Religion is Harmful to Society

[z7z]

I can think of a few good things religion does but several more things that are harmful to people/society (particularly young people):

Good things:
Controls the masses (fear of God/sinning), gives terminally ill/elderly (false) hope, many volunteer/help the homeless/poor, there is some wisdom in some of the religious texts, but mostly BS

Bad things:
Radicalism, terrorism, gang like, brainwashes young people, false hope of afterlife, puts fear in people, religious institutions are tax-free businesses, people waste their time at religious institutions/reading about religion, religion makes us superior to animals and pits religions against each other (tribe like)

Please help me add to my list either good things or bad things about religion. Thank you.

[Chad32]

Anything taken to extreme is harmful to society. Usually when people argue for religion, they mention things that liberal to moderate theists would do, and few would object to, but then you get the extremists who will kill or ostracize you for being different. Few things will cause good people to do evil things like religion does, unfortunately.

[Whateverist]

Not a big fan of religion but there are plenty of pastimes that don't appeal to me. Harmful to society? That would depend on what you want in a society and what you think they do to fuck it up. But society is consensual. Not up to me personally or anyone else. But go ahead and make your case.

What kind of society do you want? Who agrees with you? How is religion harmful to it?

[z7z]

What kind of society do you want? Who agrees with you? How is religion harmful to it?

One that isn't gullible, believing in creation, heaven, hell, the devil, angels, virgins in heaven for martyrdom, etc. Religion dumbs down society and holds back progress. Ancient belief systems weren't meant for modern times.

[Salacious B. Crumb]

It gives people a required moral compass (which can include as much evil as desired), it influences our politicians and teachers, it teaches "intelligent" design and contradicts scientific discoveries, it ruins relationships with family and friends, it makes people feel guilty for no reason, and it tricks people out of their money.

[ignoramus]

Just a quick question...
Re:  the Ancient Greeks with Zeus, etc.
Whas there any divine writings associated with these gods?
Did people kill in the name  of said gods?

That's why Zeus is extinct. Man could not profit from it.
Profiting gives us a better chance of survival.
So basically, religion is a neccesary byproduct of evolution?

[Cephus]

Good things:
Controls the masses (fear of God/sinning), gives terminally ill/elderly (false) hope, many volunteer/help the homeless/poor, there is some wisdom in some of the religious texts, but mostly BS

None of those "good things" are really good things.  They are things done for bad reasons.  It matters why people do things, you can't just rationalize away things done for irrational reasons.

My SIG stands for a reason.

[Dystopia]

Good things:
Controls the masses (fear of God/sinning), gives terminally ill/elderly (false) hope, many volunteer/help the homeless/poor, there is some wisdom in some of the religious texts, but mostly BS

None of those "good things" are really good things.  They are things done for bad reasons.  It matters why people do things, you can't just rationalize away things done for irrational reasons.

My SIG stands for a reason.

I disagree simply because I'm concerned merely about results - If they're achieved trough religion or not that's ok.

The idea in the OP is also somewhat simplistic - Most religious people are not thinking about god when they help the homeless guy, they are thinking that this person needs help.

I have learned the hardway that even our deeply held truths should be questioned - Nothing is completely evil or good

Good things? For starters many countries only exist (and thus you and other people exist just as you are) because of the majority's religion spread (or alternatively it's one of the causes). Atheist philosopher Alain de Botton argues that atheists should steal the good side of religion while remaining skeptical of supernatural claims - Among the good aspects he mentions he talks about (1) The sense of community it provides that allows people to meet friends, husbands, wives and have fun while working for a common cause (2) Gives people comfort by knowing that there's someone always watching over you, and like it or not some people need that comfort (3) It is a part of their culture just like the national language or national traditions (4) It helps people escape the daily media and boring routines (5) It provides some simple moral principles and helps people justify it (like loving your neighbour, etc.) - Do you see where I'm getting? I agree that there is little in religion that can't be provided by other mechanisms, BUT - Some people simply do not like the alternative AND there are things religion simply is to good at even when compared to political parties.

