If God were to exist, wouldn't you expect there to be a huge benefit to those who follow and obey him? Why, instead, do we see the opposite?

For example, there is growing evidence that the delusion of religion causes significant social dysfunction. Statistical research is revealing the problems that go with religion. For example, a recent article in the Journal of Religion and Society points out that religion is correlated to the significant social difficulties that we can see in America:

In general, higher rates of belief in and worship of a creator correlate with higher rates of homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, and abortion in the prosperous democracies. The most theistic prosperous democracy, the U.S., is exceptional, but not in the manner Franklin predicted.

The United States is almost always the most dysfunctional of the developed democracies, sometimes spectacularly so, and almost always scores poorly. The view of the U.S. as a “shining city on the hill” to the rest of the world is falsified when it comes to basic measures of societal health.

The prevailing view is that religion is harmless even if it is delusional. That turns out not to be the case. America is the most religious country of those studied in the developed world. America also has the biggest problems in terms of things like homicide, juvenile and early adult mortality, STD infection rates, teen pregnancy, and abortion.


This article by Sam Harris puts it this way:

While most Americans believe that getting rid of religion is an impossible goal, much of the developed world has already accomplished it. Any account of a “god gene” that causes the majority of Americans to helplessly organize their lives around ancient works of religious fiction must explain why so many inhabitants of other First World societies apparently lack such a gene. The level of atheism throughout the rest of the developed world refutes any argument that religion is somehow a moral necessity.

Countries like Norway, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and the United Kingdom are among the least religious societies on Earth.

According to the United Nations’ Human Development Report (2007) they are also the healthiest, as indicated by measures of life expectancy, adult literacy, per capita income, educational attainment, gender equality, homicide rate and infant mortality. Conversely, the 50 nations now ranked lowest in terms of human development are unwaveringly religious.

Other analyses paint the same picture: The United States is unique among wealthy democracies in its level of religious literalism and opposition to evolutionary theory; it is also uniquely beleaguered by high rates of homicide, abortion, teen pregnancy, STD infection and infant mortality.

The same comparison holds true within the United States itself: Southern and Midwestern states, characterized by the highest levels of religious superstition and hostility to evolutionary theory, are especially plagued by the above indicators of societal dysfunction, while the comparatively secular states of the Northeast conform to European norms.

Of course, correlational data of this sort do not resolve questions of causality--belief in God may lead to societal dysfunction; societal dysfunction may foster a belief in God; each factor may enable the other; or both may spring from some deeper source of mischief. Leaving aside the issue of cause and effect, these facts prove that atheism is perfectly compatible with the basic aspirations of a civil society; they also prove, conclusively, that religious faith does nothing to ensure a society’s health.

Countries with high levels of atheism also are the most charitable in terms of giving foreign aid to the developing world. The dubious link between Christian literalism and Christian values is also belied by other indices of charity. Consider the ratio in salaries between top-tier CEOs and their average employee: in Britain it is 24 to 1; France 15 to 1; Sweden 13 to 1; in the United States, where 83% of the population believes that Jesus literally rose from the dead, it is 475 to 1. Many a camel, it would seem, expects to squeeze easily through the eye of a needle.


Tell me your reasons please. thank you

whoops...wrong room

Let me set the record strait once and for all. First, I don't "exist" I manifest.

Second, I don't want people following me around and worshiping me. That's so annoying.

Ive lost my faith. I don't believe in anything anymore.

You exist and manifest.... That is all that matters.

America also has the highest mortality rate of live births, the highest mortality rate of children who die at the hands of family abuse, and suicides of teens.

And we have President whose goal is to see that Christian Churches are granted Federal Funds (entitlements) with which to provide social work.

According to Christians this country is at least 80% Christian, do they really think that the mortality rates above can be as high as 400% more than a non-Christian society? And if so, isn't it a bit of an oxymoron to give money to the group exhibiting the problems, in order for that same group to solve the problems internally?

If I may address the question in the thread title,...

The reason that some religions cause so many problems is because they claim to own the word of God.

They claim that everyone who doesn't bow down and worship their doctrine is rejecting God.

When they do that, they are spreading hatred toward everyone who refuses to worship their doctrine.

They spread hate and ignorantly call it love.

It's secular thinking that is the cause of many of our problems.

Do your own thing...

Live & let live....

ACLU that wants to decriminalize every kind of criminal behavior....

