Religion is the root of all evil.

Last night I posted this message in globalization and it really belongs in here.

http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2938299#post2938299

This basically explains what I believe religion to be: an excuse for narcissistic self justification and denial from the grim reality of mortality.

So why is religion the root of all evil? Ironically religion defines evil as the opposing force to divinity. For all realistic purposes it’s just another synonym for bad aspects of this world we live in. The biggest problem I have with religion is how it can be used as an excuse to give in to evil.

All the complexities of a brutal and ugly world can be washed away with a simple “God’s Great Plan” exclamation. Or, “The will of God”, did you know that it’s Gods will that 95% of the 30 Billion “souls” on this planet live in utter poverty. Multiply that by every generation of mankind that’s existed for the past 12 Million years… that’s a lot of suffering, that’s a lot of reasons to need to believe in something greater, more beautiful and eternal. The belief that this world is just a test, that God is in control of the planets welfare is an extremely dangerous and destructive concept. No matter if you’re blowing yourself up in a crowd of “infidels” in return for what you believe to be eternal bliss or dumping industrial waste into the ocean with the belief that God can fix anything.

After all, God is supposed to be perfect, how else can he provide the promise of a heavenly afterlife. So there must be a “Perfectly” good explanation why Trillions of souls need to suffer first on an unfair and imperfect world. Of course I’m being sarcastic, I don’t believe in God or heaven. A perfect God has absolutely no reason to create misery.

Say I’m wrong, and this world is a test of souls. Wouldn’t the ultimate test be to try and make this world as beautiful a place as humanly possible? If a religious persons first and foremost priorities are God and Heaven then Earth and Mankind are second at best.

A religious person once argued to me that evolution doesn’t exist because Scientists can't agree on the details. So there’s two schools of thought on evolution, how many religions are there on this planet? I don’t see scientists strapping bombs to their bodies and attacking other scientists.

I’m not going to pretend I know why the universe exists, but it certainly is not born of a God that exists in the religious mind. To think that such a power would be so egotistical and shallow to require worship is absolutely ludicrous and fundamentally flawed.

 

Something more fundamental is the root of evil...

Religion is just one aspect of it.

Occam

 

If there was never such a thing as religion then what we call evil would just be called what they are, negative aspects of a natural world.

 

Something more fundamental is the root of evil...
Religion is just one aspect of it.
Occam

Some atheists are also committing evil acts, which would not seem likely were religion the root of evil. I don't think religion is evil per se. It has been used as a tool for evil, and has been interpreted to rationalize evil acts, but it is not inherently evil, imho.
As far as just negative aspects of a natural world. I see it a little differently, and don't accept that serial killers, etc. are just a -ve aspect of a natural world.
Being struck by lightning, or killed in an MVA, sure... but if your family was killed by a psycho killer would you just accept that as just a -ve aspect to be expected in a natural world.

 

Why do you people use the word "religion" when you speak within the confines of Christianity?


My religion involves talking to trees, offerings to the earth, and reverence of my ancestors....is that the root of all evil as well?

 

In the middle ages you might be judged to be a witch. Herbs to heal, reverence for nature, etc... And you would be burned for being such an evil heathen.
Merry mote, blessed be.
'An it harm none, do what thou wilt.' I guess that Wiccan creed is evil too, oh well.

 

BG13

No...
If my family was killed by a religion that said occam had taught it 'wrong'
Then that is evil
If my family was killed by a psycho without rational morality.
Then that is evil
ANY hypothetical where my family is killed..outside of deterministic events
Is a result of EVIL.

Heron says that we speak only of christianity... FALSE..
ALL ORGANISED religion is ONE THING.
The global thiesm-rejected. [as valid]
Just as santa is rejected logically...come a certain age
THAT..is agnosticism.

Yet agnosticism does NOT reject the concept of god. [or deities]

Because agnostics admit a god may be without being so stupid as to claim any specific knowledge of a 'possibillity'
While religion hopes to slip by the limmited reason of most humans and claim true knowing.

Occam

 

Heron

Would u kill those that dont believe as u do..
If not. Then u have nothing to do with evil.

Shinto being a good example of such

You know exactly what we are talking about.

Occam

 

That’s why religion is so appealing. You don’t accept, or you don’t want to accept the fact that people are capable of doing horrific crimes. So there must be a supernatural force affecting their minds. Religion allows a person to escape the natural world, then we don’t have to be these mortal animals that evolved over millions of years.



The human brain takes years to develop all the wiring it needs from the senses, then 16 or so more years to fully develop a mature intellect, all a product of its environment mixed with the basic building blocks of DNA that have been evolving for over 100 million years. If there were really and supernatural or spiritual forces influencing the human brain, I’d see no reason why it would have to take a mind 16 years to develop.



