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Is religion really worth it?


  3. eldamon
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A sad commentary on society is we now seem to take religious scandals in stride. We see countless stories about unthinkable crimes committed by clergy and it barely phases anyone anymore. Is there some sort of trend here? How many events have to take place before the entire institution becomes suspect? Religion has been the main instigation for a large number of wars. Indeed it is the a huge part of the current wars we are currently dealing with. It's been the underlying factor in many multiple murders, serial murders and mass suicides. How many times have you seen a story about a parent doing some horrific evil to their own children only to find they were devoutly religious and claimed to be carrying out some divine prophecy?

I whole heartedly believe in faith. I'm not sure science and logic can account for all things at all times. A lot of people have trouble dealing with the randomness of reality. Sometimes stuff just happens. There's no rhyme nor reason for an unexpected loss at times, yet we search for some reason even divine solace at some point. I can see where faith comes in handy in a similar situation but faith and religion are entirely different things. Faith can be in anything. You can have faith in many things including ones self. There is clearly a place for faith within the human spirit.

Submitted for debate, in my singular, personal, private opinion - organized religion is the bane of the worlds society. Keep in mind I am not disparaging any particular religion in any way. I content the concept, the institution as a whole is suspect and needs a serious overhaul or abolishment.
eldamon

73 responses // Is religion really worth it?

  • Oi, thank you from the bottom of my heart for saying this! I've always held this view, albeit much less eloquently. Every time I try to explain it, though, people take it as me trying to attack their religion. It isn't about religion whatsoever! It's about the war and horror it produces.


    People always tell me to take the bad with the good and that I shouldn't let the "bad people" get in the way of me worshipping God or Allah or Buddha; I get it. The concept of god and all his power is infallible, but mankind is not... However, I refuse to support the establishment.



    So again, it's so refreshing to hear a coexisting kind of view while actively rejecting the flaws in the institution instead of just accepting them like we're told :]
    KateLove
  • All religions, arts and sciences are branches of the same tree. All these aspirations are directed toward ennobling man's life, lifting it from the sphere of mere physical existence and leading the individual towards freedom.

    -Albert Einstein
    Neghie
  • "This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brains, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness." - The Dalai Lama

    Wonderful position, eldamon. I agree. 'Nuff said.
    stepphtarnovetch
  • whose "freedom" ?
    malathion
  • Well put, I agree wholeheartedly.
    Saladin
  • Your own freedom of course. Whatever lets you sleep at night. If praying to a tree in a space ship makes you feel better, than so be it, but we're all simply looking for answers to why we live. I choose to count on myself.
    Neghie
  • I agree that the issues arising from what people call religion have been predominantly negative but I blame the flaws of humanity rather then the religions themselves. It is obvious to me that Jesus did not preach child molestation and Muhammad did not preach the murder of innocent people... It is the arrogant and ignorance of people that leads to the problems.
    recommended by  Chique
    MoMoney
  • the only noble religion is one you find yourself.
    -me
    stephenthomson
  • the main three religions on earth are all following abrahams personal god.a god that man claims is of love.this god seems more like a god of war to me.
    kingtsohg
  • Wouldn't you consider religion a flaw of humanity?

    I know I do.
    NutLee
  • I think what does religion in is its ego. It always wants to have the final say in everything.
    Analogue4Digital
  • i think that organized religion has BECOME a problem. the ideals and allegorical stories found in the 'sacred' texts are rampant with lofty morality, probing questions, examples of just action and myths about creation and destruction. these are wonderful things and can expand people's perception of reality. these books do more if taken as a guide rather than a strict set of rules that have BECOME outdated. organization has come from the desire of the greedy to posses power. they take archetypal imagery and manipulate it in order to force people to submit.

    so ya, i agree.

    as jesus said: "i am the way, the truth and the light. the only way to GOD is through me." if you take GOD to be ultimate reality in whatever form suits YOUR needs, all that is needed is to keep your eyes to the sky and to always seek the truth, when you find it within yourself, you are one with GOD.
    phillyphil
  • to answer the question though:
    the great thing about organized religion is the ability to share your beliefs and faith with others. it is a great way to form a deeply bonded community. the power that lies in ritual and cerimony at a large grouping of people is powerful and can be beautiful.
    in my view, its all about the intent behind the particular sect, group or leaders that determine the helpfulness of a certain community.... there are obviously some groups that have veered so far from a beneficial path they don't know where it is any longer.

