Religion: Is it helping us?

Introduction

Since most of the human race of been on earth there has been religion in it causing division. For those who do not see it are not paying attention. In this blog I will set out to whether religion has benefitted the world. The side I have taken is that "no, it has not". I invite anyone (paritcularly those who are religious) to challenge my belief because I am more than happy to defend my perspective. Before I do my summaries on the topic where I will state problems that have been caused and are still causing it today, I will be doing research on vairious websites that deal with religious exposure and religious problems. These may be websites that I will use in my summaries but they could also lead to more interesting facts about the atrocities from religions.

Initial Referencing and Research for "Has Religion has benifitted the world''

1. The first website I did research on dealt with situations where people reverted to prayer to fix their problems insyead of using critical thinking. The results were disastorous as it lead to death. However I feel that this may not be the best website to use for the blog and further searching for other problems that are more wide-spread than this should be talked about instead.

2. The Second Website I used to see the history of terrorist attacks. The only problem with this is it does not stretch as far across numerous religions, it is solely with Islam. I know that Islam are involved with a number of atrocities.

3. After these two I searched through the internet more and third subject I did research on was the "Ignorance to further learning" and how religion can incorporate scientific facts into their religion such as a book convincing people that god creating dinosaurs. There also a website holding people in the belief that the earth is flat because it's in the bible.
This may also be something I do not want to put in my main points yet it is something that stretches across all religions.

4. The fourth group of websites I looked dealt with Islam, which even Muslims have admitted it is not a religion of peace. And people being threatened, physically abused or murdered is just because of the way in the Qu'ran.
It is not always Religious people abusing or killing atheists. There has been mass killing of Christians all through Africa. Whether it is in South Africa that had fourteen ehtiopian christians killed in the Western Cape. This is also something that

5.  The fifth subject I did research on was something that stretches across a number of religions. I remember when the economy crashed in 2008 everyone was going through a difficult time. Some people went to church and prayed that the economy would get back together but the truth is if the churches were payed a yearly tax and also in longevity. The reasons why countries do not do can vary, but they never have good reasons because there is nothing great about religion being rich and supported. Here are some links that show you their wealth and protection of the churches.


1. Slavery

I am sure that most Christians do not believe slavery is correct. I also feel very strongly that Christians do not want to believe that the bible says such inane things. In my opinion slavery is an act of extremism just like any sane person should.

On this website it talks about how it is okay for slaves to be bought and for you to pass on them to your children as inheritance. It talks about if the slave is Hebrew then they shall be treated differently; a hebrew slave is to only serve for six years, and how if a man sells his daughter then she can be brought back again and again if she does not please her master.

Most modern contemporary religious people abolish slavery but that does not mean the religions they follow or prophets in their religious texts) do not, in here it discusses how Jesus, Moses and the Prophet Muhammad never spoke out against slavery. Despite the fact that Jesus and Moses were not real people it still does not change the fact the support of it in their religions.

It is difficult for me to say if Slavery was accepted in religious times, because we still are in religious times. In Sudan there is slavery happening now which is apart of slaves that exist today, all of which have been forced to convert to Islam since that are non-muslim. The ''Qu'ran'' and ''ahadith'' both support slavery with quotes like

'' Prophet, We have made lawful to you the wives to whom you have granted dowries and the slave girls whom god has given you as booty.'' Qur'an, 33:50

2. Homophobia

Religion has been bringing pain and restrictions to religion since the beginning, The Bible refers to homosexuals as sodemites (which is only used negatively) and even today gay people are hung in Iran. Personally I consider homophobia such as; the ban on gay marriage, killing and bullying (verbal and physical).

In Iran they have a Sharia Judge which is a judge that follows the infallible law of Islam. Church is intertwined with government in Iran just like all countries in the middle east. Here it is noted that there have been 146 cases of executions in Iran since 1979. Many who have confessed to homosexual acts have been tortured and then hung.

The Bible has always said that marriage is between man and woman. Despite many Christians reblling against gay marriage by saying ''It's Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve'' regardless of the fact Adam and Eve were never married in the bible. And there were no such people as Adam and Eve like in the bible.

