Do you think religion is toxic?

Question

MagnusMagnusson · Accepted Answer

1. People NEED religion. It's not a coincidence that all the world has been religious for as long as societies have existed. And don't tell me science can replace it. Then you have no clue what religion is really about, or/nor what science is about. The greeks who made the foundation of our scientific world, believed in gods.

And the argument "the best countries are the least religious" is not correct, although the statistics says so. What do I mean? My country, Sweden, is one of the least religious ones, and yet people behave and believe religiously! There are tonnes of examples. And still our laws and our moral is based on Christian values. When a party of our Riksdag (parliament) wanted to allow people to marry more than one person, there was a complete, total public outrage over it, and the whole of Sweden denounced it, and the party had to remove it.

Why? Why shouldn't people be allowed to marry as they want? The only good explanation I find is that Christendom is deeply rooted in the Swedish soul, whether we want it or not.

And the laws the coutnries over the world has created, why should people follow them? Well, because they go to jail if they don't. If people really believe that god will punish them by burning them "alive" (although after this life) for every sin they commit... that's something that will keep people in line more. And the Christian commandments have survived for more than 2000 years. No secular law has been there for that long. Because human-made laws are very superficial, there are no reason to follow them except for ones own benefit.

Etc etc.

The world's international laws are derived (although far from directly - not even close to, but still) from Christian values. And the best regions in the world to live in, was very religious up until recently. All the countries who has forbidden religion became horrible places to live in.

Not necessarily. And we can't even know if the Crusades were "toxic" compared to what would have happened if Europe wasn't Christian.

I

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Religion itself? Yes. You can believe in a higher power of some sort without believing in a specific religion. Religion is basically a cult of, "you must do x, y, z if you want to be included otherwise you're not one of us and you don't belong." And just like everything else it deals in all sorts of extremes to non-extremes. More blood has been spilled over religious reasons than any other. Even if religion isn't the main cause it was the thing that kick started most wars. And there have been tons of wars in the history of mankind. Has there been good done because of religion? Sure. Some of that good is genuine and other types of good are done out of fear. Fear of going to hell or fear of some sort because of the religion. Then there are people who are literally doing what they think is good and end up doing really bad instead. Even if they aren't killing people. It can cause people to feel suffocated, stressed, miserable because sticking something out is what it means to be a good (insert religion here). If religion magically disappeared off the face of this planet I think it would be for the better. However, I think if religion magically disappeared off the face of this planet it would only be a matter of time before it springs its ugly face up again.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Yeah I think definitely. There are people who get so wrapped up in religion they don't focus on what actually matters. Your religion should make you strive to be a Better person and some people dont get that. I can't speak for any other religion but as a Christian I have to stop sometimes and think is that what God would have wanted, which Christians are good influences etc. Because with I assume every religion there are people who take things the wrong way. Like abortion people who hold signs up and yell at pregnant women planned parenthood are wrong for that and it is toxic for the Christian reputation. Makes people think all Christians are like that. So its the individual people that get wrapped up in religion and make things toxic.

fonduegirl · Accepted Answer

this question is literally gold by the sound of it, hon.

I'm against religion but I believe it acts more like a regulation on the world cause y'know, there has to be somebody superior who keeps check on evil

jennifer_bloom · Answer

It can be if you don't practice it properly

Flamdring · Answer

Most definitely it is toxic. Religion is an institution and it was formed to control people.

What people often confuse religion with is spirituality and belief which do not require any institutional authorities. If you believe in God or something else, feel free to do so as it is something person and dear to you. As soon as belief turns into dogmas and laws which are then enforced on the others, then it is religion and it is bad. Why bad? Because it attempts to define and control who you are through sets of rules. You can compare it to a free society and an autocratic or even despotic one. Which one will be more developed?

talloak · Answer

It depends. Religiosity is toxic. For many, religion is a very positive, enlightening experience. The difference is very easy to determine: does their religion make them a better person towards other people, especially those outside of the religion. If they are more caring and accepting towards others, they have transformative religion. Jesus pointed out that everyone loves those who love them back, but it's loving those who don't love them that matters. If they are more judgmental and intolerant of others. their religion is toxic.

Sensmind · Answer

The way I look it there can be elements of it that are - There are so many religions and things within those religions that logically or even numerically some would be distasteful to you - Ok it is probably easy for me being non religious but is there any religion out there that those not have an extreme/fundamental edge that you go that is a little bit whack ranging from some arcane/unfair customs to fuelling terrorism.
I actually do believe most religion (won't say all because I don't know enough about them) at their very basic are pure and for the betterment of people but they become corrupted by elites over time as a method of social control and amassing/keeping more power.

Anonymous · Answer

Yes it is. It has caused more problems than it has ever fixed. Belief in a higher power is one thing but fighting over beliefs causes disasters. And they're not even just different beliefs, they're beliefs about things we don't even understand! Seems extremely childish to me. Religion has always divided people and caused conflicts. And yeah I know there will be people who will point out that religion gives people faith, but every religion does that for it's followers. Even Satanism does that! The way I see it, religion only divides people and causes conflicts.

