For thousands of years, religion has been a dominant force in human society. History does not record anywhere and at any time of a religion that has any rational basis. The greatest vicissitude of things among men is the vicissitude of sects and religions. All religions, with their gods, demigods, prophets, messiahs and saints, are the product of the fancy and credulity of men who had not reached the full development and complete possession of their intellectual powers. They focus on specific supernatural, metaphysical, and moral claims about reality (the cosmos and human nature) which resulted in a set of religious laws, ethics, and a particular lifestyle. We have enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.
Record of exploitations
Religion encompasses ancestral or cultural traditions, writings, history, and mythology, as well as personal faith and religious experience. Religious persecution down the ages has been done under what is claimed to be the command of God. God is always associated with those things that we do not understand. Criticism of religion is discouraged and stifled. It remains socially unacceptable to point out the main objections which sceptics and freethinkers have about religion.
History is replete with recorded abuses and savageries of organised religion when it comes to power. Live burials, beatings, burnings, cannibalism, buying and selling of human beings, and the chopping off of heads, hands, feet, ears and plucking out of eyes all fill the pages of the Holy Books. Human sacrifices to appease the gods. The Crusades. The Inquisition. The suppression and the execution of millions of women. Pogroms against Jews. The Holocaust. Jonestown, Guyana.
Believers are indoctrinated to ignore the bloody history of religion, and to pay effusive lip service to belief in God and God's holy representatives on earth. Ordained ministers and priests are “men of God,” “God's holy instruments,” a race apart, anointed. It is no wonder that these men who wish to misuse power and betray trust are in a unique position to do so. Newspapers are full of reports of financial exploitation, sexual transgressions, the criminal and sexual abuse of children, and women by these ordained men.
Havelock Ellis wrote: “In all countries, religion or superstition is closely related with crime.” Religious doctrine encourages power inequities toward women and children, and such inequities invariably lead to abuse. “The primary epiphenomena of any religion's foundation are the production and flourishment of hypocrisy, megalomania and psychopathy, and the first casualties of a religion's establishment are the intentions of its founder.”- Emily Brontë.
It is reason not imagination, that determines what is probable and what is not. A man's ethical behaviour should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary.
We no longer need to be threatened with eternal torture or tempted by eternal bliss in order to form a civilised society.
Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. Like dandruff, most people do have a religion and spend time and money on it and seem to derive considerable pleasure from fiddling with it.
Keywords: religion, God, ethics, civilisation, faith
Comments:
Sir,
This article could not have come at a more opportune moment. Religion, the science fiction of stone age men, today remains a concept that has outlived its utility. The human race is now at an advanced stage of civilization and science, wherein we do not need the bogeyman of a mind-reading god (with a small 'g') to remain good. It's time the concepts of atheism and agnosticism are given prominence in mainstream media and they are propagated with urgency.
Great article. If we carefully examine religious text of any religion we will find irrational and impossible facts and figures mainly. But however rational and modern the people become, rational thinking stops for most of them when they encounter religion.
Here is a must-read book for like-minded people: "God Delusion" - a 2006 bestselling non-fiction work by British biologist Richard Dawkins, professorial fellow of New College, Oxford.
Amazing article. I think it's quite an eloquent argument against religion that atheism and agnosticism have historically always ultimately gained a stronghold in the most educated of societies. Across Western Europe and East Asia the percentage of people that profess belief in god has dropped to below 50% in Germany, Switzerland, Finland and Ireland and even below 40% in Japan, France, UK, South Korea, and Denmark. Even in India atheists are gaining in number mostly in the much more socially, economically, and intellectually developed Southern states (this isn't a biased perspective as I'm a North Indian). It's about time that people learnt to think for themselves and critically analyse and question the beliefs of their forefathers rather than accept it all at phase value.
Religions are parasites and they cling on to the humanity from time immemorial. Whatever people may write or say about the ill effects of religions, there is no way out of their grip.
Religion is one of the things which is not needed for the modern and civilised human being. Religion, in whatever name, has done more evil than any meagre good things to human beings as well as to the other living beings. It may be very easy to preach about the bad things about religion in educated society such as western Europe or affluent Indian society. But It's a tough task for the vast Indian majority. If the government starts the process now, it will at least take another 50 years to control the influence of religion in day-to-day activities. The best place to start that process is in primary education. Children should be clearly taught that all the religion in the world was formed by human beings like you and me. It may be relevant at the time when it was found, same as the traditional medicine still practised in India. But in the modern world, religion (including Traditional medicine) has no scintific foundation and lacks rational thinking.
