Should we start over the world without religion?

Nice theory. I had a similar one, I once thought we should legalize all drugs, that way those who are addicts would abuse it to no end, and ultimately die off.

The problem is, regardless of how much a person hurts themselves, they also hurt their friends and family. As with a world without religion, though it IS a major cause of bloodshed throughout history, it’s NOT the only cause. Humans tend to be instinctively violent and discriminative. Religion was originally intended to bring order to chaotic times. To instill people with hope, dreams, and to take away their fears of the unknown.

Sadly, human nature still prevailed, and what was intended for good, was twisted into a control mechanism, thus breeding more violence and discrimination. Its still going on today. Granted, not ALL religious people are this way. Many are devoted to their respective faiths for the reasons it was originally intended. This is a testament to those faiths.

Humankind has a nasty habit of taking a good thing, and screwing it up…

The problem is not religion itself, but what corrupt people do in the name of religion.

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies… and for that he gets bashed… so, that shows that man can not be pleased.. no matter what one does.. man will find a flaw in it.. and God didn’t ask man what his opinion was anyway… nor will it count on judgement day.. God is God… and nothing nor no one will ever change that fact…

If religion doesn’t get the blame for the bad things that people do, then it certainly shouldn’t get credit for all the good things people do either. People should stop villifying those of different/no beliefs and putting their own kind up on a pedestal. We’re all human - no more and no less.

Humans are by nature religious.

Even if you could reboot humanity without any religions we would quickly create them.

Another interesting thing is how similar religions end up. There are different populations that have had no contact for recorded history yet have many similar elements in their religions.

I used to argue with a history professor at my alma mater. We are both Atheists but I felt like the world would be better off without religion but he thought that more good than bad came from religion. Neither of us were able to convince the other.

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I agree that the problem is not religion, but people. As an old saying goes, if every boat you get into makes you seasick, it’s not the boat’s fault. . . . In other words, people will and do find things to fight over, whether it’s religion . . . or skin color or language or politics or nations or whatever. Heck, they even fight over soccer games (literally) or cats vs. dogs (at least so far only verbally, thanks be)! Truely, as a wise teacher of mine liked to say, “Christians [and all other people, apparently,] have a remarkable dexterity for missing the point!”

Religion, on the other hand, intends to do something about the problem. It calls us to be better, gives us the tools, and the Spirit to use them. Of course, being as we are, many even manage to use the means intended for our betterment to cause even more problems. But there it is. We are truely miserable in our sins, and we cannot escape, not without help. But, I still believe, we are better with religion and the Faith than not, despite what the minority–or even the majority–do with religion and fail to do with it. At least we have hope, at least we have a chance to make a difference.

The good news is that there is help. But that’s another story. And similarly, heaven and hell. If we are headed for heaven, in a sense it already begins here on earth. That’s what the Kingdom of God is all about: living in the presence of God. Vice versa, hell is what we create for ourselves by refusing what good God offers us. Those who choose to misuse religion are cutting themselves off from the good God desires for us; I don’t see how they can, if they persist on that course, avoid hell. And that includes those who twist “dying for the faith” into justifying “killing for the faith.”

i think thats a great idea ive thought about it too. yesterday i was watching CNN and they were showing this documentary about war and religion and the ppl that sacrifice themselves for their religion like suicide bommers. its insane that ppl will do stuff like that just because their god supposedly says its ok. ppl need to use their own mind and stop following the flock like sheep. but u dont see sheep shooting each other. the world is so devided, and ppl are so stubborn and argue about issues that seem so simple. and if ppl are going to have a religion they should keep it quiet and not shove it down ppls throats or tell ppl that they are wrong for believing something differently. life is too short to waste it by arguing about whats gonna happen when we die or what god says we should or shouldnt do. the world is such a mess and sometimes i just wish it all would stop. whitch reminds me of this song…

Imagine there’s no Heaven It’s easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today

Imagine there’s no countries It isn’t hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace

You may say that I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world

You may say that I’m a dreamer But I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us And the world will live as one

that would be a great idea!!! Religion shouldnt define someone, it should just be an opinon