Religion is the problem

“Don’t pretend to believe [in God] and think of yourself as a good follower of God when in reality you’re living your life to what you need,” urges Amarin Chanthorn, writing in the Bemidji Pioneer. [Since this post appeared, it's become apparent that this link now demands an account log-in, so you may not be able to access the story.]

He makes the plea in an article that points out that religion has been responsible for more harm throughout history than disease or natural disaster.

It’s the hypocrisy of “believers” that gets up his nose, it seems. He can’t see how, if people truly believe in God, they can carry on their lives while others around them starve or are homeless.

If we, as an American society, really believe in God, there would be no wars, no famine, no greed because we would be peaceful society where we treat our neighbors like we treat our own. But we’re not: millions go hungry, crime is high, war is happening as we speak and greed is evident. It is man that has done this.

Which really makes the point that religion is bugger all to do with spirituality (however you want to interpret that) and good living (that is, living to bring good to others as well as oneself). It may think it is, but it isn’t.

Some religious people do good works, but so do atheists, and some religious people are thoroughly evil – instance many among the Catholic hierarchy, not to mention all the pervy priests who’ve assaulted young people over the years – while believing they’re so good.

Religion, then, has little or nothing to do with good. While it may be the impetus to a few who think they can’t do good without it, it is more apt to divide than produce concord. All the more reason to get it behind closed doors, and leave it there.

But, among those who have the power to do something about it, who’s going to make the first move?