Would the world actually be better off without any religion at all?

Question

Levin · Accepted Answer

That's an interesting question and one that I cannot do justice to.

People think of Christianity of weak and meekly, but think of the history of Europe in the past 1000 years. None stop conquest and slaughter. Those were religious God-fearing men.

Nowadays, I'd say it's helpful to differentiate between organised religion, which is like a social embodiment of religion; and one's personal spirituality, something done in private.

I think you could make an argument that organised religion just causes people to hate each other even more; and keeps that dense fog of ignorance at the fore. I mean, look at the so called 'holy lands'. Even people of the same religion hate each other and want to kill each other. The UK is facing real problems with integration and we're starting to see the birth of sectarian politics. Very dangerous indeed. We've imported a very grave problem.

Whenever I was forced to go to church, sorry, I didn't see much holy or of relevance there. It was just, stale and boring. Maybe I'd have found this more religious, some music, some kind of soulful praise!

https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQWFzMvCfLE

I'd say the personal stuff is good. The social exoteric religion type stuff, not so good.

ChicoFromThe305 · Accepted Answer

Nope, I probably would've murdered a few people if my fear of God didn't stop me, actually if there was no source to good then there wouldn't be a point in doing good mostly when doing bad seems to be pretty easy in most cases, if God didn't exist your brain wouldn't have the ability to think about the right choice and you probably wouldn't be the person that you are today, good and bad have a source and those sources are spiritual, the reason we don't get up in the morning and murder someone just cause they were being loud with their lawnmower is for a reason and that reason is reason, the fact that our brains are instinctually wired as far as you can remember with the ability to instinctually tell the difference between good and bad is a sign that good and bad is spiritual, the world wouldn't be the same without religion, it would be worse because a fear of God prevents people from doing bad, now religiousness itself has a downside, but that's religiousness not believing in a god within itself.

katiesmuff · Accepted Answer

Religion has many good attributes in most all of the different one's, but the problem comes when religious FREAKS such as J D Vance and his hillbilly mob of up in your face preaching only their way is right. Amazingly most of those think like simple minded MAGA.

Whatever your beliefs they should be kept within the wall of your place of worship or your home, but never ever should it be allowed to influence anything in government which is suppose to be run by the people of many different beliefs and not forced upon everyone by people like slimy Bret Kavanaugh, bible thumping snob Amy Coney Barrett who decided to take women's rights away from them

ElenaSeluna · Accepted Answer

I don’t believe so…I am looking at it from one perspective tho

I am looking at the religious effect on some people.. it gives them comfort when something bad happens to them.. it makes them act in a good way.. and those are the true believers not the deceivers..

OlderAndWiser · Answer

Your question ignores the huge amount of good works down by Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others. I am talking about works that benefit society at large and not just members of our own churches. Locally, per year, my church has a food bank that serves over 13,000 families, with a total of 1,200,000 pounds of food provided to those homes. I don't see atheists organizing food banks for anyone in my community.

Anonymous · Answer

In my opinion it won't change a lot.
Religion gives hope, and a way of living easier.
a lot of people can't live without believing in something.

It's even true for me I don't believe in religion or god or anything and I have a hard time trusting anyone. And I come across pessimistic (which is true).
Religion gives an easy escape in believe something, it's like rabies vaccine, in the right amount it will save you from the virus.
Extra dose will 100%kill you.(i am not a doctor)

And if you don't get vaccinated even then it might kill you.
I don't think this analogy works or not.
I think religion's good things and stories should be taught but not worshipped, I think the holy aspects of it should be removed, and reduce the hate in different regions.
The most common thing religion does is treat other religions as inferior to them.
Christianity does that, Hindu does that to themselves and others, Muslims also does that.
There might be so many religions which does the same.

Bricealan · Answer

@thegreenyogi Faith serves a purpose for many, many people. It helps them meet everyday stress and problems, and it helps many deal with death and sickness. On the other hand, religion has at times caused much harm in condemning someone for heresy, as Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for her beliefs.

Terrible things have occurred in the name of religion. The crucifixion of Christ -

EVEN THOUGH: "I CAN FIND NO FAULT WITH THIS JUST MAN"

"DEATH TO AMERICA, DEATH TO ISREAL"

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

redinnocent69's answer.

Plus, as pointed out already in the comments, all our civilizations are built with organized religion in mind. Later on and logically, it gave birth to either anti-religious ideas or rational critics. I believe we can't remove religions from our past, they are foundational. They have ensured enough societal order to make us become what we are now. To make us the critics we now have the luxury to be.

I also think we're programmed to be spiritual, by our consciousness, our imagination and our void within. I think it's a need. Which doesn't have to lead to organized religion, that's just one path taken by spirituality, spirituality in the broadest possible sense.

Orion84 · Answer

I think so, yes.

Some of the worst atrocities throughout history have been committed in the name of religion. Some of the worst people/groups in the world have been religious. Modern religish groups impede scientific progress, and hold back civilization as a whole. Religions throughout history have exploited people, taken advantage of people, and have ruled through fear.

Obviously, not all wars/deaths/atrocities have been committed in the name of religion, as there have certainly been other factors that have contributed to historical events. Even so, if religion had never existed, a good number of them would have never occurred, and that would have been a net positive for history, and the world would be better off without it, today.

