RE: What I Love About Religion As An Atheist (Part II)
Although you certainly have some points, history has shown that religion has too often released the worst sides of human nature.
Its ironic: the foundation of nearly all religions demand a peaceful society, respect for other people, tolerance ect. - but in reality it ends up being the complete opposite.
This comes, because its sooner or later abused as a ideology by some people, who try to gain a personal advantage like money and power. Very similar to political ideologies, by the way. Socialism (communism) was originally meant as a model for a better, fairer society, in the days of extreme exploiting capitalism in the late 19th century. But instead of improvement it ended in a total desaster, also because it was abused.
So over all, I'm not sure that religion is a good thing, if it ends up being a tool for bringing misery to so many.
However, the desire for spiritualism seems to be deeply rooted in the humans, so I guess religion (in one way or another) will always be a part of the society.
Some really interesting points there.
I think it's not religion that's the problem, but how we use it and materialize it. Anything intended for good, if used badly, will still give out a negative result. It's not the followers who are to be blamed for this but the corrupt elites who simply watch the chaos from above and don't do anything about it.
The followers, they just want something to put their faith into. That's how we humans are. We need something to believe in and to idealize, whether it's romantic or religious, so we can feel like our lives have a purpose.
Thanks for the brilliant comment. Really thought-provoking!
Yes, thats what I meant to say as well. Its not the ideology (political or religious) that causes the problems in itself. No rulebook of a religion or political agenda is based on exploitation, murder, supression and such things. If it was, everybody would recognise the founder of such a ideology as total psychopath, and nobody would join such a movement.
In the begining it sounds all reasonable and positive, thats why people follow a ideology with great enthusiasm.
But behind the scenes the movement gets hijacked by people who want to use it as a tool to get power and wealth for themself.
It is, however, debateable if the simple followers are completely without fault. I mean, all this has happend countless times already, so the people should know better where this can lead to.
Thats why I personally dont believe anything and follow nobody. Basically its a concept of "Do nothing". If more people would act this way, a lot of bad things would not happen.
That makes sense, yeah. I guess the followers should start asking questions and recognize that their faith might be getting used for something entirely different. It could be one of the reasons why there are comparatively less religious people these days. They have begin to sense that they are being exploited.
Acknowledging wrong things happening and still not raising a voice against it is just as bad as doing wrong in the first place. So yeah, you made a solid point there.