Is Religion The Root Of All Evil?

I wouldn't say religion is the root of all evil, but rather the arrogance and ignorance to other beliefs that sometimes come with it is.

People have drilled many things in our heads from the day we were born. Religion has taught us to fear the homosexual life and that anyone who wear black is a "satan worshipper". And all this is coming from my grandma's church.

Religion could very well be a story of how we got here instead of a scientific explanation.

If anyone has ever sat down and read a bible you hear about "Who did this" and "who did that." The bible shows many people wronging God, not society.

Religion isn't all the roots of evil but it plays a part.

People are evil.
Like, if we could agree on one religion, then it would all be fine.
But as long as people have a mind of their own, they're going to think differently than everyone else.
Personally, I think religion is a trick of the mind.
Technically, I'm Christian. It's waht I believe.
We shouldn't care what other people believe.
If they are wrong, then God will deal with them later.
I think that's all I have to add at this point.
And technically, Atheism is a religion.

Database Error:

And technically, Atheism is a religion.

I am inclined to disagree.

A religion is a system of beliefs and morals. Atheism is a term given to a belief. It's one single belief, a religious belief at that, but that doesn't make it a religion.

I fail to see what that has to do with religion's relation to evil anyway.

Of course religion isn`t the root of all evil.
It`s just a pathetic excuse for crimes caused by pathetic people.
In WW1, there was a name for these sort of people, i forget, but anyway, they used religion as an excuse and what were they called? Cowards.
And i belive they were sent to some sort of `prison` becuase of this...
Im not sure, but we`re doing this in History.

Anyway, yes i do not believe religion is to blame.

i'm really religous, but i do acknowledge that some fellow christians can be really closed-minded and one-sided about everything.

however, i hate how everyone assumes i'm going to refer them to the next church if i hear them listening to katy perry or something. not all of us are ignorant and judging.

and no, i don't think it is. i feel like even if we didn't have religion we'd find other things to fight about.

Miley Cyrus:

i'm really religous, but i do acknowledge that some fellow christians can be really closed-minded and one-sided about everything.

however, i hate how everyone assumes i'm going to refer them to the next church if i hear them listening to katy perry or something. not all of us are ignorant and judging.

I know, I really hate that the whole notion of Christianity has been corrupted by a group of ignorant loudmouths who really don't live much like Jesus (in the sense of loving your neighbor and caring for the least among you) and make the rest of us reluctant to identify with them.

i KINDA think it is.

well there are a TONNE of differnt terrorism attcks cuz of differences in religion adn what not...hitler didn't like jews so he burned them in a gas chambers and blew up there heads and crap. that had alot to do with religion and differences and, well, from what i have learnt WW2 was probably the most horrific war...and 9/11 ? im not sure about that but thats got sumthin to do with that osama bin laden dude don'tti ? and aren't him and the other peoples muslim ? (correct me if i'm wrong) anyway...i think religions are kinda dumb...i have tonnes of debates about religion and stuff already with my christian friends just for the fun of it but im not gunna try and start anythin here...i think the prayers at dinner are annoying too cuz i have a catholic sister and she will be praying and stuff saying "thanku god for this food' and i'll be like thats mean, mum made this and you're giving this so-called god all the credit ? and she will be like don't say things like that or you'll go to hell...so it scares me especcially the bit that (correct em if im wrong) but god is evryones dad ? like thats kinda meann..i mean my dad is my dad...anyway i will stop bashing religion noww....by the way if u cnt tell im atheist =D

OMG I can't believe i just said that....

Im an athiest too.

it is.

Toybox Trash:

Religion could very well be a story of how we got here instead of a scientific explanation.

I disagree. There is a weight of scientific evidence to explain most of the events leading to the creation of the universe. Zilch facts on the religious side.

Miley Cyrus:

and no, i don't think it is. i feel like even if we didn't have religion we'd find other things to fight about.

Don't you think it would be better if we had one (very big) less thing to divide us?

I think it's totally unfair to say it's the root of all evil, come on..
be serious now. that's just not fair.
Religion can save some peoples lives,
i'm not a religious person at all, but I don't see how it can be evil,
it's just showing respect to the ones your worship.
Of couse I think religion can cause A LOT of problems, but I don't think it ever ment
to be evil. I get annoyed at it sometimes, but it's there, it always has been, and who are we to say that it's evil.