Arguing that either religion is evil or good is a false dichotomy - Religion is part of most people's culture and has influenced what we are today in some shape or form, even if we don't realize it. to some degree I think religion is fascinating from an academic's perspective because how man creates ideologies to fit his views on the world.

My biggest criticism of religion would be that it proposes a worldview that could be equally provided by anything else or nothing at all. 

Bad things:

Radicalism, terrorism, gang like, brainwashes young people, false hope of afterlife, puts fear in people, religious institutions are tax-free businesses, people waste their time at religious institutions/reading about religion, religion makes us superior to animals and pits religions against each other (tribe like)

Radicalism and terrorism have always existed and there's groups that perpetuate those acts without religion, not to mention it's usually an isolated problem compared to the majority of the population (and it's almost exclusive to abrahamic religions). This does not prove anything.


Brainwashing is grossly exaggerated by atheists like Dawkins, the majority of parents in first world countries do not force kids to believe, they simply teach them the basic principles and send them to church. I don't consider indoctrination if it's a simple teaching without coercion. If you do have proof I'd like to see it


False hope? Yes I agree, but we are full of it


Fear? That's mostly an abrahamic faith thing, not representative of the world's religions at all, and it depends on the believer


Tax-free? So are charities. I prefer to have tax-free churches than to live in a country where politicians tell the people global warming isn't caused by man because in the bible it's god that caused it (and he didn't get fired )

[z7z]

The idea in the OP is also somewhat simplistic - Most religious people are not thinking about god when they help the homeless guy, they are thinking that this person needs help.
They are also thinking about all the homeless people they can convert to their cult while they feed them

For starters many countries only exist (and thus you and other people exist just as you are) because of the majority's religion spread (or alternatively it's one of the causes).
Religions exist. I exist. That doesn't make them good in the 21st century

(1) The sense of community it provides that allows people to meet friends, husbands, wives and have fun while working for a common cause
You can have community and volunteer without religion
(2) Gives people comfort by knowing that there's someone always watching over you, and like it or not some people need that comfort
False hope is not a good thing.
(3) It is a part of their culture just like the national language or national traditions
Religion is fake and harmful.
(4) It helps people escape the daily media and boring routines
Find a hobby
(5) It provides some simple moral principles and helps people justify it (like loving your neighbour, etc.)
Atheists have a conscience and morals without fear of God

Arguing that either religion is evil or good is a false dichotomy - Religion is part of most people's culture and has influenced what we are today in some shape or form, even if we don't realize it. to some degree I think religion is fascinating from an academic's perspective because how man creates ideologies to fit his views on the world.
Many religious extremists are evil. I think religion has no place in the 21st century. They are all over 1,000 years old. Think about all we know now. 

My biggest criticism of religion would be that it proposes a worldview that could be equally provided by anything else or nothing at all. 
Now we can agree!

Radicalism and terrorism have always existed and there's groups that perpetuate those acts without religion, not to mention it's usually an isolated problem compared to the majority of the population (and it's almost exclusive to abrahamic religions). This does not prove anything.

So you admit Abrahamic religions are war mongerers. They are the majority of religious people. This is my point. They are no different than bloods and crips.

Brainwashing is grossly exaggerated by atheists like Dawkins, the majority of parents in first world countries do not force kids to believe, they simply teach them the basic principles and send them to church. I don't consider indoctrination if it's a simple teaching without coercion. If you do have proof I'd like to see it

Have you heard of Catholic Schools, Islamic Schools, Jewish Schools?


Tax-free? So are charities. I prefer to have tax-free churches than to live in a country where politicians tell the people global warming isn't caused by man because in the bible it's god that caused it (and he didn't get fired )
Religious institutions are businesses that get tax free status in the name of God. It's a scam.

[Jericho]

Religion is nothing more than a creation of older civilizations that is now obsolete and useless. The only thing keeping religion alive today is that there are those who cling to their wishful thinking.