Not to mention bashing those who stand up for moral integrity. when goodness is marginalized & people are free to chose what do you expect?

Again..it's humanity that's the problem...not God. Humanity moves away from good & what do you get? Evil behaviors of all kinds.

So don't blame God...He never changes...

I think you are right on target...and as with many of the conflicts people have with one another, at the bottom of it all is basically just intolerance. Is this just human nature or something we can overcome? Does intolerance stem from man's early tribal days...when someone 'different' equaled someone 'dangerous'? Something else for me to ponder...

Oh, and quickstepper, your comments bring to mind thoughts of intolerance as well. If there is one thing I believe...Jesus is not intolerant. One of many examples we should follow...

Intolerant? I don't think so...

Jesus talked about sin & their consequences& how it causes seperation from God. He did good to people & He was killed for it.

People complain about all the problems of the world yet they don't realize they are part of the problem by their own actions. If my stating that is being intolerant then so be it, but more to the point is unbelievers are the intolerant ones...of anything that keeps people safe. It's one thing when you want to ruin your own life but don't take others down with you.

Intolerant? I don't think so...

Jesus talked about sin & their consequences& how it causes seperation from God. He did good to people & He was killed for it.

People complain about all the problems of the world yet they don't realize they are part of the problem by their own actions. If my stating that is being intolerant then so be it, but more to the point is unbelievers are the intolerant ones...of anything that keeps people safe. It's one thing when you want to ruin your own life but don't take others down with you.



Please know that I meant no disrespect or offense to you, Quickstepper.

I can add only the suggestion that we are all on the same path (recently spoke to a friend regarding this) and may simply be at different points along the way. Many may not even realize that they are trying to find their way 'home'. I hope to never do/say anything that may deter anyone from considering a course that leads them to God and the 'home' we all long for. I think intolerance can be that type of deterrent.

From what I see...Jesus reaches out, rather than pulling back from those who are lost. He teaches by example & with stories, rather than with criticism & coldness. He reminds us, too, that our judgement is flawed and best set aside.

Just thoughts on this, Quickstepper...no assumptions about you, no threats to your faith (in someways, I envy you your faith) and absolutely no judgement of you. Please know that!

Greed ,selfishness ,power ,control cause terrible problems . Does religion not include them all ?!.
In fact it does .
.

cuz "my religion is better than yours"

and

"you're not entitled to your religious beliefs"

and

"either you conform to my views or you will suffer"

Except buddism, confusism, taosim, paganism, shintoism, and about half the other religions that arn't under the big 3 (christians, jews, muslim)

buddism and confusism lack selfishness.

Taosim lacks greed, selfishness, power and control (though wisdom is power so technically power)

Pagan's lack Greed, selfishness, and orginization

Shintoism lacks control and power.

These are just some. Just because muslims and christians are historicly like that doesn't make it true.

WHY DOES RELIGION CAUSE PROBLEMS? HA! Come on down to the "Bible Belt" and see for yourself!

There are more arrogant, self-righteous "Hypo-Christians" here than anywhere..... each (mis)construing the Bible in their own self-serving way and expecting others to do the same.

These are the same people who look down on others, the less-fortunate and people who dont see their way.... and they think they're the ones following in Jesus' footsteps..... NOT!

Oh, and if you come to visit, for heaven's sake, dont wear a black Motley Crue t-shirt!

I have to agree with you on that. Every time I meet someone new here, they ask me what church I go to. When I tell them I'm not attending a church, they look at me as if I'm weird or something. I didn't know I had to go to church, or even one specific church to believe in God, which I strongly do.

I can relate to that. When I first moved to my small town, the first thing people want to know about you is 1.) who you are related to, 2.) What church you go to.

The town is full of gossip gossip gossip. That is all they have to do in this town. We have a weekly newspaper, but the real news comes from the grapevine.

If you tell them that you don't go to church, they might inquire as to your beliefs. (Extremely nosy and personal in my opinion.) I tell them I am a free spirit.

JB

The answer is simple. Religion does not cause internal problems for those that have chosen one. Nor does it internally aggravate those who chose other 'faiths'. Generally speaking.

Problems occur when those personal choices are attacked by persons who would have every see their way as the only way.

Find peace in your personal choices. Problem solved.

now i'm really lost

4 05 time to kill myself - BRB -












NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

well said