Religion, A Benefit To Mankind? Or Not?

[jomifl]

Would mankind now be better off had religion not been invented? supporting reasons for your opinion can be as controversial as you think the AB thought police will allow.

[dunnitall]

Better off without IMO, was invented by man for man and that about sum sit-up. Seeing that humans are usually at loggerheads over the least little thing and from day one how did they expect us to agree on this! Probably invented simply for wars! Is that controversial enough.

[woofgang]

nah, humans would find something else to excuse their bad behaviour.

[ChillDoubt]

Without. It's the biggest cause of death and suffering in the world.

[woofgang]

bigger than disease or famine chill?

[RATTER15]

Generally speaking a big NO. However many people have found comfort in their belief of various Gods from around the world and many social groups have sprung from these wide and varied beliefs. The problem with religions is they are usually very controlling and millions of people have been and are still being murdered and tortured through these outdated beliefs. The world needs to get a grip and move on.

[ChillDoubt]

If you like, woofgang.
Where is disease and famine most prevalent in the 21st century and/or has been in the last 3 decades? Africa.
Religion for some dictates that conventional, modern methods of contraception must not be practiced. Result in many countries? Large, unsustainable families who subsequently suffer famine, invariably in countries where warlords rule and guess what? They're generally of one religious persuasion or another.
The same religious edicts over contraception/safe sex have resulted in the spread of AIDS.

So yes, IMHO religion is directly or indirectly the biggest cause of death and suffering on the planet.

[Old_Geezer]

That is such a hypothetical thing to consider, as I can not envisage a society where folk didn't wonder about what was before birth, and after death, where everything came form, and start to form beliefs, opinions, rules about it.

Like many "tools" it has been used used for good and ill. I suspect it may have been fairly neutral overall.

[davetuc]

Agreed, many wars have been fought, and are still being fought, under religious banners, but the vast majority are actually just about power and wealth. I think overall, if people get inner peace or a sense of community from religion at a local level, then how can that be a bad thing?

[emmie]

without, it has brought misery in many guises to billions across the ages

[jomifl]

To put the question another way..would mankind have been worse off without religion?

[emmie]

no it wouldn't, it caused the Crusades, Inquisitions, it may be that mankind just needs an excuse, however this is one that people need never have had.

[Graham-W]

In the primitive races, Gods were necessary to explain the years of poor crops, the changes of the seasons, disease, pestilence etc. etc.
They needed something to blame and it was usually accepted that the God was upset and needed praising and gifts to ensure a better result next time.
As soon as the unscrupulous started making a living by passing on God's word, religion became tainted.
I believe, in this day and age, when we have a better understanding of the world about us, there is no need for any religion.

[jomifl]

Graham. do you not think that the invention of the concept of a god just encouraged lazy thinking, discouraged curiosity and set back mankind intellectually?

[RATTER15]

davetuc //I think overall, if people get inner peace or a sense of community from religion at a local level, then how can that be a bad thing?//

Despite all the suffering , tortures and deaths that it has caused?

[Graham-W]

Yes I do, but I'm talking about the primitive tribes, stone age, bronze age etc.
Once you let a God in through your door, it's very difficult to get him out, especially if it's a God who understands your pain and promises a better life next time round.

[emmie]

think of the backward mindset of those zealots in religion today, that use their faith to perpetuate misery on other people, that cause strife, death to millions, that capture, torture girl, women, as Boko Haram exponents have done, that the Christians doesn't ever come out well,
Crusades, death by fire, Spanish Inquisition, misery upon misery.
perhaps mankind needed some form of spiritual release, but it hasn't done us much good, wars, cruelty, death

[kvalidir]

Generally better without organised religion, however it has been responsible for a great deal of good and kindness as well. My problem is the need mankind has to live by a moral compass dictated by some other man or men several hundred years ago, which now has little relevance on modern society. People can be good and nice simply because it's the right thing, they don't need religion, et so many religious people feel they are the absolute backbone of good deeds and that a good life is hard to live without it, which is simply untrue.

[emmie]

people can be kind, compassionate, humane without the need to go on bended knee to some imaginary deity. I am sure that atheists do good works, they don't need an excuse to be good, or help when help is needed.

[kvalidir]

That was pretty much my point Emmie, in fact because they have no fear of divine retribution if they don't do something, their good deeds are afar more genuine than someone who is doing them out of fear of eternal damnation or whatever.

[emmie]

i know, its the reason i am an atheist, i can't abide these do gooders who proclaim their good deeds in the same of XXX. why?