    overhaul is needed in many cases. hierarchal structure is ludicrous.
    phillyphil
  • Outstanding thoughts and opinions all. Thanks to everyone for sharing and expressing themselves in an incredibly thoughtful and articulate manor well done all!
    eldamon
  • I believe in a Supreme Being, because it makes me uncomfortable spinning around in space not attached to anything with no one in charge. I believe there is God in everyone. It's up to us to find it. But, just in case This back sliding Catholic wants the Last Rites.
    Marilynn_Murray
  • I actually wrote a more in depth blog about religion on another site a while back. It's a little edgier and expresses MY personal belief. Check it out if you have a moment. You may have to go back a few rants to find it but it's there, trust me.

    http://u-everwonder.blogspot.com/
    eldamon
  • I don't believe religion causes wars. Those who start the wars, do so with $$$ in mind, they just use religion as a recruiting tool.
    colmor
  • Religion has caused war from the beginning of time.
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    Marilynn_Murray
    1 response to this
  • I believe that there is no god and religion is simply a way of controlling people with weak minds who would rather not think for themselves.

    I totally disagree the science does not explain everything, in fact I am sure there is a scientific explanation for everything but we just haven't fingured it out yet. Don't limit science to the bounds of mere human knowledge, our knowledge of science is continually growing but just because we cannot yet explain something does not mean there is no explanation.
    observer2121
  • If people want to believe in a talking snake, an elephant headed boy or an intergalactic ruler named Xenu then so be it. It definitely makes life more entertaining for those of us who don't. Believe whatever you want to but do no harm to others. That includes keeping those beliefs out of government. The separation between church and state exists for a very important reason.
    Hawkmang
  • Science can become a religion too if you're not careful.
    Analogue4Digital
  • "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..."

    First Amendment - U.S. Constitution

    Our country has a long history of being religiously tolerant and accepting of all views. It is because of our secular government and the separation of church and state that religion has flourished in this nation. While some people may commit atrocities in the name of religion, it can still be a beautiful thing for others and give direction to their lives. We should accept all peoples' religious beliefs and faith traditions including atheism and agnosticism as equal. I don't want to see religion abolished. I want to see our government remain secular and our people free to believe in what they want. Is religion really worth it? Depends on the person. For some it is. For others it isn't. That's the beautiful thing about it.

    "But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

    -Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782
    Colonial_Zombie
  • I think that people who commit serious crimes and actions have mental issues and use religion as an excuse. Whatever god these people worship I never want to come in contact with it.
    Ice_cream_Man
  • Only the three western religions (judaism, christianity, and islam) have created warfare strife. The religions of the east are mainly just systems of philosophy intended to teach the practitioner to still the turmoil in the mind. Once the mind is stilled you don't become a nilhist you become a lover of life, and that to me is the miracle about this world that science has the challenge of explaining.

    The western religions teach the individual to work for the betterment of society and do not lay a lot of emphasis on individual peacefulness. Thus, violent and selfish members of the faith never calm themselves down before going out and "helping" the world and you get a violent and selfish world.

    "They are very sincere, these fanatics, the most sincere of human beings; but they are quite as irresponsible as other lunatics in the world."
    - Vivekananda
    shbhanda
  • Whether you think it's worth it or not, it's here to stay.
    CarlosIsDown
  • 'Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?'

    Douglas Adams
    ltopham
  • religion is the problem. the faith is not. religion does things that act out beyond what the faith is supposed to be teaching in the name of that faith. this is where the problem lies
    diode
  • To be in awe of life is true religion.
    Merge9
  • I agree that religion has no main point other than to hold societies together and to form social cohesion and social control. Religion has been around for milleniums, and we never can get it right, can we? I believe that there are functions of society that ARE impacted positively by religion, but sometimes religion can cause major dysfunctions as well. However, I have no real objections to religion, because for the most part it doesn't do me any harm. I just don't like how religions are judged and people are persecuted for their beliefs. To me, religion is a big wheel with a lot of spokes leading to one central place, so everyone ends up in the same place, no matter how you choose to get there.
    x_darkly_charming_x
  • It is important to distinguish "religion" and "church" or clergy. They are not the same. Religion is the faith whereas the chuch is the institution associated with it. The institutions need to change in many religions. However, faith in itself is something personal. I don't believe that religion holds societies together... today, the difference of faith divides us. The institutions were created to hold societies together but they are not doing their job. In the end I am convinced that the spiritual needs of all humans are the same. A religious institution is just a way of giving that faith a cultural framework. The conflicts we have today are not religious, they are cultural and should be tackled as such.
    CDelgado
  • " I have no real objections to religion, because for the most part it doesn't do me any harm"

    Religion does harm when the practioners attempt to persuade others to their cause. Most would gladly embrace the power of the state and the power of the sword to coerce or insist that non-believers join them.

