Would The World Be better Without Religion

Gregg Easterbrook

[catonsville]

Interesting article. I believe violence is in our genes, as well as our morality. Held back by our sense of right and wrong and fear of punishment. But given the right conditions , I believe we all can be murderers. Religion has lead to violence , but it has also helped to contain it. And looking at societies that actively condoned anti-religious activity in the 20th century,(China, Russia, etc) religion was far less harmful

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?"

Probably not. But, throughout history, religion has been the leading cause of death among humans.

[weikel]

People obey law and restrain their evil out of fear of punishment not generally of religion.

[princess leah]

"Faith makes people hate each other" What a truck load of crap this is...Let me repeat what I heard a very wise Evangelical pastor once say about Religion, "it is man's failed attempts to reach up to God through his own futile efforts" However, a Relationship with God is possible through Jesus Christ Romans 6:23 "For the penalty of sin is death, but the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"

[weikel]

Hmmmm thats true if you consider Marxism a religion( which I do due to its requirement for blind faith and intolerance of other religions).

[RightWhale]

it has also helped to contain it

Similar to the rise of the legal system[s]. Blackwood says that we choose to live in society, and in so doing we give up some freedom. If we each exercised total freedom, we would quickly run into other people who were also exercising total freedom.

[watchin]

A popular but untrue sentiment. Check your history book again. Far more people have suffered at the hands of atheist regimes than religious, primarily in this century. While the number of incidents might lead one to believe that religion has caused the most deaths, a focus on the actual numbers will prove my point.

[Aliska]

If the fall is really true, that would explain the killer instinct. People need religion; absent any religion, they would invent their own.

It is hard to imagine a world without religion. The atheists would have it that way; but in a way they have a religion, science and reason. So we're back to square one.

Most intelligent people would agree that much of religion and behavior motivated by religion is a scourge of the planet.

[f.Christian]

Ideology/religion promotes hate--self righteousness/hypocrisy...Truth promotes love-sacrifice!

Two opposite--different things!

[drstevej]

Without religion the author would Gregg Spring-holidays-brook.

[A Navy Vet]

"Blackwood says that we choose to live in society, and in so doing we give up some freedom. If we each exercised total freedom, we would quickly run into other people who were also exercising total freedom."

A concept that doesn't play well with (L)ibertarians.

...as I dive for the nearest cover...

[c-five]

Probably not. But, throughout history, religion has been the leading cause of death among humans.

Probably not. But, throughout history, religion has been the leading EXCUSE FOR death among humans.

Murder in the name of God violates at least TWO commandments, not only the 6th but also the 3rd. All of this usually as a mask for the 10th.

[JH147]

Conveniently, this writer has left out the anti-religion regimes of the 20th century.

While we're at it - let's get rid of all knives. Knives certainly have killed millions and millions of people throughout the ages. The world would be a much better place without such medieval devices.

[pbear8]

In the end wars are always about resources.

[watchin]

I agree ... but for the atheist/agnostic/objectivist/etc. telling them that there's a difference between true Christianity and merely the "form of religion" is an exercise in futility. It sounds to them like feeble excuse-making.

[A Navy Vet]

"Would The World Be better Without Religion?"

Organized religion? - Possibly
Faith - no.

[txzman]

You know I find it very strange indeed that so-called knowledgeable writers would even make a statement like this.

For my "religion" is the relationship I have with God. This argument is akin then to saying "wouldn't the world be better off without God?".

Poor soul doesn't seem to realize that nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake.

[Real Cynic No More]

Maybe I have a short memory, but it seems to me the only time that organized and/or fanatical religion has been a problem is when we have a government based on one religion. That was the problem in 1776 with forced religious observance in England; it's a problem today with the religious zealots controlling certain governments. The U.S., I think, has the best model for the opportunities of the people.

Separate religion from governance.

[watchin]

nyuk, nyuk, nyuk

[onedoug]

God cares.