No Church that takes the bible seriously can sanction a union between homosexuals or lesbians.

It is a strange thing to say that the Bible is evil because in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 in the Bible, it says homosexuals are included in those who are not welcome to the Kingdom of god. I say this is strange since there is no such thing as the kingdom of god, however this is implying that homosexuals are an unworthy type of people

The most hated family in America are the ''God Hates Fags'' where the Westbro baptist church. They protest at funerals, because they believe everything that has happened is because of god and we should not rebel against. now although there is no god we can clearly see fundamental religion being socially dangerous. they even get their children to hold little picket signs (pictured above).

                                                                                 

  
3. Sexual Abuse

The catholic church has spent over a billion dollars in lawsuits over sexual abuse against children. This website (which has some facts that I do not exactly trust such as catholic priests that have committed these atrocities are usually homosexual) answers alot of questions about why Priests cannot marry, regardless of the fact that it is a religious website. I do think it is a good to get the opinion of religious websites. So being Celibate basically brings you closer to godliness and it's good for celibate men to be around little boys.

Along with this Catholic Priests were also known to stay in peoples houses and in the film Deliver Us From Evil it exposes a Priest called Father Oliver O'Grady (pictured right) for the many children he raped. One victim of the man I have contacted on facebook. Still numerous cases of catholic priests are found guilty of child abuse.







4. Anti-Women

Women have always had a lower status to men in religious texts, whether it is consider women witches, making them call a man a master and how a man has the right to divorce his wife but not the other way around.

Recently in Papua New Guinea a women was accused of being a witch due to so much death by A.I.D.S in the country. The crime is similair to those that happened

Witchcraft whis is still prevailing today and mostly towards women. Alot of the burning of "witches" has come from Christianity which has a horrible history of people burning women. In Papua New Guinea Christianity is vastly popular however people generally combine their beliefs with traditional ones.

As far as treating women as second class citizens, I found this article interesting. This was suggesting although not everything religious people have done that because it is in the text however religions have still helped shape subjects such as throwing acid at a girl for going to school.

However the article does state how if a woman does not bleed on her wedding night then she is to be stoned to death. Which has happened on numerous occasions and to a pregnant women in Iran.

Islamic dress codes have been widely critisized around the world and their are various outcomes for going aginast the dress code. Reasons for why the dress code all come down to the same reasons all atrocities happen from religion. Because it is what god wants.

5. Religion in Governments

Religion in goverments has always divided the world, even those who are apart of religions. It is known that the U.S.A has always been primarily a secular nation yet the large amount of religion has been tried to be pushed in the governments and laws people have stopped actions such as gay marriage because it is against their religion although regardless of the fact that it should not be taken seriously.

Thankfully promoting Texas Gov. Rick Perry promoting his Chrisitan Faith to campain for president was not successful in the republican campaign for the 2012 election, this particular adverstisement caused questions to him about seperation of church and state.

The former president of The United States of America was George Bush. This is a president that invaded a country that his congress denied permission into invading and did it anyway. He is noted for saying it is something that god wanted.

In the middle east Islamic Law has damaged businesses and put people out of work, this topic is talked here in an interview between Kai Ryssdal and Timur Kuran. As you can see in the above link, a country such as Turkey has managed to make progress which allows businesses to continue and not create such a large unemployment rate.

Referencing

1. Robert Spencer http://www.jihadwatch.org/2012/03/robert-spencer-why-cant-non-muslims-criticize-islam.html

2. The Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation http://www.iranrights.org/english/newsletter-4.php

3.  http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1007-03.htm Published on Friday, October 7, 2005 by The Independent by Rupert Cornwell

4. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/22/us-usa-crime-church-idUSBRE85L13820120622

By Dave Warner PHILADELPHIA | Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:37pm EDT

5. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/29/how-religion-has-been-used-to-promote-slavery/ 

How Religion has been used to promote slavery By John Blake, CNN

6. http://www.journal-topics.com/opinion/article_662c294a-cb8c-11e1-a3af-001a4bcf6878.html Posted: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:12 pm

7. http://www.christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-f018.html Author: John Edmiston. Provided by Films for Christ. Used with permission.

