Is religious faith beneficial or harmful?

[waitasec]

I don't think that there is a simple way to judge religious belief, but what tipped me to the "more harm" side was the main argument made by Sam Harris in The End of Faith. His argument was that we have reached an era in which weapons of mass destruction render deranged, deluded, or angry individuals far more dangerous than they ever were in the past. A relatively small group of fanatics can gain enough destructive force to commit acts of barbarism that were extremely difficult to carry out on such a large scale in earlier eras. While religious belief is in no sense a mental disorder or abnormal for our species, it does promote authoritarian moral codes that sometimes go viral in populations that are under pressure. So I see the potential danger from extremist and factionalized religious beliefs beginning to outweigh whatever benefits it brings to society as a whole.

What are its benefits? I think that religion has always been woven into the fabric of a culture. It has quite often been the social welfare system for societies. However, secular governments have come to replace some of the religious infrastructure for social welfare with more reliable systems. Government cannot fully replace all of the important ceremonial functions that religions support--e.g. funerals, marriages, births, rites of passage...

well said ( as always )
9/11 was what did it for me...not islamaphobia inasmuch as it was a reminder when witnessing 1st hand how the power of religious belief can make decent human beings do hideous things in the name of religion...anyone who opens a history book would clearly see that this is not new

 

[doppelganger]

...anyone who opens a history book would clearly see that this is not new

But they'd also see that it's not limited to religion. Anywhere group identities are used to manipulate human behavior en masse, you'll find examples of people committing atrocities in the name of something bigger than themselves to benefit a small number among them.

 

[Badran]

If we're talking about all religions and all forms of following them, then i can't really answer because i don't know how the world would be if they didn't exist.

But if i have to guess, i would be more inclined that things wouldn't be that much different, because for the most part in my opinion, people follow whats more convenient or fitting to them than anything else.

If they followed religions according to my understanding of how each religion should be followed for example, i would be inclined to think its more beneficial, because most religions, to my knowledge, for the most part contain good teachings on one level or another. More good teachings than bad or evil ones that is.

 

[Riverwolf]

I'm asking you to step back and make a generalization.

Unfortunately, this is one instance where I can't. Generalizations aren't always appropriate.

 

[Mister Emu]

For societies religion brings another level of cohesion, it provides another source for enforcing societal norms, a vehicle for communal support(charity etc.), often directives for positive(for the society) change in the individual, and often leads to less societal upheaval. Religion also produces a happier populace.

I think that, for society, religion in general has been very beneficial.

 

[waitasec]

But they'd also see that it's not limited to religion. Anywhere group identities are used to manipulate human behavior en masse, you'll find examples of people committing atrocities in the name of something bigger than themselves to benefit a small number among them.

of course...however with religion out of the way...people would have a better idea of what they are dealing with...

 

[Flipper]

I tend to differentiate between faith and religion, so I would say that faith at a personal level can be benefical but not always but I personally believe that the world would be better off without most (because I don't know all of the religions in the world) organsied religions.

 

[Tathagata]

Religious faith, in and of itself, is benign. It is neither good nor bad. Neither beneficial nor harmful.

Actually, faith in and of itself is not in fact benign. Faith is the purposeful suspension of critical thinking as Bill Maher rightly says. How can faith be good? And no, we're not talking about the confidence version of faith as in faith in your spouse because you actually know your spouse exists! However, for God, you must have faith that he exists and thus it is an unjustified belief. Unjustified beliefs are always bad.

It's the doctrines of particular religions and what particular people do with them that can be either beneficial or harmful.

Yes, that's part of it too. The doctrines of particular religions can also be malignant, however, faith is inherently a bad thing. It's not a neutral thing that can be good or bad, it's always bad.


.

 

[Badran]

Faith is the purposeful suspension of critical thinking as Bill Maher rightly says.

No, its not. I would like to hear your explanation for why you think it is though.

How can faith be good?

You'll have to show why its always bad first.

And no, we're not talking about the confidence version of faith as in faith in your spouse because you actually know your spouse exists!

Just because you know for a fact that your spouse exists, means that he/she will necessarily be faithful?

However, for God, you must have faith that he exists and thus it is an unjustified belief. Unjustified beliefs are always bad.

Its not always an unjustified belief, and unjustified beliefs aren't always bad. That is, if we're defining unjustified beliefs the same way.

faith is inherently a bad thing. It's not a neutral thing that can be good or bad, it's always bad.

Again, you'll need to actually show that.

Its possible though that we're defining faith differently.

 

[sandandfoam]

Do you consider religious faith a net benefit or detriment to human society? This is a question about religious faith in general, not any particular faith. I mean "benefit" in the sense of being good for human society. "Detriment" means being harmful in some way to society. I'll give you a five point scale to get a sense of how firm your opinion is. You can elaborate further on your reasons in following commentary.