Emily-Cool:

I think it's totally unfair to say it's the root of all evil, come on..
be serious now. that's just not fair.
Religion can save some peoples lives,
i'm not a religious person at all, but I don't see how it can be evil,
it's just showing respect to the ones your worship.
Of couse I think religion can cause A LOT of problems, but I don't think it ever ment
to be evil. I get annoyed at it sometimes, but it's there, it always has been, and who are we to say that it's evil.

of course it can be evil.
religion was made up to control and misslead people.
it can be good at times but i'd say that it definitely can be evil.

Miss Neurotic:

Emily-Cool:

I think it's totally unfair to say it's the root of all evil, come on..
be serious now. that's just not fair.
Religion can save some peoples lives,
i'm not a religious person at all, but I don't see how it can be evil,
it's just showing respect to the ones your worship.
Of couse I think religion can cause A LOT of problems, but I don't think it ever ment
to be evil. I get annoyed at it sometimes, but it's there, it always has been, and who are we to say that it's evil.

of course it can be evil.
religion was made up to control and misslead people.
it can be good at times but i'd say that it definitely can be evil.

Some people need to have something in their lives, and religion is a great thing to turn to. Some people can go to church, worship God, and lead a perfectly happy life, there is no evil in that? I agree that religion can misguide people, and you have to be careful, but there is a lot more choice these days of what you want to believe. Some people like to be controlled or have something to go to such a religion, I think it's unfair to say it's evil that's all, fine if you think it is, that's your opinion. It's just a real touchy subject I guess.

Miss Neurotic:

Emily-Cool:

I think it's totally unfair to say it's the root of all evil, come on..
be serious now. that's just not fair.
Religion can save some peoples lives,
i'm not a religious person at all, but I don't see how it can be evil,
it's just showing respect to the ones your worship.
Of couse I think religion can cause A LOT of problems, but I don't think it ever ment
to be evil. I get annoyed at it sometimes, but it's there, it always has been, and who are we to say that it's evil.

of course it can be evil.
religion was made up to control and misslead people.
it can be good at times but i'd say that it definitely can be evil.

Religion was most definitely not made up to control people.

Catholicism has that reputation, not religion. Some might say it's a fair reputation but I'm not arguing that point.

Religion is a descendent of spirituality and beliefs. Commonly held beliefs, and people who held the same beliefs felt like they wished to live their lives by various standards. Take Buddhism and the precepts as an example.

Robbie:

Religion is a descendent of spirituality and beliefs.

Evidence to support this claim?

Being a Theravada Buddhist, I think calling religion the root of all evil is somewhat drastic. There are plenty of Christians and Muslims that I know that are perfectly acceptable with each other's beliefs. Unfortunately, there's always an extremely small percentage of extremists, in any belief or idealism, that follow their lifestyle as if it is the only way to truly live, and unfortunately, it can carry over into others' personal beliefs and ideals, and cause a lot of resentment.
There are plenty a monk who carry a Bible, not for the "laws" and "rules" of what is the "truth", but as the Buddha says, life should be lived through curiosity and questioning, all for the good of everything, of course. A 'continuous analytical process of life'. Not a set of rules and rituals.
Theravada Buddhism is the oldest branch, and the belief in the Buddha not as a god, but as a teacher, I think is fairly healthy to follow. All in all though, this is a quote from the Buddha which I think every person of belief should follow:

"Do not believe in what you have heard; do not believe in traditions because
they have been handed down for many generations; do not believe anything
because it is rumored and spoken of my many; do not believe merely because
the written statement of some old sage is produced; do not believe in
conjectures; do not believe merely in the authority of your teachers and
elders. After observation and analysis, when it agrees with reason and is
conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up
to it."

There's Buddhist lifestyle in a nutshell. Minus the Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path and all.

Robbie:

Religion was most definitely not made up to control people

How do you know this?

Robbie:

Religion was most definitely not made up to control people.

last time I checked, some time in 13-1500s, christian leaders changed the rules of getting out of purgatories just to get money. Before, the only way to shorten your time between purgatory and 'heaven', bwas to do good deeds. Then they magically changed the rules, so that now you could buy indulgences, instead of just doing good deeds to get them!

they obviously were trying to get money from followers.