8. http://edition.cnn.com/2012/09/20/world/meast/iran-hijab-fisticuffs/index.html
By Ben Brumfield and Shirzad Bozorgmehr, CNN

September 20, 2012 -- Updated 1330 GMT (2130 HKT)

9. http://www.godhatesfags.com/ 1955-2012 © Copyright Westboro Baptist Church. You may use any of our material free of charge for any reason. (God hates fags website)

Ten Links

1. How Religion Has Been Used To Promote Slavery

Summary: In this link we see a discussion about Slavery in religious texts and how none of them speak out against them. And how although there is no record of people like Moses owning slaves there is still slavery in places like Mauritania.

2. U.S. Catholic Priest Found Guilty In Child Abuse Case

Summary: This is a news heading about a Cathlic Priest who will spend seven years in prison for sexually assaulting a ten year old boy. Fortunately the Barbara Dorris who is the outreach Director for "Survivors Network of those abused by Priests" can no longer "shield and protect" abusive priests. This website leads to other cases from Cathlic Priests. Fortunately this problem is more exposed than it used to be. Perhaps human beings are just tired of children getting raped.

3. Girls Beat Up Iran Cleric Over Dress Code

Summary: The middle east probably has the worst dress restrictions in the world. Here is a women who was beaten up by other women all reported from a CNN website. The reason for women being dressed this way is simply because it is what "God wants".

4. We Should Focus Making Churches Pay Taxes A Bigger Political Issue

Summary: This is a arguement on a website against Churches not being taxed in American and the reasons for it.

It is more a blog that has personal points of views in it however it is still factual. It encourages thsoe to change their minds about the subject if they think the churches should not be taxed, yet it is specifically aimed at those who have no religion.

5. Bush: God Told Me To Invade Iraq

Summary: George W. Bush has been candid about his religious beliefs and told the public that god wanted him to invade Iraq and end the tyranny there. There is a quote from him at the bottom of the web page before he confirms to the world he has made progress

"Wars are not won without sacrifice and this war will require more sacrifice, more time and more resolve."

It also talks about various countries supporting radical islamic ways. His problems with their violence to George only drove him to start the war.

6. Terror Attacks Throughout History

Summary: This is a website detailing the history of the worlds terrorist attacks. Terrorism is not something that I have included in my summaries because Terrorism does not stretch across all religions, just in Islam.

The biggest ones such as 9/11, london train bombing, Bali nightclub bombing are all included and even those that happened in the Middle east such as seven being killed in Saudi Arabia.

7. How Islamic Economics Has Affected Middle Eastern Economics

Summary: This is an interview between two people that talks about Economies crashing and how in Turkey these Islamic ways for business has been discarded and how it has become a Work-In-Progress democracy.

8. Why Can't Priests Get Married?

Summary: This is a religious website that talks about various cases where priests have married, what the bible has to say about being married, sex scandal cases, what the early fathers had to say about Marriage, missionary work being dangerous, celibacy which equals purity and Making a sacrifice for the lord.

9. What Does The Bible Say About Same Sex Marriage?

Summary: This Website talks about Gods plan for sexuality it has various quotes from the bible, if emotions are a sufficient basis for marriage (which compares the act to alcaholism and takes a shot at hollywood in the process), and same sex marriages in general.

10. Witch Burning & Beheading

Summary: A website exposing the belief of Witchcraft and the prevalence of beheading is discussed here. It talks about what exactly Witchcraft is and current situations of Witch Burning and Beheading.

Conclusion

In conclusion there is more than anough evidence to see religion causing chaos in the world. I have not included every problem in the world but the comments from people that talk about religions "highlights" such as cultural enrichness and diversity or an inner happiness it gives people not only foes not add up against the negatives but also are hardly that positive since I do not feel it is a postive diversity with atheism. And any inner happiness and a hope that someone is going to save them in times of crisis only steers people away from critical thinking.

Perhaps I will end my blog with a quote from the great Benjamin Franklin who founded a secular nation that currently has huge religious turmoil inside

"Lighthouses are more helpful than churches"