Religion does more harm than good - poll

[Judi Lynn]

Religion does more harm than good - poll
82% say faith causes tension in country where two thirds are not religious

Julian Glover and Alexandra Topping
Saturday December 23, 2006
The Guardian

More people in Britain think religion causes harm than believe it does good, according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today. It shows that an overwhelming majority see religion as a cause of division and tension - greatly outnumbering the smaller majority who also believe that it can be a force for good.

The poll also reveals that non-believers outnumber believers in Britain by almost two to one. It paints a picture of a sceptical nation with massive doubts about the effect religion has on society: 82% of those questioned say they see religion as a cause of division and tension between people. Only 16% disagree. The findings are at odds with attempts by some religious leaders to define the country as one made up of many faith communities.

Most people have no personal faith, the poll shows, with only 33% of those questioned describing themselves as "a religious person". A clear majority, 63%, say that they are not religious - including more than half of those who describe themselves as Christian.
(snip/...)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1978046,00.html

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. yippee! rational thinking is breaking out across the atlantic pond!

Now, watch for some neoconmen to try to break with UK because they ain't christian enough

[Syrinx]

2. I've long held that view

I'm not against religious people. I know some very religious people that are just great. But I must say that I prefer moral and ethical atheists and agnostics to religious a-holes.

[izzie]

9. The trouble is the so many of these so called religious people

really are not good people at all. They give the whole movement a bad name. Most have let the Golden Rule just go pass them. Some of the biggest crooks I have known had their Bible with them. Can do anything to any one I guess as long as your do it in Gods name. And they have. Yet I have also met some very good people who also doing things under Gods name. As always one had to judge by what one does.

[Contrite]

3. Religion is the fundamental source of world strife.

I have maintained that view since, at age 16, I decided to abandon any form of organized religion, or any form of religion for that matter.

Ye Gods (pardon the pun), people came to this country to get away from religious persecution--in England! Only, of course, to have to continue to endure more of it through such wonderful episodes as the witch hunts in Salem.

[sam sarrha]

6. actually they came here because England wasnt F'n Talaban as they wanted.!!!

[Contrite]

13. Yes, you're right but they felt persecuted in Europe

what irony

[sam sarrha]

14. they still feel persecuted because they cant brainwash our children in public schoolss

[Contrite]

15. I know, that's why I find it so ironic

Maybe they could catch a clue, here? No one likes this extremist religiousity!

[NMMNG]

16. What's truly ironic,

is that the Christian Fundamentalist extremists decry the Islamic Fundamentalist extremists for their beliefs and behaviors without realizing what they're denouncing in their "enemy" is exactly what they're doing themselves. It's the whole speck/log in the eye thing.

[demnan]

4. Let's import whatever rational element seems to exist

in Great Britian and give it to children in school lunches. I know, tea, must be the tea. Think I'll go make a cup :)

[Mr. McD]

5. "Religion does more harm than good." That’s an obvious “DUH”

Who needs a poll?

[anotherdrew]

7. that's it, I'm moving to England somehow... n/t

[ClintonTyree]

8. It changed the life of our Great President, didn't it?

Before he found Jeeeesus he was a wastrel, a ne'er-do-well. Then Jeeeesus saved him and chose him to be President of the United States of America. Proof positive that........wait a minute. What was the question again? :shrug:

Never mind. ;)

[bananas]

10. The majority "believe that it can be a force for good"

Is having no personal faith the same as not being religious?
Or were those two seperate poll questions?
A poorly written article.

"Most people have no personal faith, the poll shows, with only 33% of those questioned describing themselves as "a religious person". A clear majority, 63%, say that they are not religious - including more than half of those who describe themselves as Christian."

[Az]

11. Doubt vs Faith

Faith leads to conflict. Doubt leads to understanding.

Know you are right and you will be at odds with someone else. Know you don't know for certain and you can tolerate others trying to figure things out as well.

[peanutbrittle]

12. Some serious changes in religion are due.....

IMO...

Religion in mans evolution goes back to the beginning of the human race. Primitive man most likely worshiped nature itself. Through the ages of time man has worshiped earth, air, water & fire. Then came the worship of the spirits of nature most likely caused by the fear of the elements. Then it evolved to the worship of the sun, the moon, the stars and the universe. Having worshiped everything else he even has worshiped himself and the religion of natural origin. The ghost cults, fetishes, charms, and magic, sacrifice and atonement all made their appearance. Eventually, based in the interest of civilization survival, setting social standards for all to live in harmony and possibly through divine guidance and illuminatory revelation man evolved to the point of inserting moral & ethical standards into his worship.

If you are a believer, apparently the evolvement of worship was uplifted greatly from the confusion upon the arrival of the life and teachings of Jesus. I don't think there would be many here who would deny that the teachings of, who we call Jesus (whether or not you believe he existed or not) did not add something the the moral and ethical standards of our social structure.

So, based upon this historical perspective, I am of the opinion that religion contributed greatly to the survival of our civilization even through the strife and divisions.

Currently, though, I think most would agree there are some serious problems with religion in our world today. The institutionalizing of religion, the "chosen people" attitude and fanaticism stifles the power of religions positive impact upon the human race in fomenting universal knowledge, beauty and goodness.

"Religion inspires man to live courageously and joyfully on the face of the earth; it joins patience with passion, insight to zeal, sympathy with power, and ideals with energy." "Economic interdependence and social fraternity will ultimately conduce to brotherhood"


The church should separate itself from the secular administration of our planet.

Just some thoughts