Religion- The cause of all evil?

[*Jess*]

I saw an advert in an old magazine for a programme called this.
But it did make me think.

But firstly, this thread is for debate only. Do NOT start any bad arguing. Debating, yes, thats fine, and causes arguments, sometimes just creative ones arguing against other peoples points, that can be inevitable. But calling other people names or being just generally nasty is not a good use of this thread, is it?
Secondly, this thread isn't meant to offend anybody. I have an opinion, you have a different one. Either of them could be right. It doesn't mean I'm a bitch because I started a debate on this, its just a thing for collecting opinions, not slating other people. ok?

Anyway.

Does anyone else agree that religion could be the cause of, not necessarily all, but a lot of evil?

For one thing, most wars are started on religion. So in a sense, wars wouldn't happen half as much without religion.

Secondly, so many religions divide up people in this world, and a lot of the time people from different religions dispise each other.

Also, I have gone through life seeing a lot of kids being bullied because of their religion. This isn't right. So without religion, it could be possible for things like this, with religions against other religions, to stop.

Another thing is, that many religions are so strict, it can stop people from enjoying life as they should. Or can force things, that they wouldn't necessarily want to do if they were not part of that religion, onto these people.


These points are just brief. And there are a lot of other points that I think. But I'm only opening a debate, so I will post these later.

Discuss. hehe.

[~Wayne~]

I agree that it could be, because a lot of wars, times of fighting and major problems usually occur from one religion having problems with another. Look at Hitler and the Jews...a load of nonsense that lead to mass massacre

[Ben]

almost all the religions teach good. think of all the people who are brought up knowing the ways of their religion, they are tought to be good to people and live a good life. how does that make their upbringing the root of all evil?
even if someone is not brought up directly with religion they are bound to come across it, and will have to respect it. this will make them think about things in a different way.

apart from the terrorist-type upbringings that teach that murder is good and killing for power, even if it ends in suicide, will be praised and you will be rewarded.

[*Jess*]

All religions do teach that you are supposed to be good, and that its wrong to kill.
But it doesn't mean the religions follow that.
Look at christians and the terrorist groups in Iraq.
I only said the terrorist groups in Iraq because I couldn't remember their religion but at the moment, I'm tired.
Both those religions teach you to be good and that it is wrong to kill, but neither listen.
And a lot of wars about religion are started because of differen beliefs, but you can bet that religion teaches it is wrong to kill.
But because one religion thinks it is right and the other thinks they are right, they become rivals and fight.

[~Wayne~]

I can see what you mean but people do put a lot of problems down to religion, could just be a bad excuse though

[Ben]

good point, duroxis, there are things about some religions, like the ones that refuse to believe anything but there own version of events, that hinders modern advancements.
the catholics are believed to have killed scientists in order to stamp out the possibility that they are wrong. they refused to allow certain discoveries to be showed to the world, if for instance they proved that a certain aspect of their beliefs were untrue.
it is unacceptable for people to ignore things that they disagree with, but then again, to have faith does take a lot.

[Pearson]

Defiantly, without religion the world would be a much better place thats for sure.

[~Wayne~]

I agree with Pearson, just a shame it'll never happen eh?

[gprime]

Alot of people here are quick to assume that religion reinforces positive messages and a system of morality which preaches respect for others and non-violence. This is simply untrue. When looking at what a religion stands for, it is typical that those most often branded 'extremists' or 'fundamentalists' are, regardless of what we wish to believe, accurately representing their faith. Naturally there are exceptions to the rule, but more often than not, the above rings true. That said, it soon becomes apparent that religion is indeed the cause for a great deal of evil. However, much of the world's evil is not religious in nature. Communism, and the repressive and murderous dictators it empowered hated religion, and yet Stalin alone killed 50 million people. And terrorist groups like ALF and ELF are not inspired by religion. In fact, most of its members are likely atheist. Ultimately, with or without the existance of religion, evil would exist, as it is part of human nature.

[The Reaper]

Hitler and the Jews

Jews are also a people. It was mainly propaganda, blaming everything on the Jews, uniting the masses and gaining power.

[The Reaper]

Defiantly, without religion the world would be a much better place thats for sure.

Most people are weak, they need religion to provide some sort of order. If they start to think that there is no higher power guiding them, they would freak out and chaos would result. I'm completely serious, over the centuries, people have developed a dependence on all powerful entities. For example: My mother died, I can't deal with the pain, but I take comfort in thinking that she is in a better place.

[-Snake-]

I belive people are the root of evil not religion, Its a person's natural desire to better than someone else that causes evil. Although Religion tells people a set of rules diffrent people take it diffrent ways, I dont belive in organised religion beacuse that could very well be the root of a hell of alot of evil but beliveing in your own way individually cant hurt anyone!

[Entice]

I have to agree with Reaper.
Also most religions have rules and regulations which people are expected to obey. They teach people about love, forgiveness etc.

[Patriot1776]

I agree and disagree at the same time.

Yes, a lot of wars are sparked by religion, which is ironic because most religions are against war.

In this day and age it seems that it is not necessarily the religion itself, but people who do things and then claim it was done in the name of religion.

So yes, religion does cause war, but at the same time it is being used as an excuse to justify wars even if religion itself is not involved

[Ben]

Jews are also a people. It was mainly propaganda, blaming everything on the Jews, uniting the masses and gaining power.

Hitler was refused at Art College and lived in the street. He wanted to politically exterminate them, and when he gained power and support he did what he could to do so.

Edited.

[clueless]

I am in agreement with Greg, when he says 'people are the root of evil not religion, Its a person's natural desire to better than someone else that causes evil.' What a religion teaches and what a professed follower of that particular faith doesn't always match up. It is peoples intolerance and fear of things they do not understand, they causes wars. I don't know any world faith which advocates war and the massacuring of innocent people, do you?

[*Jess*]

I'm not saying the religion itself advocates the war. But the people who are following the religion itself do, because they disagree with the people in the different religion.
In a way, yes, people are the cause of all evil.
But people are just a thing that we can not control living on this world, religion is something we can control, well, sortof anyway.
People are a natural occurance, we can not help the evil they bring.
In a way, religion causes competitiveness.
Think of it as two football teams, and their groups of supporters.
A lot of the time one supporter will hate the opposing teams supporters yeah? And riots are caused.
It's the same with religion but on a larger scale.

[gprime]

***

You are a bloody scumbag.

***

That's entirely untrue. The situation in Germany was the biproduct of their poor decisions during the first world war.

***

Give me a break. He was rejected because he was less talented than the competition. If that's grounds for what he did, as your opening sentance would suggest, then it would seem that anybody on earth is entitled to behave similarly, as we've all experienced defeat and dissapointment.

He wanted to politically exterminate them, and when he gained power and support he did what he could to do so. ***

Well you can, if you're not a ****, that is.

Edited

[Ben]

Much like the current British situation with Muslim immigrants. Hitler was refused at Art College by Jewish directors and was forced to live in the street.

Give me a break. He was rejected because he was less talented than the competition. If that's grounds for what he did, as your opening sentance would suggest, then it would seem that anybody on earth is entitled to behave similarly, as we've all experienced defeat and dissapointment.

how much do you really know about hitler's rise to power, and before he started to try to change things?

[gprime]

how much do you really know about hitler's rise to power, and before he started to try to change things?

Quite a bit more than you. But that's irrelevant. Looking at what he did, any rational person would conclude his actions were inappropriate and completely unforgivable. He was one of the biggest scumbags to have ever walked the earth.