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What would really be a novel concept is....if people actually started practicing their religion by...LOVING THEIR NEIGHBOR AS THEIRSELF. Just saying...
I have no clue what religion you claim to practice, but that isn't what makes one a Christian. Christians are called to do that...but that doesn't make us one.
Having said that, by nature we are sinful human beings. Without Christ changing our hearts, we are selfish sinners by default.
There are so many that would like to see religion done away with, but I am curious to understand what would change? Sure, religious wars would end, but would war end? Would hate, greed, jealousy, intolerance and various other negative human traits cease to exist simply because religion is gone, or would those who acted upon those emotions in the name of religion simply find another tool that they can pervert and missuse to further their agenda?
Perhaps nothing would change. However, religious people would finally have to be honest with themselves and other people. They could no longer blame their own hatred and prejudice on guidance found in some ancient text. As an example they would have to come clean and admit that they hate homosexuals due to their own internal deficiencies, no longer could they point to some words in a book as the basis for their own hateful feelings.
I'm going to change the OP question a bit and reply to the question; What if religion never existed?
Well, first, there would be no religious-based discrimination against women in the Middle East today. Also, parents everywhere would have the ability to choose the size of their family rather than have a Pope or some other religious leader declare that birth control is immoral. More than likely, gays would be free to marry in America, and free to step out of the shadows in the Middle East, and other places around the world. More than likely the Twin Towers would still be standing in New York, and about 3,000 would still be alive.
As for Stalin being a murdering atheist; no one murders because they are told to by atheism. Unlike religious beliefs, atheism supplies no social instructions. The gunman in Newtown, Connecticut was probably affiliated with a religion, but in his case his religious beliefs were irrelevant to his criminal act. It's like that with Stalin, and various other atheist leaders. The atheism is irrelevant to their acts, they just happen to be atheist, just like the Newtown gunman just happened to be religious. But as I have pointed out, there are countless religious tenets that are implicitly followed by their believers, and they do great harm.
There are so many that would like to see religion done away with, but I am curious to understand what would change? Sure, religious wars would end, but would war end? Would hate, greed, jealousy, intolerance and various other negative human traits cease to exist simply because religion is gone, or would those who acted upon those emotions in the name of religion simply find another tool that they can pervert and missuse to further their agenda?
Well, it sure would make it easier to figure out where people were coming from with their attitudes.
Like now...with people that are biased and intolerant of others because of how they think and feel about things, what they believe or are into, or something about them.
If they are religious, it can be tough to figure out...they may have formed their judgments based upon bad information that came from dogma, or a misinterpretation of information. They aren't really that way intrinsically...they are confused...but still basically cool people.
OTOH...when people that have no religious or Theistic connections are biased and intolerant of others because of how they think and feel about things, what they believe or are into, or something about them...you know that is really the way they are...their judgments come from inside them, and them alone.
So, without religion...it would help to figure people out, and know how they really are.
Of course...their "hate, greed, jealousy, intolerance and various other negative human traits" wouldn't cease to exist...but what would change would be the reason they may have adopted that attitude. It would be all on them...and not some confusion caused by religious precepts or dogma. Thus making it easier to know the "real" person or group you are dealing with.
So very profound and true ChristyGirl.
And many would say that bigotry, wickedness, inhumanity, and willful ignorance have marked most of the world’s religions throughout history. Their view is that religion simply poses as a benefactor of mankind—that under its facade of virtue and holiness, it is in reality full of hypocrisy and lies. “No statement is more common in our literature than that religion is of peculiar value in connection with civilization,” says A Rationalist Encyclopædia. “And none is more massively discredited by the facts of history,” it continues.
Pick up any newspaper today, and you will find almost endless examples of religious leaders who preach love, peace, and compassion but who fan the flames of hatred and invoke the name of God to legitimize their brutal conflicts. No wonder many people feel that religion is more often than not a destructive force in life!
No wonder a thread like this would appear to echo English philosopher Bertrand Russell who said that "it would be good if in time, every kind of religious belief died out." Many now view the removal of religion as the only lasting solution to all of mankind’s problems.They may forget, however, that rejecting religion can elicit just as much hatred and intolerance as those who practice it. Religion writer Karen Armstrong reminds us: “At the very least, the Holocaust showed that a secularist ideology [can] be just as lethal as any religious crusade.”—The Battle for God—Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
I don't want to see religion go away personally what I do want is people to mind thier own bussiness when it comes to such things Stop pushing said faith into others be happy with what you believe & leave others alone. War isn't going to go away just because people stop believing in said faith.
People are self-centered and evil by nature. Religion being gone would simply allow for sinners to live as they please.
No, they're not. I spent about a year in the socialist countries of Eastern Europe in the 60s, when most people lived their lives without any reference to religious dogma, and younger people had been raised without religion ever being mentioned in their upbringing. People were no different from they way they were in countries where society in general had a religious underpinning. They were helpful, they were courteous, they were honest, they were patient, they were generous, they were hospitable, and they didn't judge anybody by any differences in their religious faith. The only sins they were likely to be guilty of was the sin of not kissing God's ass.
In fact, I can't think of a single person that I have ever personally encountered who I thought was evil by nature. I'm sure I've never met a person who I though would have been evil, if it were not for his religion keeping his evilness in check. But I've probably met some who would have been nicer, if not for the influence of some misconception they might have had of the heinous requirements of their faith. I've known people who severely abuse and mistreat their children, because they think it is God's will or command.
No, they're not. I spent about a year in the socialist countries of Eastern Europe in the 60s, when most people lived their lives without any reference to religious dogma, and younger people had been raised without religion ever being mentioned in their upbringing. People were no different from they way they were in countries where society in general had a religious underpinning. They were helpful, they were courteous, they were honest, they were patient, they were generous, they were hospitable, and they didn't judge anybody by any differences in their religious faith. The only sins they were likely to be guilty of was the sin of not kissing God's ass.
In fact, I can't think of a single person that I have ever personally encountered who I thought was evil by nature. I'm sure I've never met a person who I though would have been evil, if it were not for his religion keeping his evilness in check. But I've probably met some who would have been nicer, if not for the influence of some misconception they might have had of the heinous requirements of their faith. I've known people who severely abuse and mistreat their children, because they think it is God's will or command.
You're obviously an exception to the rule. The reason communism has never worked is because people are selfish. They want more than their fair share and they don't want to work.
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