Is religion responsible for all the evil in the world?

[Mr. Dazed and Confused]

I was thinking to myself early today about whether religion is the root of all evil. Although it is very clear that a massive amount of horrific events have been caused because of religion, I think it is ignorant to put all of the blame on religion. Stalin may or may not have been religious, but none of what he did was for religious, or even atheistic, purposes, the same goes with Mao. I don't think religion is the root of all evil, but it can perpetuate itself into some form of evil from time to time, if taken out of context.

Honestly, I don't believe religion is the engine for human deviance. Evil is caused by ignorance (I don't consider believing in God ignorant), greed, envy, lust, and other human flaws. I believe the belief that the human race would be better off without religion is rather simplistic and overlooks our basic flaws as human beings.

[Valheru]

You missed a step in the argument.

Humans are the root of all evil. Religion is one of those evils.

[Iolite]

Humans are not the root cause of all evil. Human fear is. Human fear, is one of several reasons that religion was created.
To say that all humans cause all the evil in the world, is ignorant generalization.

[Valheru]

Humans are not the root cause of all evil. Human fear is. Human fear, is one of several reasons that religion was created.
To say that all humans cause all the evil in the world, is ignorant generalization.

:facepalm:

Are you an idiot?

That is a serious question, by the way. If you honestly think that "fear" is somehow separate from being human, you're a moron. It's part of the human condition, the same as greed, avarice, jealousy, violence, bigotry.

The concept of "evil" itself is a human artifact. It's not a product of culture or religion - it's a product of being human and being able to create abstract concepts.

[Mr.Happy]

:facepalm:

Are you an idiot?

That is a serious question, by the way. If you honestly think that "fear" is somehow separate from being human, you're a moron. It's part of the human condition, the same as greed, avarice, jealousy, violence, bigotry.

The concept of "evil" itself is a human artifact. It's not a product of culture or religion - it's a product of being human and being able to create abstract concepts.

One could say that humans are the root of all evil, but one could just as easily say that the Earth is the root of all humans and thus ultimately responsible for evil. It's a pointless thread to pursue; hey, physics is the root of all evil because it allowed th Earth to form, which in turn gave birth to humanity, which created the concept of evil. The discussion is about what part of the human condition or society - if any single part is - is the root of evil.

By the way, greed and avarice mean the same thing.

Religion is the cause (I wouldn't say the root) of a lot of evil, but also the cause of a lot of good. Great and terrible things alike have been done in the name of religion.

I would agree with Iolite. Fear manifests in many forms and very few of them are at all beneficial. Racism, genocide, war, persecution... all stem from fear. Day-to-day prejudice, violence and intolerance are often the product of fear. If we had nothing to fear I find it difficult to see how much that would be considered evil would be committed.

[Ambient]

I love how everyone is talking out their ass about evil, but no-one has cared to define it.

[Waspish]

Actions are usually percieved as evil because a certain belief system decided it would be that way. In that way, religions and belief systems are the root of all evil. Because they created the concept.

[Azure]

Humans are evil, hence anything created by humans inherits that evilness. Religion is merely one of those creations, albeit perhaps the most influential, and powerful of them, save government of course.

[Waxxumus]

The only way we can percieve "evil" is if there is a "good" force to put it in words. Like Religion and all religous writings. (bible, quaran) I find religon evil, and most evils to be exaggerated by morals developed in a religous society. Evil is only evil if YOU feel its evil. If you were rased to kill people and you enjoy it, and no one tells you otherwise and fills your head with THEIR morals - then that can be classified as good. There is no good and evil, just perception.

[Genesis93]

Humans are not the root cause of all evil. Human fear is. Human fear, is one of several reasons that religion was created.
To say that all humans cause all the evil in the world, is ignorant generalization.

no im pretty sure its human

[Genesis93]

One could say that humans are the root of all evil, but one could just as easily say that the Earth is the root of all humans and thus ultimately responsible for evil. It's a pointless thread to pursue; hey, physics is the root of all evil because it allowed th Earth to form, which in turn gave birth to humanity, which created the concept of evil. The discussion is about what part of the human condition or society - if any single part is - is the root of evil.

