rights) - all founded on Christian principles with the King having divine rights but with the notion that the King ought to be constained by Christian values fought for over many hundreds of years. The pattern is there for all to see.

If you want examples of why a society needs a coherant form of faith and why ours happens to be the best, take a look at the Aztec Empire and Incan Empire who did not have an Abrahamic religion and practiced the likes of human sacrifice - something their values taught them was completely moral and fine but which is repulsive to us. Even today you can see examples of this with tribes living in Indonesia/former French Indochina and in South America - they still carry out human sacrifices which include burying alive young children - not because they are 'evil' but because that is simply their moral code.

Indeed, whilst many might not exactly be fans of Islam - I shudder to imagine Arabia without it. I'd also add, that often when we think of the great benefits of the British Empire and other smaller European colonial empires, we forget what is one of the greatest gifts that we gave to the African continent - the spread of Christianity. Because like with Arabia, I shudder to think what Africa would be like today without the Christian religion left by the Empires.

I'd also add, I used to thoughtlessly bash religion as its just the culturally popular thing to do - until I sat down and thought about it using case studies. Is religion perfect, infallible and causes no trouble? no, but name me something that is. Besides, most of the conflicts around the world are based around politics and cultural differences.

[FlyingJesus]

Is religion perfect, infallible and causes no trouble? no, but name me something that is.

Me

But yeah, religion itself is neither good nor bad, it's what people do with/for/because of their faith that matters