I’m sure we can discuss this from an objective standpoint, just as we can analyze the effects of music on our society, whether or not, as a whole, it is more detrimental than beneficial.
Of course, we must ask ourselves, are there some things which are worth keeping regardless of whether or not they are more detrimental than good? I can’t think of anything.
I’ll argue religion does more harm than good for the following reasons:
It segregates mankind.
Religion makes good people do bad things
It opens the door to beliefs that require no proof or evidence, unlike every other one of our beliefs about reality.
It squelches one’s curiosity about the nature of the universe.
I’ll agree that the evidence I see shows religion to do more harm then good, but mainly because of bibles, not the fundamental beliefs of a intelligent God. The problem as I see it is the misrepresentation of God and his personality.
It segregates mankind.
Yes, I agree. But natural separations happen regardless, however this particular kind of separation is damaging in my mind so I’ll accept it.
Religion makes good people do bad things
This one I cannot accept, nothing makes people do anything, people do what they desire to do for the most part, that is our main motivation, self. In addition, people without religion do plenty of bad things.
It opens the door to beliefs that require no proof or evidence, unlike every other one of our beliefs about reality.
I can only partly agree with this as the door is always open to this with or without religion, I think they call it superstition.
It squelches one’s curiosity about the nature of the universe.
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It might for some that are just lazy, but again this is not mutually exclusive to religion alone.