Flying_Banana · Answer

Orgainised Religion and nationalism is the most potent weapon for controlling the masses, just look at history almost all the major violence and killings were in the name of God or the mother land. Dont restrict yourself to this era, if you go back even few thousand years you will see the pattern. Maybe God exists but it is pretty clear that religion is man made and so is the arbitrary boundaries called countries. They just happen to be really really useful tool to control the masses, in the end maybe they can be used in a peaceful way but all that wouldn't matter if one big event is caused by the misuse of religion.

OlderAndWiser · Answer

No, I don't. Religion is a set of beliefs and practices. Whether that is realized in a way that is constructive or destructive depends on the particular person who is practicing the religion. If some Baptist nuts want to picket military funerals and say insane things about dead soldiers, it is not an indictment of their religion but of them as individuals.

Atryn · Answer

To a point I do, they force people into slaves into those beliefs and set of rules, people should be free to do what makes them happy, and a lot of religion forbid those things. They disgust homosexuality because they think God made man to be with a woman. Its entirely untrue.

holograph · Answer

Yes, it literally causes more war than every other reason combined. And every single positive thing it has (e. g. a sense of community by attending a local church) can be obtained through other means. It's all well and good to practice your religion in peace, but the books to all the mainstream religions are full of hatred (not to mention just plain old bullshit) and that's the history it comes from, and religion still causes wars today.

markscott · Answer

Religion had brought about thousands of schools and colleges. Harvard, Yale, Oxford, and many others, were started as religious schools. Same goes for hospitals. Religion has started literally thousand of hospitals and clinics, and still runs many today. Loving people, and seeing that they get a good education, and are taken care of if sick, and giving good moral instruction - that is, don't steal, kill, etc. - is not toxic. Religion has done a great deal of good around the world.

oneleggedwonder · Answer

It can be toxic. Anytime a religion creates violence or becomes a reason to not accept certain people than that religion is toxic. Its usually the people involved in the religion rather than the religion itself. There are some religions that I do not think are toxic, Buddhism being one of them.

eshedd · Answer

Yes, very much so, they cause fanatics and people who follow the religion to a tee and feel the need to tell you all about it, also we’re not stupid people anymore and we for the most part understand the world around us, there’s no man in the sky who silently judges me until I die and that he loves us all 🙄 it’s all dumb for a more primitive society which we aren’t anymore

GoodGuyBreakingBad · Answer

Well, i pray at home to Jesus / Father in Heaven
i don't go to Church cause them people can try
brainwashing you into coming to Church all time
gotta watch some of them people from Church
no offense to those who do go. I have visited lots
Churches in my 20's but not been to one in while
but i believe in Jesus and i love him.

F4LC0N45 · Answer

I don't partake in religion. For me personally its another responsibility I can't afford to carry at the moment. That being said I don't think that religion is toxic, just the people practicing said religion. That's not meant as a shot at anyone that does follow religion. I'm just saying that there are people that are toxic when religion is involved. Personally I find religion a stressful and conflict-filled topic that I would rather avoid.

tartaarsaus · Answer

Religion can potentially be the most inspiring, awesome thing for some people, which helps them in times of desperate need and struggle.

But religion may also be a vessel for pushy proselytism, violence, extremism, oppression and a lot more bad things.

So it really depends on the personal relationship people have with religion

Liam_Hayden · Answer

I think religion or anti-religion can be toxic depending upon the practitioners and the tenets of their faith or worldview. I mean, yeah, there have been toxic religious people, but Hitler was an occultist - which I suppose could be considered religious - and Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and other communist mass murderers were atheists.

BrittBratt2416 · Answer

No, just toxic people. There's plenty of people who are non religious and can be extremely toxic. People often like to point out the toxicity of religious people but don't seem to want to point it out in people who aren't.

jss123 · Answer

People, religious or otherwise, can be toxic. If the religious person practicing isn't a hypocrite and doesn't feel the need to try to convert me I have no problem with him/her. My girlfriend is religious but respects others no matter what religion they are. We aren't of the same religion and its never been a problem.

johnieohm · Answer

no religion by itself is not toxic, people take a religion that says how everyone sins and they state that the religion says everyone has sinned and tonmake way for the second comming they need to kill so many people. this is a fallacy, religion, from what i see, is the unity of bringing others together for the betterment of the universe

cth96190 · Answer

Some religions are toxic, others are not toxic.
In the current world, Islam is self evidently the problem.
Unless, or until, they begin to harm others, people should be free to follow whatever religion they want to, or not.

MannySimms · Answer

I KNOW organized religion is toxic. It's responsible for more mayhem and suffering than anything invented by God or man.

R_Cakes91 · Answer

I don’t think religion itself is toxic but I think certain people can use it as a tool to become toxic. Example: murdering millions of native Americans in the name of conversion.

