Religion Ban

[help please!]

if the government was to ban religion, how would you react? Is it not true that religion is the main cause of the worlds segregation and cause of war. Its a factor that keeps us all separated. When i say ban religion, i mean from practising overtly, not being stripped from your beliefs. So, how would you react, how do you think it would affect the world?

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[jcherbstritt]

It has already been tried and didn't really work.  Certainly in communist Eastern Europe where the Church was banned, the church proved to be one of the main organs used to fight Communism.  People just met in secret, and I think (though not sure) that numbers of people going to Church grew.  That's what happens when you ban something.  It is not a very effective way of changing things, because people end up fighting for it even more.

In China they've done it as well - Fang Guong (??) - I type of meditation has been outlawed, but that hasn't stopped people.  I would argue there's also a danger things get militant - arguably Islamic militantism came about because of oppression of Muslims.

Anyway, my personal belief is that religion meets a fundamental need in people, and you just can't get rid of it.  It's not possible.  Even if some people might become atheists, you wouldn't get the whole population going that way.

[Clanad]

Although it is true that religion has been at the center of many conflicts over the years, it is also quite true that the vast majority of mass murder of one populaton by another had nothing to do with religion.  Stalin's pogroms killings millions, the Nazi murder of millions upon millions, the slaughterhouse in Cambodia during the 1970's, the ethnic cleansing in Africa, ad nauseum, had nothing to do with religion.  Additionally, almost all of the charitable hospitals and relief organizations have an historical basis in religious ideals...

[Englishbird]

How about just banning killing people. I understand your point and think religions (all of them) have a lot to answer for. But how about 'banning' killing people, and that means no western countries attacking other countries, abolishing the death penalty and making war illegal.
Before i get shot down in flames, i realise this wouldn't work - but I do think governments and people in positions of power are as much responsible as atrocities founded in religion.

To actually answer your question though - if they did do it, i'd probably laugh nervously and then go into hiding awaiting world war 3!!

[El D]

Personally I would be against it because of the extreme reaction it would bring about. However I look forward to the day when the human race grows up and is no longer afraid of the metaphorical dark.

[Weaza_cfc]

I would keep believing in my faith in the secrecy of my home.

[Hamish]

It is not true that religion causes wars. religion is a thing, and idea. its how people use and abue it that is the problem. In the same way you could argue that explosives cause thousands of deaths and therefore should be banned. But without them much of civil engineering and car airbags would nolonger exsist. Its how people use explosives thats the problem.

[blondegirly]

it's not religion that kills people - people kill people and they always will whether they use religion as an excuse to hate other people or something else. 

[El D]

So we need explosives then - do we need religion?

[Hamish]

we don't need explosive, we just choose to use them. Life went on for a long time before explosives. Besides the analogy was not about the nessecity of religion but how something can be used or missused. I would suggest that the fact that it has been around for thousands of years and that attempts to stamp it out don't succeed suggests that some people think we do.

[Sensa113]

Religion also gives people hope - to believe that there is something on the other side.
Your life might be abysmal but if you are part of a religion it might just keep you going.

I myself am not religious, I think I am what you would call an atheist, I just can't get to grips with it all.
If the government were to ban religion, as you say, practising overtly. Then I think it would start just as many hatreds and wars as it stopped.
The whole world is based on religion, where does it say it is wrong to murder? wrong to steal? wrong to commit adultery?

This is just my view.