Reply #38: I don't know [View All]

[Meshuga]

I wish problems were so simple that if we got rid of Christianity and all religions that most problems would go away or get better (or worse). But they probably won't. You see, wars would still be waged with the help of greed and there would be people like the person you quote, Christopher Hitchens, who would be promoting unjust wars. You can certainly blame Catholics and Christians for their role in the Health Care debate but if we take them out of the picture you will still have *the major force* against reform -- the health care industry -- dumping money to influence our politicians to vote against our interests.

The view that religion is the root cause of all evil and can do no right is a view that seems too simplistic and it robs the mind of the free thought and critical thinking that comes with not believing in a deity who "tells" a believer how he/she should think or behave. Yes, religious thought is behind homophobia, women's right to choose, and a lot of the insanity that we have to deal with but there seems to be much hyperbole in the anti-all-Christianity claims that is fed by all the lumping. And the lumping, in my perception, seems convenient in maintaining a simplistic world view by providing a simple formula to assign blame and maintaining a naive utopian vision that the world would be a better place if we only fight religion.

Knowing and willing to recognize that there are distinctions seem more appropriate and more rational, in my opinion. And I think it helps us focus on the real problems out there that affects all of us.