Zone1 Would the world be better of without any formal Religion?

[Zebra]

Yes or no?

 

[Zebra]

Or: not sure?

 

[there4eyeM]

The effects of "religion" on people and societies can be positive, even if religion, almost by definition, can be described as blasphemy.

 

[shockedcanadian]

Man does evil in tbe name of religoin. Remove that and he will just find another excuse to do the same.

 

[vegas giants]

Some people find great comfort in religion.

 

[Sixties Fan]

Every people since a certain time have had a religion, as in a belief that a god is present.

I define their belief in a god as how they deal with hope and fear, which has been present with humans since forever.

It is the advent of cities which created a more militarized, going out to conquer others and their cities idea. Not that before, one group would not attack another for their food, territories, women, babies, etc.

There is nothing wrong with religion. What is wrong is some humans using religion as their catapult to go on and attack and conquer territories and peoples with the idea that their religion and god is superior to all others, as it is often the case with Christianity and Islam.

 

[Baron Von Murderpaws]

I have nothing against PERSONAL religion. We all believe in what we need to, in order for our brains to make sense of a lot of stuff that goes on in the world and the universe. I'm totally fine with that.

ORGANIZED religion is what I have problems with. Corruption, lies, hypocrisy, abuse, misuse, theft, murder, enslavement, torture, and the massive fraud that goes on.

 

[DGS49]

Seriously, imagine a world in which EVERYONE believed,

• There is a "god,"
• There is life after death,
• A good life will be rewarded in the afterlife, and an evil life will be punished or extinguished after death.

The question of the OP answers itself. The most evil people in the world live as though none of the above three propositions is true. The best people in the world behave as though they are true.

There is absolutely no question.

 

[Clyde 154]

Yes or no?

One must define RELIGION. People make religions from many things. Global warming, Social Justice, Politics........the quest for personal accolade, human secularism........ There are many "organized" forms of religion and yes.......the majority can be dangerous when religion is abused as a tool of methodology to garner personal value. Religion can be used just like a weapon in the wrong hands, it can be pointed and discharged........but, its the heart of the user that weaponizes the tool... the tool itself is only as evil or righteous as the person that uses it.

Pure religion is a "blessing". What then is pure religion? Pure religion is a "doer" of the work. What is an example of religious work? "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this..........Vist the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep himself unspotted from the world." -- James 1:23-27

Pure religion is defined simply as..........Being Called Out from the World. -- John 15:19. How do you know when you are wielding religion in a righteous manner? "If you were of this world.......the world would love its own, but because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, THEREFORE THE WORLD HATES YOU."

Pure religion is much like holding a mirror in front of a vampire..........you are not DOING THE WORK if there is no hissing and grinding of teeth from the demons that serve the god of this world..........the minions of satan (2 Cor. 4:4)

 

[LibertyKid]

One must define RELIGION. People make religions from many things. Global warming, Social Justice, Politics........the quest for personal accolade, human secularism........ There are many "organized" forms of religion

This is so very true. We see political cults all the time. In fact, this forum is full of left wing and right wing cultists who worship their political affiliations. The same people that will vilify religion in this forum, will praise their political god in the next.

and yes.......the majority can be dangerous when religion is abused as a tool of methodology to garner personal value. Religion can be used just like a weapon in the wrong hands, it can be pointed and discharged........but, its the heart of the user that weaponizes the tool... the tool itself is only as evil or righteous as the person that uses it.

True

Pure religion is a "blessing". What then is pure religion? Pure religion is a "doer" of the work. What is an example of religious work? "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this..........Vist the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and keep himself unspotted from the world." -- James 1:23-27

This is correct for any man/woman that seeks spiritual enlightenment.

 

[BreezeWood]

the metaphysical forces that created life on earth is why there is religion - the nuts and bolts of living is the reason for gov't ...

the goal is to have well balanced / empathetic people in both that has never happened in human history ... simultaneous corruption of the two has been the prevailing consensus.

 

[there4eyeM]

The only thing to fear from humans is the historical certainty that sociopath/psychopaths rise to positions of control. Religions are as subject to this as any other institutions.

 

[Votto]

A religion to me is addressing what is good in the world and what is bad in the world when it comes to the choices regarding free will. I've always said, whether people believe in God or not, everyone has a perceived savior and everyone has a perceived devil in this regard.

This is why religion and politics are topics most try to steer clear of so as not to upset people, because no one likes being told that their choices in life are wrong.

In fact, both religion and the state try to address the same thing, which is how to address a thing called freedom of choice when it harms themselves and/or society.

Religion is often identified as being related to a belief in God, but I would disagree. For those who do not have a faith, their god is the state. This is because instinctively, we all know that humanity is sheep in need of a shepherd to take care of us. We see this theory in practice today as those who favor a limited government are almost exclusively in favor of a limited government, but those who are not of a faith clamor for more and more government power in our lives as they lean Left.

Unfortunately, the shepherds fail to do their jobs time and again, as the sheep would probably be better off left to the wolves than the shepherds, whether the shepherds claim to come in the name of God or from the state.

