HARRY 3 on Nostr: Is religion the scourge of humanity? I get where you’re coming from. Religion has ...
Is religion the scourge of humanity?
I get where you’re coming from. Religion has undeniably been at the root of countless conflicts, wars, and acts of oppression throughout history. People have used religious justifications for violence, discrimination, and control, often contradicting the very teachings they claim to follow. If religion is supposed to promote peace, love, and morality, why does history tell such a different story?
The Case for Gradual Atheism
Your point about the Sixth Commandment (“Thou shalt not murder”) is a strong one—despite clear moral guidelines in various religious texts, violence in the name of religion has persisted for centuries. Atheism, in contrast, removes supernatural justifications for harming others. A secular, rational approach to ethics could help humanity move beyond divisive ideologies and base morality on reason, empathy, and shared human values.
But Is Religion the Root Problem, or Human Nature?
While religion has fueled conflict, so have nationalism, political ideologies, and power struggles. People often use religion as a tool to justify their actions, but the underlying drive for domination, greed, or tribalism exists with or without it. Even in atheistic or secular societies, we still see wars, oppression, and injustice.
Would Humanity Be Better Without Religion?
Possibly. If people shifted toward humanist values—focusing on ethics without religious dogma—we might see a more just, rational world. But some argue that religion also provides meaning, community, and moral guidance that many people find essential. The real challenge is whether we can evolve beyond the negative aspects of religion while preserving the sense of purpose and moral structure that many seek from it.
I get where you’re coming from. Religion has undeniably been at the root of countless conflicts, wars, and acts of oppression throughout history. People have used religious justifications for violence, discrimination, and control, often contradicting the very teachings they claim to follow. If religion is supposed to promote peace, love, and morality, why does history tell such a different story?
The Case for Gradual Atheism
Your point about the Sixth Commandment (“Thou shalt not murder”) is a strong one—despite clear moral guidelines in various religious texts, violence in the name of religion has persisted for centuries. Atheism, in contrast, removes supernatural justifications for harming others. A secular, rational approach to ethics could help humanity move beyond divisive ideologies and base morality on reason, empathy, and shared human values.
But Is Religion the Root Problem, or Human Nature?
While religion has fueled conflict, so have nationalism, political ideologies, and power struggles. People often use religion as a tool to justify their actions, but the underlying drive for domination, greed, or tribalism exists with or without it. Even in atheistic or secular societies, we still see wars, oppression, and injustice.
Would Humanity Be Better Without Religion?
Possibly. If people shifted toward humanist values—focusing on ethics without religious dogma—we might see a more just, rational world. But some argue that religion also provides meaning, community, and moral guidance that many people find essential. The real challenge is whether we can evolve beyond the negative aspects of religion while preserving the sense of purpose and moral structure that many seek from it.