Religion - Bah humbug? (Religion)

Name: Sober

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Product:	Religion
Date:	30/03/01 (49 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Peace?

Disadvantages: War?

Clearly this is my own personal opinion. So I'd hate to think people would take offence at something I say, because of course its just my opinion. So I dont want to hear 'complaints' but if you'd like to share your opinion, I'd be pleased to hear it.

The subject of this article is religion, and of its worth to society. Nearly everyone is surrounded by religious beliefs, fair enough, can't do anything about that, and clearly you cant just tell people to stop having faith in what they beleive in, so I dont expect to change the world, it could be known as fact that I wont.

I live in Northern Ireland, a place where religion has caused many problems over the past 30 years or so. Now I didn't grow up in the 70's and see what happened then, but I do know what went on etc. In my childhood the news was always covered with news of shootings, bombings, beatings etc etc, and it really hasnt changed much nowadays. Two 'religions' fighting with each other over land (Northern Ireland) for many years, large amounts of bloodshed and for what? Well let me see.....nope, there both still there. The religious arguements moved to the 'ballot box' and no longer the 'bullet'. Well that has given even more power to 'religious' political parties.
These people arent even religious, I see them everyday. They dont go to chruch (I know that doesnt make you not religious), they curse, they cause fights. Its plain to see that in society it is an acceptable thing to stand up for.
Outside of Ireland, look at Bosnia's recent trouble - religiously provoked, Isreal - Religiously provoked, African civil war - religiously provoked, Waco Texas - religiously provoked. This is just in recent times, throughout the ages its been going on, peoples interpretation of their religion leading them on to cause harm.

Lets just say for one moment we removed all religion from the world. What do you thin
k would happen? Its a concept I've thought about for a while. I've been trying to work out the attraction towards religion and why people find it so useful.

One of the biggest things about religion of what I can see is that it gives people something to beleive in. Now I know thats not news to you.
Faith
- Confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, an idea, or a thing.
- Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.
There it is, it's the belief in a 'God' or 'ultimate father' who makes rules for the believers to follow. Punishment is due for those who dare to cross the line. Or is it since God forgives all?..hmm.. anyway, there is a hell too.
We've all heard about that place, no-one wants to go there now do they?
So people follow these rules, live by them in the hope they will go to a higher plain of existance.
Basically it is a higher law with a reward at the end for complying.

This is what I like about this idea.
Religion has been said to be the 'opiate of the people'.
Opiate
- Anything which induces rest or inaction; that which quiets uneasiness.
It keeps true believers from creating trouble and breaking laws, i.e. they live in peace.
Then there are the people who hide behind a religious faith and fight for it, breaking the rules of the religion, yet are still convinced its the right thing to do, again showing its the interpretation of a religions teachings which is at fault.
Then there are atheists. Some good, some bad. Usually the bad's behavior is influenced by other bad people, and so the cycle repeats.
And then agnostics like me.

I think is a pity though, that there are not more truely religious people, completely faithful to their religion.
People bound by fear of their 'God(s)'.
Where is the love in fear?

People like to believe in things and there are t
imes when I to have wanted to believe in something. I've prayed so often for a change.
Hope rather than faith that there was something that could see what was happening and change it somehow for the better.
I think this belief in greater beings than ourselves pushes us to excel. It makes you feel like someone is with you, guiding you, helping you and on your own you acheive. So really its a state of mind.

I used to go to church when I was younger, in the times when I was not self aware. Generally speaking, I went about doing what I had to do and what people told me. When I thought my parents would let me get away with not going, I stopped.
I thought about going back, but I really couldn't convince myself to believe it all. I'm the kind of person who likes to see things before believing.

I don't know if I have said all I want to say here, I find sometimes words get lost when I try to explain my feelings. I will surely update this if I have more to say. However, all things considered, although removing religion from the earth may solve some problems, I think it would cause even bigger problems.

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