The Problem with Religion

Before I start, I need to make clear the fact that what I am writing is not meant to be slanderous or malicious to any religion. These are my ramblings about my beliefs, and my perceptions of the problems associated with religion. As the saying goes, my perception is my reality. Feel free to disagree!

My problems with organized religion are many. However, in the interest of brevity, I will focus on just a couple.

1. Religion is Cultural.

This first point is to me very important. I was raised Christian. Is this because I was born in a country formed in the ways of Western Civilization? I believe it is. Had I been born in a country in the Mid-East, I would likely have been raised Jewish or Muslim. This culture of which I speak also includes family.

While this may seem to many a non-issue, I see it as extremely important. Consider first that the major religions have their own claim to exclusivity. Each one has the correct knowledge of God. Now consider the fact that religions seek to convert or proselytize the masses in order change hearts and minds. Religion at this point will cease its natural role of worship, and enter the boiling pot of politics. It becomes a clash of world-views. If religion truly is closely tied with culture as I claim, then when religions make attempts to convert people, they are really attacking a culture and a way of life.

2. Religion is man-made

It is said in Christianity that “Christianity is not a religion, it is a faith.” I know this statement well as I used to say it myself. Truly however, Christianity is a religion, as is Islam, Judaism, and all the other ‘isms. We have in Christianity many different segments, including non-denominational. However, please remember that religion is not faith, religion is the system of expressing the faith. Each segment of Christianity has its systems and liturgies. So let’s not quibble over the semantics.

As stated in my “Why I am a Deist” post, I do believe in a creator. However, I don’t have a religion. There is nothing in my life that has anything to do with a system of worship. With the exception of this blog, I keep my beliefs to myself, unless asked.

Anytime humans get together to create a system, there will be problems. That goes without saying because humans are fallible. There’s nothing wrong with it, it just is. If I go to church and here sermons on subjects of the Bible, chastity, morality, marriage, death etc… really, what I am listening to is one person’s interpretation of those subjects. You could say that the speaker is gleaning all information from the Bible, Koran, whatever, however, it will all necessarily come down to interpretation.

Question for Christians: Is baptism necessary for salvation? Is speaking in tongues evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit? Should services be held on Saturdays or Sundays? Is the idea of a Sabbath day still viable? I ask these questions not to be cynical, only to show what I mean when I say that religion is man made. I’m sorry to pick on Christians, however, that is where my experience lies.

It has been said many times that religion is the source of nearly all conflicts throughout human history. Much violence has been committed in the name of religion, including today’s current Iraq war. My point is not to say that religion is bad, it’s merely to point out the problems that come out of fallible, human-made institutions.

Thanks for reading and thinking.