 

[alang1216]

Yes or no?

No, people are people regardless of their religion.

 

[Zebra]

No, people are people regardless of their religion.

true!

 

[Foxfyre]

Yes or no?

Christianity is the world's largest religious group with Hindus and Buddhist claiming third and fourth place. These have all evolved into peaceful people who choose peace over war/aggression whenever they can. I believe they are all that prevents evil from overwhelming the world.

Remove all religion from the planet and I am quite certain that evil would quickly overwhelm it as there would be nothing to oppose or temper it.

 

[Zebra]

Christianity is the world's largest religious group with Hindus and Buddhist claiming third and fourth place. These have all evolved into peaceful people who choose peace over war/aggression whenever they can. I believe they are all that prevents evil from overwhelming the world.

Remove all religion from the planet and I am quite certain that evil would quickly overwhelm it as there would be nothing to oppose or temper it.

yes, that is the good side.

sadly there is also fighting …

 

[ding]

Yes or no?

Yes. Religion serves a vital purpose that no other agency can provide.

 

[BreezeWood]

Remove all religion from the planet and I am quite certain that evil would quickly overwhelm it as there would be nothing to oppose or temper it.

religion has never been a barrier to evil ...

particularly in this country and previously throughout europe till a more mature society and less religious dogma have been accepted as well world wide when considering the 3 desert religions and wherever they prevail ...

those congregations are the issue and the documents, bibles they worship - than a true path to peace and tranquility.

as the u s constitution, what opposes evil - christians relegate from their religious beliefs is an example of their collective disregard for the well being of planet earth.

 

[Clyde 154]

This is so very true. We see political cults all the time. In fact, this forum is full of left wing and right wing cultists who worship their political affiliations. The same people that will vilify religion in this forum, will praise their political god in the next.


True

This is correct for any man/woman that seeks spiritual enlightenment.

The Kingdom of God that Jesus prayed for in the Sermon on the Mount, was and remains a Spiritual Kingdom as opposed to a literal physical kingdom. "Thy KINGDOM COME..........." (Matthew 6:10) also known as Jesus' church (Matthew 16), the terms kingdom and church are used as synonymous terms. In Matthew 16 Jesus refers to the kingdom and in the next verse within the same context He refers to the kingdom as His church.

Even in a historical manner the record of the O.T. identifies Israel as a Spiritual Kingdom that will be administered by a Royal Order of Priests with God as their Spiritual King.....there was no literal King when God established the covenant with Israel. -- Ex. 19:5-6. Eventually Israel requested of God to be made into a literal kingdom with a literal King as are other nations on earth. (1 Sam. 8:5)

The flaw with the covenant of Moses with an appointed King was demonstrated when the nation of Israel refused to keep God's laws......the covenant (the LAW) was righteous, but man is flawed in his decisions/judgements.....leading God to reject Israel as a nation.....God removed them from His sight leaving only the tribe of Judah only, then Judah refused to maintain God's laws, and was also rejected by God (2 Kings 17:18-20). This was no indication that God's Kingdom did not continue to exist, as God's Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom as described in (Ps. 145:13). The Lord God remained faithful to His words and promises and would not totally forsake those who remained loyal to His Spiritual Kingdom.

The Messiah was promised by God to set upon King David's throne. (Isa. 9:56-7). A new Kingdom would be established that would not be destroyed (Dan. 2:44)

The New Testament Kingdom was ushered in the 1st century by Jesus Christ.........with Jesus clearly stating that His Kingdom/church was not of this world, but was a spiritual kingdom (John 18:33-37) Most people seeking Jesus' church reject Jesus' statement of a Spiritual Kingdom but attempt to serve God through a visible physical Kingdom.

This Spiritual Kingdom would arrive in the 1st century in the very generation of Jesus birth, some were standing hearing the words of Jesus that would not taste of death until they witnessed the kingdom of God come with power from heaven (Mark 9:1). Some are still awaiting a physical kingdom to come to their rescue.........these people do not worship IN SPIRIT and IN TRUTH (John 4:24).......even some of Jesus' personal disciples were expecting a Physical Kingdom to help defeat the enemies of Israel......they could not comprehend the concept of a spiritual kingdom. As the mother of 2 disciples requested of Jesus that her sons be given a position of authority in the New Kingdom, one to sit on His right, the other to sit on His left when Jesus takes control of His kingdom. (Matthew 20:20-21)

The very term CHURCH as translated from the Konie Greek (ekklesia) means called out from the world. Those who become citizens of this Spiritual Kingdom are called out from the physical reality of this world.......in presenting Spiritual sacrifices to our Lord God through Jesus Christ acting as our High Priest (1 Peter 2:5, Hebrews 4:14-16)

You will never see the real "keepers of the Faith".....i.e, righteous Christians, begging for money through any mass communication networks. Beware..........those who declare, God loves you, but send your money to MY ADDRESS, those that use the donations of their membership to construct mega buildings with production networks, purchase private jets....etc., those that only want to preach about wealth and how God will reward you 10 fold for sending your donations to some far off religious cult.