Is Religion Helpful or Hurtful

Religion plays a big part in the lives of most human beings. Lately, I have been wondering if this is a good thing or a bad thing. One is considered an atheist if he/she is not religious. Granting that the lexical definitions of the words "religion" and "atheism" are understood, It would appear logical why most human beings would opt for religion. What has also become apparent, to me, is the fact that religion is responsible, in a very large part if not the largest, for the destruction the human population. Presently, this proof exists in wars in Israel, Palestine, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Atheism, on the other hand, bears no such encumbrance.

For those of you who may question MY affiliation, I consider myself a religious person. This writing is, therefore, directed at those of us who dare to claim religion in our lives. It does not promote atheism.
Every religious denomination has peace and love as the core or foundation of its faith. If this stands as truth, another common religious belief, why then is there such abundant destruction of each other in wars that are all based on religion. We are all aware of the utterance "separation of church and state", but even the political wars are being fought with religion as the central "disagreement". Christians (all factions) Jews, Hindus, and Muslims have all fought and killed within each religion and against each other. The loss of life and the destruction of the earth remains immeasurable. While you read this document, countless number of lives will be lost to a religious war.
There are numerous debates about the destruction of the planet earth by global warming or nuclear armament. The latter, no doubt, will be used to fight a religious war. I believe that the destruction of life on the planet at the expense of religion should be the leading debate. If this problem is addressed and solved, all of the other problems will be less difficult. If we can eliminate religious wars, the need for nuclear armament becomes less. If we settle religious wars, political wars, the other major destruction of human life, will be less likely and diplomacy will be more effective.
It is not enough to condemn the religions or religious sects that are embroiled in battle, if at the moment ours is not. We should view religion as a whole, respect and accept the differences in the specific denominations, and hold ourselves, collectively, responsible when any part of the whole falters. We should be, indeed, "our brothers' keeper".
If we cannot address this problem, those of us who, by definition, are religious may consider atheism.

Learn more about this author, Terry O'Neal-Cox MD.
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