Is religion the root of all evil?
January 21st, 2010
Last night I was sat listening to the Muslim prayers – the Salah on television – don’t ask – and it struck me how really quite poetic they are. It reminded me of a time I walked into a cathedral with a Russian friend (somewhat relevant given the mention of Stalin below) and heard a choir rehearsing parts of Mozart’s Requiem
I’m not religious, I am seriously not religious – I have loathed organised religion since I was capable of free thought. I can’t stand the notion of faith in a higher being, I can’t stand the way it is used to control people, and I really can’t stand that its followers actually believe that I’m the stupid one. But hey, I can give as good as I get when it comes to that one. However, I have to admit that the various religions have given the world some things of real beauty in terms of architecture, art, poetry and music. It’s a pity they couldn’t have done the same for society.
I don’t think its all bad – and I have the utmost respect for true believers in any faith – the genuinely religious are true pacifists and basically good people who would never abuse the political nature of it to control others. But never forget that religion helped create the likes of Osama bin Laden, Hitler, and on the other side of the coin (my side you might argue) Stalin…
I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.
Adolf Hitler – Mein Kampf
No – I don’t believe religion is the root of all evil – if there is anything at the root it is mankind itself – religions creators – but it is one of the tools at the disposal of tyrants to manipulate lesser men to make it possible to steal from them and fight wars in their name – for their own gain…
A must read on religion is The God Delusion
Related posts:
Posted in 
Tags: 2 Responses to “Is religion the root of all evil?”
Leave a Reply
Thanks for the comment. Though I doubt it would be a shock that I disagree. I’ll stick with my own ‘Dawkinsesque’ philosophy…
Each to their own is my philosophy!
I have to disagree that religion is used to control people and to sour them that they should control the war. Men who are using violence in war are using God to ease their guilt. A possible read for you might be a short story of the life of Joshua son of David. Christianity is two part: The religion came from teachings of Joshua’s life. The defeat of the Romans was political and the death of Joshua on the cross was the reason the Bible was written. Joshua knew he would be even if he hadn’t healed any one he still made the Romans delusional enough to want to kill him. Seeing the light of ones own life and writing it down is what ancient societies did. The Spanish in Mayans time burned over a hundred thousand writings. But Americans do have a problem, we’re taught the evils of religion and we’re taught that we can’t think on our own. But I do believe there are others thinking we’re doomed. Just like we think they are. God save our souls.