Is religion a force for good in the world?

1. 61

   Jacob Jeffersonposted 9 years ago

   Is religion a force for good in the world?

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2. 70

   Titen-Sxullposted 9 years ago

   Like most human institutions religion has the potential to be both positive and negative. While some individual churches and services (such as charities) they perform may have a positive effect I feel that the overall impact of religion is negative due to all the drawbacks (terrorism, indoctrination of youth with questionable beliefs, the use of guilt, blind faith, etc)
   
   If we could sift out the negatives and keep only the positives we'd probably have something similar to Doctor's Without Borders, charities and support organizations without all the superstitious baggage and danger of extremism.

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3. 60

   thunkfulthinkerposted 9 years ago

   Yes and no. It can be a force for good through charity and teaching people to be good and such. But it become bad when there isn't choice within religious communities about how an individual feels about religion or political issues.
   
   It all depends on the religion and the people behind it. it can range from being a positive thing to a very, very bad thing.
   
   I tend to look at people being the true force of good in the world for people are their own people and make their own choices. There isn't some sort of higher being that is worrying itself with our affairs, so it's really up to individuals to be a force for good.

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4. 58

   Snøwmanposted 9 years ago

   Religion is a tool that can be used for good or evil.

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5. 71

   lone77starposted 9 years ago

   No. Ego corrupts every institution of man.
   
   Religion could be a force for good if we were to do away with ego. But then we wouldn't need these human bodies any longer. We would be following Christ in Heaven, and that's not a physical place.
   
   Even charities are corrupting influences, so long as ego exists. Only when there is no self-concern, can anything like "giving" ever create a positive influence. Ego is blindness and self-concern. Spirit is above that. We need to reawaken the spirit for there to be good.

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