(June 7, 2011 at 11:48 am)BloodyHeretic Wrote: Regardless of whether it's true or not, is religion beneficial in general to the human race, would we be worse off without it? I'm inclined to say the world would be a better place without religion, but any arguments contrary are welcome!
No, it is not.
Religion fosters hatred and violence among groups - from individuals to nations.
Religion holds back scientific and social progress.
Religion is used to control the masses to keep them from achieving anything better in their life than is
offered through a wealthy ruling class who they are taught that such was ordained by God. Such are
appeased by being told that God especially loves the poor, and they will reap their reward in heaven.
Those telling them this are the priestly and ruling classes who the religious texts say will be punished
by God for their greed, misuse of wealth, failure to give (anything) to the poor (rather they take). Yet, no
one seems to notice this evident contradiction in what they are told.
Religion encourages people to do some pretty bizarre things which they would certainly not otherwise
do. This includes everything from mass suicides to holding "witch hunts" for people in their midst who
do not adhere to the beliefs of their faith.
Religion offers an excuse for some very mentally unbalanced people to believe they are "blessed" or that
anyone with faith can experience the same (hallucinations) they do. This delays them helping themselves
or getting any help with their mental problems outside themselves.
Religion takes time and money away from people which could be spent doing something more
productive and beneficial for themselves or their community. It is obscene to take people on the brink
of starvation away from their crops or other jobs and use their labor instead for building a church or
other monument to a deity. It is horrible then to take these people's money to buy beautiful things to
glorify God while the donors die from lack of clean water. It's obscene to have an impoverished village
with a beautiful stone church with precious metal items and pieces of priceless artwork in its center.