Iron_Man · Answer

If you dont have God we have nothing, we are lost souls, we need God. If you don’t accept The Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior will have no life you won’t go to heaven Instead, Hell awaits for those that are not saved when you leave the Earth. Thats why it’s very important to get right with God and have a personal relationship with him. The Lord loves us he put us here for a reasonJesus Christ. You live in a very holy country you know about the pope. I’m Baptist, I’m a Christian

molonski2 · Answer

100 %

But if those christians simply lived by their ideals without trying to influence , the world would be okey.

Make no mistake , there is NO GOD , no afterlife , this BS is just fantasy , but if you forget that utter CRP and just help others ( prior to their death ) then all is nice and okey.

sage2021 · Answer

Going to heaven is something that I am looking forward to.

If I didn't have God and Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit in my life, I would have to think 🤔 IS THIS ALL THERE IS, AND THEN NOTHING ELSE?

For those reasons I would have to say that we would not be better off without religion.

And even more than that - none of us would even be here if God didn't create us in the first place.✝️

Zack-Bann · Answer

I have a complex and downright toxic relationship with religion.

It makes big promises. And rarely delivers.

But if you stray too far from it you find yourself isolated.

Because religion is good for one thing: building likeminded communities.

I don’t think the world would be better or worse without it.
We’ll just find something else to fight over

jshm2 · Answer

No. As religions form the basis of laws and civilisations.

There would be no civilisation without religion.

Most of the current fuck around of societies are down to their deviance from religion and the false prophets pretending to uphold them - not the religious tenets themselves.

SeekerOfTruth007 · Answer

No. Without "religion" science never would have been born and governments wouldn't even exist. "The first governing bodies were local tribal priests, and even the first written languages were religious texts.

Without religion, we'd all be cavemen.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

Yes and no.. Many religious are better off not existing at all.. But there are certain "religion/s" (or a certain "one") that helped shape things like the prosperity of the West and the freedom that started off with it.. So yes, but ultimately no..

loveslongnails · Answer

It would be better off without religious  fanatics.  Personally, I don't have much use for organized religions. Anything "good" they've done didn't require religion to do it, but everything bad they've done, did.

genericname85 · Answer

personally i think yes. cause i think people generally live a better life without delusion. there are obviously specific cases where religion can be a crutch for people with certain problems so i can't say it never improves anythign for anyone but overall i think the impact of delusional thinking is bigger than whetever help it creates for some people. plus i think there can be better ways to help these people than with religion.

msc545 · Answer

Probably not. Religion gives people hope and serves to just spell fears of death. Religion also prescribes certain moral codes that people tend to live by or at least think about a little bit. To the extent these codes prevent bad behavior. They're worth it.

NathanDavis · Answer

yes, and no...

if it were not religion, it would be other means of mass control...

and it will end up with the same result... as much as we try to be otherwordly-like...

we're just humans, after all...

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

Definitely not. People do a lot more good than bad through an honest and meaningful expression of their faith and the practice of good works. Unfortunately we, almost universally as a species, tend to dwell on the bad more than the good.

Miristheiss · Answer

The world is best with truth. Everyone knows deep down God created all, you live at best 70-80 years and then you will meet God.

strateguy632 · Answer

no way! but it would be better off without a certain one. the one i can't write online these days.

FreyaRed · Answer

Religions aren't bad per definition, people who claim they are those closest to god and exploit religious people are religious cancer.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

No but I think it would be better without religious zealots and extremists. This goes for every major religion. Christian extremism is getting crazy in the US.

RedInnocent69 · Answer

I’d like to say yes, but I’m conscious that the social contract is not strong enough to motivate some who require the supernatural threat of theological consequences

OneViewpoint · Answer

Yes. All religions are based on lies and aimed at controlling a population.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

In the sense that less wars would be fought, sure. Otherwise? Nah

FunkyMonkee · Answer

ABSOBUTTFUCKINGLUTELY!!! It's AAAALLLL BULLSHIT!!! It was created by US so those in charge would have more control over the rest of us!!

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Unfortunately no. Some people need religion to have a moral compass

Dargil · Answer

No, but it would be better off without Shia Islam

WhitneySnow · Answer

No, but religion has brought bad things as well as good

Shiprex · Answer

Probably but then cults of personality would form.

Anonymous · Answer

No. Look at what happened with atheist socialists were in charge like the nazis, communists in Russia and china. Hundreds of millions died.

Cidknee · Answer

Since one is actual, then it's needed. But religion is a practice of ones faith. I look more at the history and knowing God.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I don't think so. Maybe certain religions but not all. Religions give us morals.

najekim · Answer

Organized religion we would be better without. But everyone has personal beliefs or morals or ethics in some form or fashion.

Twalli · Answer

Religion gives a lot of people help. It creates a sense of unity and community. It can also help shape your own moral compass.

CaptainSmartass · Answer

We'd be better off without politics. Simples...

jahaims · Answer

Not sure. I think most people are too stupid to be moral and just without an imaginary threat.

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

It isn't about the religion, it's about the people and how they think...

Anonymous · Answer

Absolutely, might that a generation or three to breed out if you bury all the evidence

DonaldDarko · Answer

Yes I think so.

slatyb · Answer

Yes, it would. No more fighting over "holy land"

kaucky1 · Answer

Yeh definitely with out religion for sure

indissoluble · Answer

Nope.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm I'm sure it would.

Agape93 · Answer

Yeap

Staximus · Answer

Definitely

AgentG111 · Answer

Possibly,

HairF3tish · Answer

That's rhetorical.

Anonymous · Answer

Nope.

Would the world actually be better off without any religion at all?

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