What comes to mind when you hear the word 'religion'? I think of a contract with rules and regulations that stipulate the following of these to receive a reward. For many, the rewards are enticing as it gives them hope as to what lies ahead. In my opinion, the negative impact religion has had on society as a whole has deeply outweighed what little charity it has provided, and it should be abolished.
I was ushered into religion when I was a baby, and baptized at the local Christian church in my area. I remember attending Sunday school to earn my communion and volunteering at various functions. Although my memories of the church are quite fond, I never stuck with it as I grew older because of the many demands that were made and the few rewards that I received. I was required to study the Bible, a book that would contribute nothing to my education other than the fact that I was reading it, attending mass at least once a week, and following the rules of the church at all times. I enjoyed singing in the choir and reading the stories with my fellow church members, but I did not care about getting into heaven. I wanted to do what made me happy purely for my own sanity's sake and I wanted to share that happiness with the world in whichever way I could reach it. The church never strayed from traditions to help others or even encouraged the expression of one's individuality as well as all of our similarities. For these reasons, I decided to not follow any one religion. However, I do attempt to maintain an open mind by attending a mosque a temple, or a synagogue occasionally to see how each major religion has changed over time.
Since early religious practices were established, they have followed a traditional layout. Teachings were expressed through a sacred book and they advised those that followed the religion about what to do and what not to do. If the individual were to choose what is deemed by the place of worship as the correct path, then they would be blessed in life and, if it is a part of the practice, the afterlife. If the person were to negate the teachings and follow a relatively wrong path then quite the opposite would happen and, depending on the religion, the person would experience misery in life and turmoil in the afterlife. In itself, this rule of thumb makes sense because for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction; however, the consequence should match the transgression. If we take Mormonism as an example, religion is very strict in terms of what its followers can and cannot consume; even in the Latter-Day Saints division of the church, but, it seems rather unnecessary for one to spend eternity in a place of purgatory for having a morning cup of coffee or some afternoon tea or a soda (Mormons are not supposed to consume caffeinated foods and beverages). Christianity, another prominent religion, encourages the forgiveness of every wrongdoing yet continues to preach to its followers that they must do what is specified in the Bible or they will end up in Hell; the wrongs will be forgiven regardless of their level of intensity and, unlike Mormonism and its unfair punishment, this religion has no ultimate penalty; the teachings are contradictory.
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If religion demands much of an individual's life both mentally and physically, why do so many choose to be devout throughout their lives? The answer varies from person to person but it revolves around just that; an answer. Religion solves the most perplexing riddles and baffling conundrums. For example; Judaism tells us that God created the world, that we were put here simply to live our lives following the instructions outlined in the Torah, and that we will one day return to the pure soul we once were and lie with our ancestors watching over from above those down below. This take on eternal life is granted only to those who follow the Torah closely, if they do not they are pulling themselves further away from the purity needed to guard over others. While there is no physical evidence to prove this, religion offers an answer that provides comfort in times of stress and fear. In such times we also come across situations in life for which there is no apparent reasoning for what someone has done or for what has happened to them and some religions have fashioned deities in response to this. Hinduism has over 30 million gods and goddesses that all govern a particular subject and can account for times when nothing else makes sense. For example; a man whose good luck never seems to end can be thought to have earned the favor of Lakshmi, Goddess of Good Fortune while those having difficulty conceiving could be encouraged to worship Parvati, the Goddess of Fertility, Love, and Devotion. In addition to strengthening the layer of mind that makes sense of the world, religion can also provide an answer to oneself. The question ‘Who am I' becomes less daunting when ‘I am a child of God' is within easy reach. For many, it can provide a powerful feeling of belonging, something found to be an important factor amongst developing adolescents; needed for them to successfully transition into adulthood and become positive contributing members of society. However, this desire to know where we came from, discover where we are going, and crave to understand our purpose here and now are all wants that are not necessarily needed for a human to survive and be happy. A person can find comfort in individuals who share similar interests as well as those who sport different ideals. We could all focus on the fact that we are here instead of why and attempt to better those and the world around us.
Even though many religions claim to benefit society, few give back, and too many profit from their actions. Throughout history, religion has provided an excuse for the conquering of lands and people alike, resulting in the decimation of entire cultures through forced assimilation. It also continues to spark animosity towards others when the individual's religions do not mesh together. While it is argued that many religions reiterate affirmations of love and kindness, a book should not be needed to tell someone that they should help the person behind them if he is struggling or to support the one in front of them if she is sad. A person should act nicely because he or she wants to feel good or wants to help someone else feel good, not because they are afraid of retaliation from a higher being or because they are following orders from a dated novel. Religion adds an extra cloud of judgment to an already biased and emotional human mind which often prevents us from speaking and acting honestly (openly).
Although my personal experiences with religion have been nothing but enriching and memorable, I developed a strong dislike for the lack of leniency in most, particularly as it relates to my friends, as I grew older and encountered other religions. One of my closest friends was born into a family of Mormons and was pushed into religion. While it has encouraged him to participate in activities that could shape a well-rounded individual (such as Boy Scouts), Mormonism is also the reason that he has had to postpone his education and dream of becoming a geneticist (because he was forced to embark on a two-year Evangelist mission). Another religion that encourages practices that I wholeheartedly disagree with is the Jehovah's Witnesses. Another one of my close friends is extremely devout and belongs to this group. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia a few months ago. With a blood transfusion, he has a 95% chance of survival and without it, he has a 5% chance. Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to accept any blood products and he has members of his organization coming to the hospital where he is staying encouraging him to continue refusing the transfusion. I commend him for his loyalty to his beliefs but it is misery for his family and me to have to watch him die slowly and painfully. During all of this time not once has his church come to help ease his suffering by assisting with the medical bills, offering words of encouragement, or even staying to talk to him about what he wants to discuss. It appears to me in these situations that the religion cares about promoting its cause and either forgets or ignores the individuals who make it up in the first place. This type of disregard for human life becomes an increasingly recurrent pattern as more people enter this world.
Unfortunately, religion has been a part of the human way for so long now that it is quite likely it has become impossible to separate from our DNA, metaphorically speaking. People continue to join religions because there are already so many others a part of it, promoting it day in and day out. Even more disheartening is the fact that those without religion are often looked upon unfavorably and are sometimes unable or too uncomfortable to speak out. All in all, religion has been more of a hindrance than an advantage or guidance and I maintain my stance that the human race would be better off without it.
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