Why would the world be better off without religion?

[BCRanger10]

I see this claim every so often. How and why would the world be better off without religion?

Would there be nothing else humans would fight over or become radicalized by? Would people suddenly somehow think perfectly logically? Would there be no more "us vs. them" thinking or no more self-righteous and hypothetical leadership?

What terrible things have humans done that are specifically and exclusively the fault of religion?

[Chazmatazz269]

It used to be true that most wars were fought over whose god has the bigger d*ck, but that hasn’t been the case in centuries. Most wars are fought over political power and resources now. More people have died for land and oil than ever died for their religion.
The world would not benefit from less religion. Anyone who suggests otherwise is woefully ignorant or flat out lying. As western cultures have drifted away from religion, has society become better or worse? Even a cursory examination would show that the secular crowd hasn’t made anything better. Most people actually think things are worse, including the nonreligious. They simply refuse to accept any responsibility for their part in it. Churches have always been somewhat effective altruistic charities. Meanwhile atheists and their corrupt politicians funnel millions of dollars through their money laundering organizations and the people who need the most help don’t see a dime. Is that better? Of course not.
If they want to impress us with how great secularism is, show us… do better. They won’t because they can’t. That’s why all they ever do is criticize and complain. Deflect away from their own crimes and failures. It was old three decades ago.
I’ll give them this: they are persistent in their drive to destroy the world!
Ell oh ell!

[strateguy632]

Even in the past battles were for land, ancient egypt and ancient china are examples.
The major religious war in Europe was pope wanted to keep his authority over german people. Not obeying catholicism.

[strateguy632]

Bad wording. You meant why do people say "the world would better off without any religion." The answer is most people are shallow enough to be swayed by silly episodes in family guy... and are too weak minded to notice dawkins blames all abrahamic religions for what some muslims did... and he grouped all "religion" together... pretty crooked for a biologist who usually distinguishes. But smart people are just rare.

In general the world WOULD NOT be better off without ANY religion.

[Agape93]

Dark ages wouldn't have happened.
The crusades wouldn't have happened.
The inquisition wouldn't have happened.
The witch trials wouldn't have happened.
Aids would be lesser in Africa (because the pope not only said condoms increased the instance of aids but even made relief aid contingent on having no condoms be delivered as well).
Medical progress would have been more developed.
Art would have been more developed.
Many cultures might have survived.
Many societies might have survived.

Etc.

[sage2021]

It would be great if there was only one religion since the beginning of time and we all believed in the same thing. That we all were going to heaven when we leave this earth.

[Joshydavid25]

That would assume that religion is the source of corruption in humans, and as we know that's not the case.. So I would say no.. In fact Religion helps humans as a source of stability and believing in something more than yourself.. Not religions, but certain ones benefit society..

[AndrésC64]

Religion is inherently divisive and absolutely absurd. Because there is nothing that religion gives people that they can't get without religion.

"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."
-- Voltaire

[SixFootSexy]

Religion typically makes people self-righteous, impose those beliefs on others, and to exert power by claiming divine authority.

Ironic, because Jesus didn't do that when he was here.

[BCRanger10]

Okay, so what of that is specific to religion? Could a secular dictator not invoke some kind of ideology to defend whatever measures he took to maintain power?

[strateguy632]

Your whole list @SixFootSexy
is exactly the "pc" cAncel culture. if you don't say the words considered "bad by pc religion" then you feel holier than people who say things as they are. And "makes people self-righteous, impose those beliefs on others" like yelling at me for n word or censored or wrong pronoun etc. Etc. Etc. All those facebook "community guidelines" about harmless opinins while hosting false accusation And anger and incite hate and violence which is actual danger. Cancel people for tweets or insta posts is the harmful inquisition by liberals.

[SixFootSexy]

Oh absolutely secular movements have been quite powerful over time, but they never run the world for very long. It's tough to maintain a society if people think everything is materialistic and meaningless with zero hope for an afterlife. That's why religion is SO powerful as lore. If Trump makes his own bible, how is that much different from King James, or Constantine?

“People don’t have ideas; Ideas have people.”

It's much easier to co-opt a legacy lore or framework than to start something entirely original. James Lindsay pointed out the communist movements in the USSR, specifically Marx was heavily influenced by Gnosticism. There are spiritual forces at work on humanity always, both positive and negative.

Just like the world of microbiology that we didn't really know existed hundred years ago, we have no way to measure certain phenomenon but those things influence us all the time. Be it called spiritual or quantum. There are many things that are simply unknowable, that's where faith comes in. Religion should be a standard to uphold, but don't hide the flaws of the church especially in leadership, that only makes it look more hypocritical. The pope poops too.

[jshm2]

LOL, these are usually the same dipshits who claim the world would be "better" without humans.

So it's safe to laugh them off as drama queens and imbeciles just looking to scream into the void.