So I don’t accept the excuse that there’s a supernatural force affecting our minds, we are a product of our environment and those who’s minds have been developed in sick environments can definitely have very sick minds as a result. Excusing it all to the supernatural world is just dissolving yourself of any connection to such harsh realities.

When religion places blame on Evil instead of addressing the real problems, causes, and affects of terrible conditions and events on this planet then nothing gets accomplished to advance civilization. Religion ends up making the world worse. I think the most sickest and disturbing things, the genocides and the wars, that occur on this planet have mostly been influenced by religion.

 

Relaxx

Bg13
occam thinks...is saying pretty much what occam is.

That the human ego...clothed on minimal education and general knowedge
Ie...IGNORANT..
Will more likely than not sink lower into ignorance than try to raise itself up.

One sure way..a way 'made fore this purpose' is to accept the prepacked dogma
of a religion.
Once established in this feeble logical position..the only way to maintain it is to attack all others.
Evangelism

Thus the lonely ignorant is suddenly resplendent with the fictional
power of god.
With no 'hard' thinking required at all...

An excellent scam. one that has dominated human society for 5000 years
Why...cause most people find thinking...hard.

While a few.. the ones that change the world fundamentally...find it easy.
And fun

Occam

 

Religion is a complicated topic. So many people get offended when you deny “their god.” I believe that as long as there is deity that will explain away one’s actions, then humans will use it to their full advantage; and if there isn’t already an existing god than a new one is made up.

Now I was raised as Methodist. What that really means, I don’t know. The church gave me the impression that if I wanted to go to heaven, this is was the only belief system that would get me there. As I became older I began to realize “what a load of shit.” Society has many Methodist churches and not a one of them teach the same thing. The same goes for any of the branches of Christianity. This statement is probably true for all forms of religion, but I haven’t personally witnessed it.

It is said “God is merciful and forgiving.” I say that he’d have to be when there are pastors, preachers, reverends, etc. molesting young children. Yeah, I don’t think “God” approves. How can a “loving protector” allow sick demented people become his spokes persons?

However, I wouldn’t consider religion the root of ALL evil. It’s the way to explain away the evilness humanity is capable of and/or lets individuals renounce any “sins” so they can feel better about themselves.

Some comments on earlier posts……

Nobody is perfect…if God is perfect…than God is nobody.

In the middle ages we all would be burnt as witches. Modern medicines are not considered faith healings.And we all should have reverence for nature. Nature sustains our lives. Without it we all shall die.

Your right! There are world wide accepted cults.

ametisti

 

Saying religion is the root of all evil is ignoring many other factors which contribute to all the evil things which have happened. I think that the present organized religions were made up by the true evil people so that they would have an excuse and a way to justify thier evil acts.

 

Exactly.

All these people going around saying 'religion is the root of all evil' and when you actually sit down to discuss other religions with them it turns out they know very little about them. More often or not there whole argument is based on there experiences of Christianity.

What about Buddhism? Jainism?

 

Humanity must come to terms with the reality that our current religious beliefs are no longer able to describe and protect the true purpose for our existence. Religions today are based on false ideologies that conflict with each other’s basic premise. How can there be one god and have many different beliefs structures of what the one god needs in order to fulfill its dogmatic belief structure. They all cannot be right and more than likely, they all are wrong. When you have an ideology that has false “truths,” it will always end up with corrupt leaders.

 

Entity...again....you speak in Judeo-Christian confines under the banner of "religion"

My religion has many gods, and is a current religious belief, and does just fine to protect my true purpose of existence....so...rethink your argument...and direct it towards Christians...

 

I speak of any type of belief that incorporates a divine presence. You have many gods…cool but I don’t mean to offend and I respect your right to believe what you wish but for me there can be no divine ideology without negating another divine ideology. I am curious, what do your gods tell you is your purpose?

 

To live in honor, walk with respect, and stand in pride....and that applys to all aspects of life...

 

Sounds good to me. I feel the same way however I came to that conclusion on my own. keep up the good work....peace

 

I did not need them to tell me those things...they are part of those things....my honor, pride, and respect are all three aspects that I apply to my ancestors...nature...my gods..and others....

Its not like i fell to the ground in weakness waiting for a god to pick me back up....weak people attract weak gods..

 

What about buddhism? No gods, igonostic...

When you have any ideology, no matter how false or true it is, it's always open to being manipulated and end up with corrupt practices and leaders. Has nothing to do with how truthful or false the ideology is, it's down to human selfishness and desire, not the ideology itself.