Ken abucs
Contributor
I don't have a problem with people practicing whatever religion works for them. Generally speaking I think religion helps give people a moral center, and in many cases causes people to make society as a whole work better. When taken to extremes religion is very bad for a civilized world. Here's a couple of examples of where over reliance and blind faith cause religion to become a negative influence.
1) It's a problem when any religion assumes it is the one true religion, and other religions is bad. More wars have been fought over religion than over gold or oil. Attributes like empathy, tolerance and understanding are highly prized in most organized religions, how can people think this only applies to people practicing the same religion as them. Religion as a substitute for normal human compassion can only lead to mistrust and hatred.
2) It's a problem when any religion maintains it's sacred literature is a 100% true and factual account of the physical world. It is my opinion that most sacred texts are best viewed as parables to teach lessons for a moral and religious life. When people begin to believe that a provable scientific theory is wrong because it doesn't line up with their religious text it creates another realm to place people in conflict. When most religious texts were created, man's understanding of the physical world were very different than what they are today. So while moral and religious lessons hold up well across the centuries, expecting the explanations of the physical world to hold up as well is unrealistic. Religion as a substitute to a rational approach to modern scientific thinking will prevent the human race from reaching it's potential.
So while religion is part of the glue that helps form cohesive societies, it also represents one of the biggest obstacles to harmony and understanding between different groups. Religion should not be used as a substitute for empathy, compassion or rationale thought.
1) It's a problem when any religion assumes it is the one true religion, and other religions is bad. More wars have been fought over religion than over gold or oil. Attributes like empathy, tolerance and understanding are highly prized in most organized religions, how can people think this only applies to people practicing the same religion as them. Religion as a substitute for normal human compassion can only lead to mistrust and hatred.
2) It's a problem when any religion maintains it's sacred literature is a 100% true and factual account of the physical world. It is my opinion that most sacred texts are best viewed as parables to teach lessons for a moral and religious life. When people begin to believe that a provable scientific theory is wrong because it doesn't line up with their religious text it creates another realm to place people in conflict. When most religious texts were created, man's understanding of the physical world were very different than what they are today. So while moral and religious lessons hold up well across the centuries, expecting the explanations of the physical world to hold up as well is unrealistic. Religion as a substitute to a rational approach to modern scientific thinking will prevent the human race from reaching it's potential.
So while religion is part of the glue that helps form cohesive societies, it also represents one of the biggest obstacles to harmony and understanding between different groups. Religion should not be used as a substitute for empathy, compassion or rationale thought.