By the way, greed and avarice mean the same thing.

Religion is the cause (I wouldn't say the root) of a lot of evil, but also the cause of a lot of good. Great and terrible things alike have been done in the name of religion.

I would agree with Iolite. Fear manifests in many forms and very few of them are at all beneficial. Racism, genocide, war, persecution... all stem from fear. Day-to-day prejudice, violence and intolerance are often the product of fear. If we had nothing to fear I find it difficult to see how much that would be considered evil would be committed.

are YOU an idiot?

Humans are the only thing in that chain that have free will

[ArmsMerchant]

Humans are not the root cause of all evil. Human fear is. Human fear, is one of several reasons that religion was created.
To say that all humans cause all the evil in the world, is ignorant generalization.

Well said.

Sadly, however, some followers of some religions use that religon to promote fear. Also hatred, which is one of the masks worn by fear.

[Archetype]

no im pretty sure its human

^ Thank you! I fucking hate it when people try to separate human behaviour from the humans that exhibit it.

[ArmsMerchant]

^So you are saying "hate the sin but love the sinner" doesn't float your boat?

[Butcher]

Define "evil".

[PirateJoe]

Humans are not the root cause of all evil. Human fear is. Human fear, is one of several reasons that religion was created.
To say that all humans cause all the evil in the world, is ignorant generalization.

I'm trying to think of an example of evil that doesn't involve humans or human deities.

If a lion kills a gazelle, is that evil? If a cat kills a mouse without the intent to eat it (as they are known to do), is the cat evil?

Is a hurricane that kills thousands of people evil? A virus that kills millions? Sure, bad, but evil?

Evil, in many cultures, is a broad term used to describe intentional negative moral acts or thoughts that are cruel, unjust, or selfish.

Cruelty, justice, and selfishness ultimately stem from human consciousness the ability to empathize.

[Valheru]

are YOU an idiot?

Humans are the only thing in that chain that have free will

Stay on topic. An no, free will is an illusion, but that's a different discussion.

[Nero]

(I don't consider believing in God ignorant)

:mad:

[Archetype]

^So you are saying "hate the sin but love the sinner" doesn't float your boat?

That's exactly what I am saying.
Humans are defined only by their actions, it's why I want them all dead.
But in order to prevent this thread going off-topic - you cannot possibly "hate the sin but love the sinner" because the sinner is the source of that sin.
You choose to sin. Saying "I didn't rape that person, Lust did" isn't exactly going to warrant any sympathy in a court of law, is it?

[Please insert username]

Define "evil".

No :mad:

[Irukanji]

Religion causes hate. Hate causes fear. People do funny thing's when their scared. When people finally crack, they do whatever it is thats possible to alleviate that fear; usually by killing a few people(ie. columbine, the recent shootings) and themselves.

[D̉̋ilẻ̡̓t͓tant͖͑̓e]

Define "evil".
Here you go
http://www.google.com/search?q=define%3Aevil

[Mr.Happy]

are YOU an idiot?

Humans are the only thing in that chain that have free will

The point is that all that is evil stems from humanity, but not all that is human causes evil. Of course it's correct to say "humans cause evil", but it's also meaningless to say so because it's self-evident.

[Built To Last]

I don't think religion is any more responsible for violence in the world, than secularism was the cause for violence in the regimes of Stalin, Hitler and Hussein.

[Winter]

"All" the evil?...No.

99% of it? Sure.

The other 1% are because of niggers.

[Azure]

I don't think religion is any more responsible for violence in the world, than secularism was the cause for violence in the regimes of Stalin, Hitler and Hussein.

Since when was Hitler secular?

[023]

Not all, but alot.

[Rocko]

No, greed and stupidity are the roots of all evil. Religion is just a very popular vehicle.

[We Lost The Skyline]

Without religion we would stil have good people doing good things, and evil people doign evil things, but we wouldnt have good people doing these so called "sins".