DizzyDesii · Answer

Only when forced. Believing is God is for the grester good in my opinion but doesn't mean you have to follow certain religious practices

NightFlirt · Answer

Very much so. If less people went around preaching their particular brand of religion there would be far fewer problems

Hurlyburly · Answer

It surely can be. But, it can also give hope in hopeless situations. Therefore it's not entirely bad.

lucro · Answer

Religion will always creat war and conflict it is inevitable even if the only religion are peaceful Tibetan monks. The non believers will eventually get upset and start fighting with them whether over land or life or w. e it doesn't matter we as humans will always find a way to fight over religions and non-religion

CaptainTrippyH · Answer

I think it's great to believe in something as long as you do not force your beliefs on another person. I am a Taoist, and would not put down anyone else's beliefs, I just feel that religion itself once organized, becomes aggressive and discriminatory. But if what you believe in just helps you be a better person, that is all that matters. Believe in what you want, just don't believe that others have to have the same outlook.

bolow55 · Answer

Yes it is you want to feel the holy Spirit pumping through your veins spread it to everybody make sure everybody gets some in their veins in their blood running through the soul mind body and spirit

N17RV · Answer

I think there's bound to be division when you add in extremism, radically different ideologies, and different interpretations of holy texts

isayboo · Answer

Yeah. My parents try to force me into being more religious but it isn't helping me. Instead it's making me miserable

FlirtWithMeeee · Answer

What do you mean by toxic? I don't think religion is bad in an of itself. What warps them is man and their agendas.

gsai64 · Answer

Religion teaches people basic morals. The thing is people have used religion as a device to control people since the beginning of human history. I realized one day my problem wasn't with religion directly, but the way it makes people go crazy.

antonio1970 · Answer

No, u have to believe in something.. and u can't believe in God wen your in your death bed or fear God at that time.. u have to fear God every day of ur life. to be a good person. how I see it. and do it

KeyannaStyles · Answer

Only that rat bastard ass Islamic mutt religion shit.

CubsterShura · Answer

No. Culture can be toxic though. And then the blame goes on to religion.

JackSmy · Answer

What is so great about a question that has been asked more than 10,000 times over the last 3,000 years of human history?

thonglover90 · Answer

Yes. I definitely feel there would be less prejudice in the world without the existence of organised religion.

BeMuse · Answer

Nope. They can generally provide a reasonable moral framework for people if taken with a grain of salt.

Anonymous · Answer

I feel like religion is the cause of a lot of the worlds problems. Yes it is. I don’t care to debate this since I don’t think people can do it civilly.

slatyb · Answer

Mostly because it separates people. It's all too easy for believers in the majority faith to decide that others are less than human.

Anonymous · Answer

it can give people hope in a hopeless world so people can benefit from it, however some people exploit the use of religion (happens in all religions) which is why many people are afraid of it.

genericname85 · Answer

It certainly is. All good religion does can be done without it. But for the bad shit it does, religion is necessary so I'd say there's more negative to it than positive.

PaganWarrior · Answer

Only if they force their religion down others throats.

Mister_E_Alaska · Answer

Yes. The people are awesome but organized religion is pure toxicity.

SocialTwerp · Answer

If people are too radical but otherwise not really as long as people remember common decency.

MichaelBond · Answer

Some religions can be toxic, Christianity is great!

LawrenceKen · Answer

Religion is a cancerous growth that has to be cut out from society.

NikkiMelan · Answer

In the end yes. Look at all the hate and wars it created. Countries the least religious are the most peaceful

God-vs-Satan · Answer

Not unless your religion involves thinking 0+0=1 like atheism does. Also, certain forms of Christian practice is bad if you use it just to be legalistic but doing it to help, it's very helpful.

A-man-22 · Answer

Only if you try to force it on others when they clearly don't want to. You can practice religions, just don't think you are above others for doing so. Same goes with atheism as all kinds of beliefs.

JamesRandiDebates · Answer

There's nothing inherently toxic about having an imaginary friend. But religion never leaves it that simple. Religious people always want the world to be run according to their individual religious ideals. That's when it becomes toxic.

ImBigGeorge · Answer

Anything you follow blindly without quiestioning could be..

I-C3_ME · Answer

I believe extremists are toxic, the religions are not

HaveNoName · Answer

If you do not believe in your religion, don't use other people's comments as a crutch to justify your action.

i_am_tbjxii · Answer

No people are toxic. I have felt that way before but honestly it’s just the people that make it seem like that. I had stop going to church for a whole year because of that.

IrishMann · Answer

I think any religion on a individual basis can be very comforting and rewarding however if it is state run or used in politics it can be abused and used as a tool for oppression and hatred.

iFarted · Answer

Only ones that says it's okay to harm others. (I'm not sure if any do) Most that I'm aware of are not toxic, it's just the individuals who take them to an extreme that are toxic

Dargil · Answer

One of them is. It is culturally incompatible with any other religion.

AilsaGourly · Answer

I think that if you don't understand it it can be risky so I stay away from such subjects

frerardsprincess · Answer

It doesn’t have to be but a lot of the time people make it toxic

Do you think religion is toxic?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

Do you think religion is toxic?

Most Helpful Opinions

Most Helpful Opinions

What Girls & Guys Said

We're glad to see you liked this post.