[soe11]

• The religion is uphold peace and prosperity, trust and tranquility.
• But human interpretation get corporation.
• If we uphold trust, honest, truth there will be no problem at all

[alice55]

would be ways worse religion give a path to follow for lost people.

[worldscolide]

Religions of 1000 years ago? Yeah the world would be better off. Now though? Only if you got rid of the radical/violent ones.

[WonderingManII]

There is good and evil inside of us all. Eliminate religion, and that good and evil will remain. People will still fight.

[AndrésC64]

True. But it would be one fewer reasons for people to be evil.

[WonderingManII]

@AndrésC64 I don't think so, I think if you remove religion people will get more evil.

[AndrésC64]

Yet statistics show otherwise. Scandinavian countries are a perfect example.

[WonderingManII]

@AndrésC64 I don't know who or what statistics you are talking about. I notice that you provided me no link to look into it.

[AndrésC64]

"The safest countries in the world, according to various rankings, consistently include Iceland, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria, and New Zealand."

[WonderingManII]

@AndrésC64 yawns.

[AndrésC64]

Do you need a nap little boy? 💤

[WonderingManII]

@AndrésC64 You need to provide a link to your information, or stop boring the crap out of me.

[AndrésC64]

Did you even read what I wrote? Let me repeat it for you. "The safest countries in the world according to various rankings

https://www.visionofhumanity.org

https://tonyberard.medium.com

https://secularaz.org

[AndrésC64]

The rest of the link for visionofhumanity. org

how-important-is-religion-to-understanding-peace/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20analysis%2C%20countries, religious%20hostilities%20are%2040%25%20lower.

The rest of the link for Tonyberard

the-moral-compass-and-crime-b20d27d154fc

The rest of the link for
secularaz. org

how-important-is-religion-to-understanding-peace/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20analysis%2C%20countries, religious%20hostilities%20are%2040%25%20lower.

[WonderingManII]

@AndrésC64 It is clear to me that you do not know how to use the internet. You can comment to this if you want but I already made up my mind about you. My mind is closed to your nonsense.

[slatyb]

Yes, it would. The healthiest and happiest nations are among the least religious.

[Joshydavid25]

I wouldn't call Japan a healthy and happy nation..

[slatyb]

@Joshydavid25 What about the Scandinavian nations? And what more religious nation would you consider healthier and happier than Japan? Please compare life expectancy, homelessness, homicides, education, number of people living in poverty.

[Anonymous]

Because then, people would have to be responsible for their own actions and wouldn't be controllable idiots.

[BCRanger10]

Wouldn't be accountable? Have you seen a traditional Catholic examination of conscience?

[Opinion Owner]

No. I stopped doing religion when I was 8 or 9.

[BCRanger10]

Okay. Take a quick skim of this...

traditionalcatholic.net/.../..._of_Conscience.html

Would you still argue then that religion does not hold people accountable, or at least some religions?

[Opinion Owner]

We made up those rules.
What I'm talking about is that religious people tend to put everything on god when it was THEMSELVES that caused the various things that happened, or the actions of others!

[BCRanger10]

So how would this examination not be a counter to that?

[Opinion Owner]

`Splain, Lucy.

[BCRanger10]

Let me backtrack a little bit. When you say "put everything on God", what do you mean?

[Opinion Owner]

"If god didn't want me to be like this, he wouldn't have made me that way." Etc. Or, "Well, I didn't get what I prayed for! God must have a reason for me to not have it!" Etc.

[BCRanger10]

I'm afraid I don't quite see the connection to what you said before. "If God didn't want me to be like this...", how? Transgender? A certain physical or personality trait?

And as for "Well, I didn't get what I prayed for! God must have a reason for me to not have it!", my response to that is "yeah, what's the problem?"

[Opinion Owner]

Friends of my parents were jehovah's witnesses and when my siblings were born, all 3 needed some amount of a blood transfusion. Those friends of my parents told them that god intended for those 3 to be that way and that my parents shouldn't have given them transfusions because it was against god's will/wishes.
Others will say things like, the reason I'm poor is because gpd wants me that way.'", Etc..
The problem is, just because you didn't get it by praying for it doesn't mean you can use other means to get it! Like, getting a job and saving up for it, etc..
There was a movie in the `80's called, "Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit". In it, a VERY religious couple decides to adopt a little girl. Eventually, she ends up with some sort of ailment that causes her to collapse in school and even go deaf for a while! Rather than let doctors tend to her, they decide to pray over her for a cure!

[UnwantedScorpio]

The holocaust which is the mass killing of the Jews

so sad

[strateguy632]

True but not caused by any of the relgions?

[Rebecca97_]

Yes it’s one of leading cause of death.

[Anonymous]

Less wars

[BCRanger10]

Based on what?

[Opinion Owner]

No Islam

[BCRanger10]

I'd agree that the world would be better without SOME religions (that being one of them). But religion in general?

[Opinion Owner]

I personally can’t stand religion , so I’d be fine without it.

[seeyounexttuesday]

It would not.