by Simon Wright

Created on: July 18, 2010

Is religion for the weak? And is it a catalyst for war? These are two interesting questions but before answering them it’s necessary to define what we mean by the word “religion”. We all think we know what is meant by the word but here’s a reminder of the dictionary definition:

"a. Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers regarded as creator and governor of the universe.

b. A personal or institutionalized system grounded in such belief and worship."

(Source: www.thefreedictionary.com )

The key element here is that religion involves belief systems that are grounded in a belief in a supernatural God or gods. Typically, also, religions are institutionalized so that it is a group of individuals who are all worshipping the same God or gods. This is often referred to as organized religion. Let’s turn our attention now to the two questions posed in this article title.

Is religion for the weak?

In order to be part of a religion, an individual must believe in the presence of a supernatural God. This belief requires a leap of faith, as there is no empirical evidence to prove the presence of any higher deities. The accusation that religion is for the weak comes directly from the fact that the religious often unquestioningly accept the presence of their God (and the non existence of competing gods) based upon what their religious orders tell them is true. If someone believes in fairies and elves, they are often regarded as being a little weak in the head and an accusation could be made that believing in gods is equally delusional.

The other aspect of this is the fact that almost all religions are formed on the premise that if you live according to the doctrines of the religion, then you will be rewarded after your death. Religious critics sometimes infer that this vague promise of a blissful afterlife makes religion particularly appealing to those who struggle to cope with the demands of this life.

I think, however, that it is unfair and probably wide of the mark to suggest that it is only those who are in some way mentally or emotionally weak who sign up to the religious model. What we can say, however, is that there is a higher incidence of atheism amongst people with better education, and an especially high incidence of atheism amongst the scientific community.

I think what this shows us is that cynicism about the presence of a supernatural God is highest where individuals benefit from good literacy and access to competing

• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next Page >>