by Gareth Hewes

Created on: May 12, 2009   Last Updated: December 10, 2011

The answer to this rather vague question is something that is very dependent on context. Does religion really care about the world and the big picture, the well being of humanity? In short, the answer for the majority of organized Western religions would be no. This is not to imply that the institution is corrupt and apathetic to the cause of humanity by design, rather has been made so by attempting to remain static in a world that is constantly changing all around it. In the case of some Eastern religions such as Buddhism, this does not apply as a large part of many Eastern religions involves attempting to improve oneself and the world one lives in.

The original idea of religion as defined as a construct of society served a variety of purposes: first, it deftly solved the problem of social control by creating a system by which people would become self-governed based on a set moral code; second, that principle made it not only effective but very low maintenance to become self-perpetuating to future generations; and third, it united the followers in much the same way that soldiers will rally behind their country's flag and made them a combined force when given a singular goal. This is strictly from a sociological point of view and is irrespective of the validity of any given religion's beliefs and spirituality. These combined effects were, on a local and even nationally isolated scale, generally in both the best interests of the followers and the area in which they practiced. The exception to this was if another, incompatible religion was practicing nearby.

In the event that there was a rival religion nearby, things were (and still are in some places) awkward at best, and massacres at worst. The repeated and brutal conflicts that have raged throughout history on the basis of religion would indicate a greater value placed on the sovereignty of the religions themselves than the human lives value involved, including those of a religion's own followers. It has often been taught or at least implied in many Western religions that there is no greater honor than to die for your god/gods.

The growth of worldwide travel has only served to make the distinctions between religions both razor-sharp and widespread. Places like the United States were founded on the idea of things like religious freedom, and even with equality being promoted, religious issues form deep undercurrents that segment and divide the people's will and ability to act in the best interests of the populace at large. This is not by design, however, but lack thereof: few religions have in-built the guidelines for accepting and understanding the religions of others (for obvious reasons), or the merits of argumentation by those who disagree with their doctrines.

So, it is not that religion really does not care. It is that religion generally is not predeterminedly equipped to care for those not interested in joining it.

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