On what basis can you judge a religion?
a. Does it create fear and trauma by threatening people with horrendous ends if they don’t believe? (Hell, brimstone, torture, being outcast)
b. Does it promise ridiculous rewards for believing? (everlasting bliss, 24 virgins, food and drink)
c. Does it require very strict dress codes- particularly for women? (Veils, robes, burqas)
d. Does it insist on draconian rituals – prayers, fasts, attendance, supplication?
e. Does it discriminate against women – separating them into second-class roles or as chattels?
f. Does it advocate violence against people who believe differently?
g. Does it have strict blasphemy laws?
h. Are there severe punishments for disobeying rituals, dress codes, blasphemy or leaving the cult?
i. Do the hierarchy receive privilege and dispensation? Who profits the prophet?
j. Do they use the psychological threat of the fear of death?
k. Just it involve psychological coercion?
A bad religion sets out to hook its victims young and coerce them with fear then trap them in a cycle of ritual. They provide comfort against the fear they have induced. They create a tribal togetherness against the common enemy – everybody else. They hold forth a glorious future – world domination and eternal life.
In my opinion all religions have a series of rather daft creation stories and claims; all were created for political/social reasons; (the Abrahamic religions all stem from tribal Arabic culture with inbuilt misogyny); all suppress science and progress; all are totally intolerant and repressive; all ban and burn books; all slaughter and torture heretics; all indoctrinate children; all set up an elite who are the source of all knowledge and live a privileged life; all go to war and sanction wars. Of course, there are sects like the Quakers, who are opposed to some or all of the above.
Then we have the supportive, positive, mental affirming aspects of religion and the good they do in the community and for the mental health of individuals as a counter measure. All religions do some good. But I contend that the evil they do outweighs the good by a considerable amount.
There are a number of contenders:
Christianity with its witch burning, tortures, public burnings of Catholics, inquisitions, book burnings, indoctrination of children, evangelical patronising of other cultures, bloody massacres, sacking of cities, wars, pogroms and crusades. Intolerance and fear. Hate and stultifying ritual.
Islam with its inbuilt misogyny, beheadings, strict heresy laws, ban on music, destruction of historic sites and removal of art, stonings, mass torture, terrorist bombings, jihads, repression, indoctrination of children, intolerance and violence.
Judaism with its tribal intolerance, violence born of feeling victimised, closed community, indoctrination of children and claustrophobic adherence to ancient script. It kills progress and traps its victims.
Hinduism with its violence towards Muslims and strict rules, its rituals, indoctrination of children and crazy dietary regime.
If I had to choose a religion I think it would be a much more tolerant, less indoctrinated, less misogynistic and more questioning, open religion – maybe Buddhism, Quakerism or some kind of worship of sun and nature. I would acknowledge that all religions bring some degree of comfort, support, security and help that human beings seem to need. I would just contend that the harm they do far exceeds the good.
Fortunately I was never indoctrinated as a kid and I can see these monolithic power structures for what they are. Organised religions are hierarchical power structures. Those at the top do very nicely. The worshippers are easily conned. Culture sucks people in because belief and ritual are the done thing. It’s hard to go against something everybody else seems to believe in. Human minds are frail. We seem to need the comfort of ritual, ceremony and belief in a higher force. We are weak. We cannot cope with death and fall back on promises. We search for answers to big questions and fall for simplistic explanations. I don’t. I still question and see through the simplistic answers and indoctrination.
All the religions above have had their periods of extreme nastiness. If I was choosing the worst religion I would be hard put.
In the past I think it was probably Christianity. It’s violence, torture, misogyny and vindictiveness was unparalleled. But the enlightenment curbed its power and softened its violence. Islam, with its present culture of hatred, revenge and violence, it’s wish for expansion and world domination, has superseded Christianity as the most deplorable.
What are your views?