There is no standard against which one can make a judgement in answering your question hence we will all rely on our subjectivities and try to project our bias as rational in answering this question.
In my view there is no answer.
For what it's worth - In my life I experience religion as a benefit.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

For societies religion brings another level of cohesion, it provides another source for enforcing societal norms,

These two things only apply in a society with a single religion. In a society with multiple religions, religion can increase cohesion amongst religious communities while reducing the level of societal cohesion, and when different groups in society have their own norms they both think should be enforced, conflict ensues.

a vehicle for communal support(charity etc.),

Hmm. Maybe. I think that historically, when governments didn't concern themselves much with aid and charity, religious organizations did fill this need. However, I don't think this is the case today - for any charitable cause where a religious organization is at work (excluding "charities" that aren't really charitable at all, such as missions of evangelism), you can find a secular organization that is doing something similar.

Edit: I suppose that one thing that religions do tend to do well (and that other groups can probably learn from) is that they often make charity part of the group identity: to be ______ means to care for others.

often directives for positive(for the society) change in the individual, and often leads to less societal upheaval.

OTOH, religion is also often a pathway to societal upheaval itself. Look at Christianity in ancient Rome, or the rise of Islam in Arabia and Persia. Look at the Falun Gong in China now.

Religion also produces a happier populace.

Religion may produce a happier religious populace, but it doesn't do a whole lot for the happiness of the non-religious, and one religion usually won't help the happiness of the adherents of another religion.

I think that, for society, religion in general has been very beneficial.

Does this include societies with religious pluralism? Because a lot of the benefits you listed seem to be based on the idea of a society with a single religion.

 

[Meow Mix]

More harmful than good. Anything that teaches people it's okay to accept beliefs which aren't solidly epistemically justified is only setting them up for trouble, even if it has short term benefits like offering false hopes and a crutch to lean on in order to be moral (two of the arguments some people use to defend faith).

 

[Kilgore Trout]

It's necessary for the majority of people - whether it is overall more beneficial or detrimental to society, has more to do with whether people, as a species, are more beneficial or detrimental to society.

Religion is a symptom, not a cause.

 

[waitasec]

Religion is a symptom, not a cause.

:clap

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It just depends, and not only on the person but also what is being taught. There are some Christians that do not remain in the dark about things such as evolution, and there are plenty of religions that hold views that are congruent with scientific theories.
There are also people that find comfort and strength in their religion. Some will have a violent interpretation to it, but some people even think Catcher in the Rye was a call to kill John Lennon, and humans as a species have proven time and time again we will use anything to justify violence and killing, so it is simply rubbish to believe religion is the great catalyst of war.
Religion is an idea, nothing more. Some people will have increased violent impulses due to exposure to violent media, while some people it will have no effect. Some people believe that all races except for whites are unfit for living. We can open a newspaper or site to find cases in which people kill over drugs, material possessions, and disagreements. The Trojan Wars were even fought over a woman. Religion is just one of the myriad of reasons and excuses people have for their good and bad behavior.

 

[jarofthoughts]

More harmful than good. Anything that teaches people it's okay to accept beliefs which aren't solidly epistemically justified is only setting them up for trouble, even if it has short term benefits like offering false hopes and a crutch to lean on in order to be moral (two of the arguments some people use to defend faith).

I swear you look prettier with each new avatar...

But yeah, what she said. :bow:

 

[Meow Mix]

I swear you look prettier with each new avatar...

But yeah, what she said. :bow:

Don't let it fool you, I'm getting older.

But thank you

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Don't let it fool you, I'm getting older.

I only know of one way not to get older.

Getting older is better.

 

[Levite]

Do you consider religious faith a net benefit or detriment to human society? This is a question about religious faith in general, not any particular faith. I mean "benefit" in the sense of being good for human society. "Detriment" means being harmful in some way to society. I'll give you a five point scale to get a sense of how firm your opinion is. You can elaborate further on your reasons in following commentary.

Religious faith can be anything. Its moral or ethical qualities depend almost entirely on the individual, and how they choose to use their faith as a tool in their lives. It can be used responsibly, in which case it is generally helpful, or it can be abused, in which case it is detrimental.

 

[JustWondering]

It is the wish to be a serf and a slave and commands you to accept others as authorities to rule over you without any justification.

It tells you that you are special, safe and that you have no real responsibility or ability to take charge over your own life.

In my opinion, religous faith may seem harmless in most instances but if the masses are living in a delusional state where they believe without question that they are going to go to some magical fantasy land where all their dreams come true after they die, or they get to try again (reincarnation), doesn't that cheapen human life? If people believe that they have no real control over their fate won't that tend to make people act irresponsibly because they think some supernatural deity is watching over them? In my opinion most religions encourage a dangerous mind set.