Is Religion a Force for Good?

[Fatal Dawn]

One of the recurring themes that seems to come up is the role of religion in the world. It's hard to find a definitive answer as religion has been used not only to justify destructive acts of violence, but to inspire acts of charity and kindness. Some people find faith to be uplifting, while others find it oppressive. It has the power to divide as well as unite humanity. What is your opinion, one way or another, on the influence of religion on humanity. Is religion a positive force in the world?

 

[gaze-universe]

To me the religion I grew up in made it clear that it isn't here to make things better. To me it isn't anything but a method to be introduced to God with and it in no way is here to bring peace or any type of utopia. It does tell about a world without what we know today (violence, godless people, evil, war, sin). But religion isn't here to realize that better world, it is here to inform us about it and to divide us, it tells us to choose and it tells us to prepare and it also tells us to inform others (though it also tells us everyone is not meant to be a teacher).

As anything in this world, religion can be what you individually make of it. Without a person with intent it is just a concept that exists, it only becomes something when you as a person put it to work through you, your perception of it.

 

[DrLeftover]

As with anything involving humans, ANYTHING can be perverted by those so inclined for reasons of their own.

 

[TommyTooter]

the hebrew faith is a lifestyle and jews do not proselytize. the state of israel is an aberration created by atheist national socialist industrialist jews and has nothing to do with what the hebrew faith is about. by the same token, christians who follow the teachings of jesus alone, without all the jive added in later by the imperialist churches are not the same kind of people as the reactionary, racist right wing moral majority and the islamic jihadists are an aberration of islam as well.

as i've said in another thread, it's not the religions themselves, but the institutions that are created around them for political purposes that cause the problems. you'll see 5000 years of never ending warfare between theses competing church/state on this site: www.mapsofwar.com

 

[Amir]

islamic jihadists are an aberration of islam as well.

It was not an aberration. Please do not despised our religion...i don't care what you say. Thank you

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

As the saying goes it depends who is behind the weapon to make it a thing of good or evil.

 

[TommyTooter]

As the saying goes it depends who is behind the weapon to make it a thing of good or evil.

violence is the last refuge of the incompetent - - isaac asimov

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Any experience I've had with religion was all negative. I was thrown under the bus at a time in my life when my church (at the time) should have stood behind me and fought for me. I was left to swing in the wind and it was that point when I realized religion is a crock. Any religion.

As for certain other groups who call their practices a "religion", I just laugh. My God will feed their prophet or god a big hunk of a reality sandwich.

I am atheist but I understand without the good in religion our American constitution would have never been formed. So I would definitely say it has it's place in society for good.

 

[DrLeftover]

You may have all already noticed, but the concept of Faith and the practice of Religion often have very little to do with each other.

"Jesus is ideal and wonderful, but you Christians - you are not like him."
- Mahatma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)

 

[TommyTooter]

islamic jihadists are an aberration of islam as well.

It was not an aberration. Please do not despised our religion...i don't care what you say. Thank you

i am merely repeating what i've been told by islamic scholars. i don't despise islam. i despise people who exploit out of context scripture to manipulate the faithful to perform violent acts.

 

[Sinon]

I believe religion can be used for good. I just don't believe it's used for good. It appears to be used most commonly to fearmonger and inspire hatred. However, I also believe it was initially created as a control mechanism. In dark times when fear runs rampant, any explanation will do, no matter how inconceivable it truly is. Religion answers a lot of questions that worry people, even if the answers it gives aren't acceptable.

 

[Rebel]

Religion is what you make of it. Over all it is a neutral force. In the case of most religions with charity and out reach support...it's a very positive thing. In other places we see religion causing conflict and war in that case it's a negative thing. Religion is literally what you make if it. It's yours to embrace, reject, learn, or not learn about. It's up to the individual.