    History is littered with the bodies of the resistors.
    seeker561
  • In my family there are so many different religions, and they all argue theirs are the "right religion", and everyone else's is the "wrong way to worship". That is why my God is in my heart and hopefully the way I live, and not in a church, or temple, or wherever.
    lindaann
  • While this is all treu to a certain extent, the truth is that having religious beliefs and belonging to a community does make some people happy. You can argue that they would be happier if they did not hold these beliefs, but I think you'd be hard pressed to convince them. The trick, then, is to show people that there are alternatives to organised religious beliefs without being a Jehovah's Witness or a snob about it.
    AceHardchester
  • I don't think there's any one "right" or "wrong" religion either. Those are the people that scare me the most--the one's that think their religion is the ONE ABOVE ALL. I don't like it when their beliefs are inflicted upon me, leave me out of it and let me believe what I want--what makes what these "RIGHT" believers think there's nothing else and that if you don't believe as they do, then you go to hell, even if you've lived your life in love and goodness. Makes no sense to me.

    Having a heart and a conscience, and doing the right things in life is what will get you into heaven. Not thinking that your belief is superior to others and just cuz you show up on church you'll get into heaven and I won't?

    What if a "saved" person murdered someone out of hatred? Will he/she still find those Pearly Gates just cuz they were saved years before?
    Grain_Of_Sand
  • James 1:26-27 The New Living translation. "26 If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are just fooling your self, and your religion is worthless. 27 Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us."
    ronj
  • Men wrote the Bible, not God. Organized Religion is the thing, like Government, that is what's corrupt to me.

    "Controlling my tongue?" That sounds so UnAmerican and oppressive. Why can't God handle someone asking questions, and why should we keep believing lies the church tells us without question or debate?

    Believe in your heart and keep love there and everything will be fine. That's what I go by. Whatever you believe is fine too, just don't inflict it upon me and try to instill fear inside me cuz I don't adhere to your beliefs. I would not do that to anyone. Live and let live, but never harm.

    The Bible does not scare me, and neither does God. That is not His intention. That is man's intention to scare us into belief. I do not fear God, God Is Love, not intimidation and exclusion like Man instills in folks.
    Grain_Of_Sand
  • This is a beautiful topic, why is the rating so low?
    AngelicEnforcer
  • "Organized Religion" has several advantages over Disorganized (or private) Religion. First, as an institution, Organized forms of religion are able to preserve intellectual and ritualistic traditions, they are able to mobilize their followers in causes of social justice (e.g., Civil Rights Movement), they are able to share their material resources for the benefit of the marginalized (e.g., orphanages, hospitals, schools), etc.

    This initial post and most of the discussion is wrongheaded. You can't reason from "Evil things have been done in the name of Religion" to "God doesnt exist." Or even more forcefully, there is no logical problem with suggesting that 'Evil things have been done in the name of the God who actually exists."

    Peep:
    http://prosblogion.ektopos.com/archives/2008/05/christi...
    BooksBrown
  • Question: If Jesus had absolutely no supernatural powers whatsoever and was just a regular ordinary human philosopher -- wouldn't he actually be LESS insightful and LESS successful in terms of actually helping people than Anthony Robbins?

    I'm just saying: strip away the supernatural aspects of any religion and it's just a philosophy, right?

    We can all look at Plato's philosophy and judge is critically and pick out parts that work and disgard parts that don't.

    Religion, because of it's supernatural underpinning, is immune from that kind of critical examination. People feel obligated to accept it entirely because of its (alleged) supernatural authority.

    If we simply stripped away ALL the supernatural elements of Christianity and treated it exactly like a philosophy -- how would it stand up by modern standards?

    And if the answer is, "Not very well" then what should our next logical move be?
    crob80227