This is a good article. Not only religion, all doctrines have relevance for a particular period only, when you extend it, things go bad.
It is interesting that people who believe in science and proof are offering zilch when it comes to proof against God. Just because some people cannot find proof for the existence of God, one cannot dismiss God's existence. People who follow science should instead find irrefutable proof for the non-existence of God and that is the only way religion will go away. Just because you didn't see a black hole, you cannot convince me that it is a figment of my imagination.
Unlike most experiences in life, existence of God is one experience which cannot easily be explained in layman's terms. I agree, men have persecuted millions in the name of religion. Men have also persecuted millions because of social status. Money is a also one of the most important cause of people killing other people. So, why don't we take money away?
The author has failed to express the good sides of our cultural values/religion. Religion and our Cultural values have taught us to take care of old age parents, help the needy, instilled fear that keeps us away from committing heinous crimes. Why do you think they are shooting sprees in schools in western countries every now and then, old age homes in almost every street. Why do you think two earning brothers/sons support a family of ten including old age parents/grand parents in almost all households in India? Do you see that in any of the western nations where there are no cultural values as in India.
I am sorry but I almost completely disagree with you. The problem once again is not with religion but with people leading its organized setup. Any where humans managing anything right from the planet to countries to corporations to even households are riddled with inefficiency and self-interest. So, do not blame religion to be the sole reason for anything. We suck at managing pretty much anything.
Plus religions and mythologies were told as stories so that people would grasp the greater sublime truths about the mystery that surrounds us. The Upanishads, the Puranas and other mythological texts clearly demonstrate that if the stories were interpreted with an intellectual conscience, they do lend themselves towards enriching one's life with a beautiful poetic view of the world around us. And many of the world's greatest scientists and artists found solace and meaning in these great works.
Also, you might want to refer to the fact that religious societies still preserve great harmony and happiness unlike the fragmented society today. Today, nothing can bring together a group of people like an occasion of religious tradition or a rituals. It's a pity that so-called neo-intellectuals disregard the value of a rituals and traditions in bonding within the social structure out of sheer laziness to understand the meaning and intent behind them. All in all, religion, whatever be the accuracy of its theology, it still remains the greatest social binder bringing people together to share and embrace the mystery.
Quoting Ravi Yechuri
"It is interesting that people who believe in science and proof are offering zilch when it comes to proof against God. Just because some people cannot find proof for the existence of God, one cannot dismiss God's existence. People who follow science should instead find irrefutable proof for the non-existence of God and that is the only way religion will go away."
You completely miss the point. The burden of proof lies with those who make extraordinary claims to prove the claim. If you make the claim that there exists an invisible pink unicorn, it is upto you to prove the existence of it. How can you expect science to disprove its existence?
Also, people need to differentiate between their experience of "God", whatever that might be with the concept of "organized religion" when we are debating on the ills of organized religion.
Instead of concentrating on weather or not there is a God (which leads to the aspects of karma / higher joy in the afterlife), let us concentrate on ideals that will improve the quality of the current life. Truth, honesty, compassion are beneficial to everybody in society and we do not need some book to tell us what is right/wrong with dire consequences in the afterlife.
People stopped believing in santa claus and fairies, one day they might evolve and stop believing in god.
Its heartening and applauding that we people are in quest of the truth. Aetheists, religionists & others do have common goal for this life...live in peace , care for humanity & LIVE A TRUTHFUL & HONEST LIFE. Each aspects should be given weight-age & has to be interlinked in a proper perspective & without fabrication .Otherwise its a hypocrisy & it will never take us anywhere than to chaos & fight for supremacy. If any of religion ( by whatever means / practices) follows the later part ( fight for supremacy) then for sure its NOT TRUE (I beleive). Religious chaos should not be judged only from the perpetrators of self ideologies for their own self benefits (like that may groups in US,Europe,India,Pakistan,Afgan.Israel etc...).Religious correctness / requirement for humanity to exist should be studied from the correct sources without any bias or prejudice. Though its difficult BUT its worth by giving our life a reason .