Is no religion better than religion?

[Dawnofhope]

The answer may be a resounding "No" for many of us for all sorts of reasons.

The Baha'i Faith teaches that religion should be like a healing medicine causing love and unity between peoples. If it does the opposite and causes estrangement and hatred, then that religion is no religion. Instead of being a healing medicine it is a deadly poison. It is noble and a truly religious act in the sight of God to leave such a religion.

Religion should unite all hearts and cause wars and disputes to vanish from the face of the earth; it should give birth to spirituality, and bring light and life to every soul. If religion becomes a cause of dislike, hatred and division it would be better to be without it, and to withdraw from such a religion would be a truly religious act. For it is clear that the purpose of a remedy is to cure, but if the remedy only aggravates the complaint, it had better be left alone. Any religion which is not a cause of love and unity is no religion.

Bahá'í Reference Library - Bahá’u’lláh and the New Era, Pages 158-160

So at what point do you believe religion is harmful and at what point if at all should be abandon religion?

Your thoughts and comments are appreciated as always.

 

[Father Heathen]

If we hold a belief or practice that is irrational, unsubstantiated, and not only detrimental to ourselves but to society at large, then we should take a step back and reevaluate and reconsider our position.

 

[danieldemol]

I think there should be an option about abandoning fundamentalism, but in the absence of that I choose the first option

 

[England my lionheart]

I voted other, I think religion is harmful when your indoctrination into it isn't your choice like children,take this away and for many there would be no need to leave a religion Imo.

 

[Jumi]

I answered that the poll doesn't reflect my thinking. People are people, regardless of any religion they belong to (or none). If they're free to decide on their own what claims and rules they accept from their religion that's good enough for me. If it doesn't involve hurting other people that's acceptable.

I may challenge some beliefs, but as long as people aren't being immediately harmful to others I don't mind if they just keep doing what they do. It's not like we're collectively going to suddenly solve the world's problems.

 

[Altfish]

I have no problem with religion per se. People should be free to believe what they want BUT...

Religion has no place telling me what I should do, so when it comes to contraception, abortion, homosexuality, morals and everything else religion is hung up about - just keep it to yourself.

 

[Sunstone]

95% of the issues I have with religion are with fundamentalist religions.

 

[Dawnofhope]

I voted other, I think religion is harmful when your indoctrination into it isn't your choice like children,take this away and for many there would be no need to leave a religion Imo.

That is an interesting point your raise. Many Theists, Baha'is included are obliged to provide their children with a religious education. However our children are free to make their own choices about religion from the age of maturity. The problem with no religious education might be materialism and consumerism as a default position.

 

[Dawnofhope]

It's not like we're collectively going to suddenly solve the world's problems.

That may depend on the existence of a God who reveals Himself. If that God exists, is it not possible He could provide some form of remedy to the world's problems?

 

[England my lionheart]

That is an interesting point your raise. Many Theists, Baha'is included are obliged to provide their children with a religious education. However our children are free to make their own choices about religion from the age of maturity. The problem with no religious education might be materialism and consumerism as a default position.

There's no problem with religious education when it's about all religions which is different to being indoctrinated into one religion,i also think religious education should be just that and not proselytising.

 

[Dawnofhope]

95% of the issues I have with religion are with fundamentalist religions.

So the religion of erotic dancing girls is not fundamentalist? I presume other more enticing reasons for the choice of such a faith. I would post a picture to illustrate my point but highly risk moderation.

 

[Dawnofhope]

There's no problem with religious education when it's about all religions which is different to being indoctrinated into one religion,i also think religious education should be just that and not proselytising.

An important part of Baha'i educating is training children to critically evaluate theological and religious ideas. We don't want our children to be parrots and an aggravation to others. We wish them to become critcal thinkers and responsible citizens.

 

[England my lionheart]

An important part of Baha'i educating is training children to critically evaluate theological and religious ideas. We don't want our children to be parrots and an aggravation to others. We wish them to become critcal thinkers and responsible citizens.

We'll that's an improvement on some others.

 

[Marcion]

We should abandon religious dogma and religious irrationality which always lead to some kinds of intolerance, discrimination, sectarian behaviour and xenophobia.
All those paths who lack such dogma and irrationality cannot really be called religions because they lack the divisiveness needed to truly speak of a religion.

So e.g. saying 'you can only find salvation through our saviour' is an example of such an irrational religious position.
Such positions are only believed by people who accept religious ideas through dogmatic acceptance.

 

[Jumi]

That may depend on the existence of a God who reveals Himself. If that God exists, is it not possible He could provide some form of remedy to the world's problems?

I believe God is already available there to experience, but that won't solve our human problems.

 

[Twilight Hue]

My view is a religion is basically a crossing of paths. A "coffee house" where thoughts and ideas are shared for a brief moment of time before they are discarded as we pass through.

We came in this world without religion and we shall leave it as such. I can't really say whether it would be better or not , and I really think it doesn't make any difference in the grand scheme of things either way.

 

[ChristineM]

For me atheism works, i have no need for superstition, to ask a god of im doing right or wrong, to comfort myself with the blind promise of a better time after i die. I prefer reality, i know what is morally right (despite the cries of protest from some religious quarters), and i know what will happen to the constituent molecules and atoms of my body.

But i am not everyone, other people find comfort in their faith. So i voted "This poll doesn't reflect my thinking"

 

[HonestJoe]

So at what point do you believe religion is harmful and at what point if at all should be abandon religion?

Religion is just a tool in this context and like any tool, can be used for good, bad or indifferent purposes (or have unintended consequences that are). I also don’t think there is any characteristic that is fundamental to religion that is necessary for any of those outcomes and none of the outcomes that can’t be achieved with things other than religion.

Basically, in the wider context of human belief and activity, religion specifically isn’t anything special, it’s just one of the ways of encapsulating and labelling human behaviour.

 

[Earthling]

If we hold a belief or practice that is irrational, unsubstantiated, and not only detrimental to ourselves but to society at large, then we should take a step back and reevaluate and reconsider our position.

So, hypothetically speaking, if the world suddenly underwent some devastating global catastrophe and the vast majority of people, rightly or wrongly, decided that science was irrational, unsubstantiated and detrimental to society at large you would abandon science?

 

[Earthling]

For me atheism works, i have no need for superstition, to ask a god of im doing right or wrong, to comfort myself with the blind promise of a better time after i die. I prefer reality, i know what is morally right (despite the cries of protest from some religious quarters), and i know what will happen to the constituent molecules and atoms of my body.

What will happen to the constituent molecules and atoms of your body? You mean, afterlife?

Where do you think your morals and laws came from? Where did you learn right or wrong?

But i am not everyone, other people find comfort in their faith. So i voted "This poll doesn't reflect my thinking"

That's a good attitude.