Should religions be abolished?
Religions have been with humans since time immemorial. There are many forms of them around the world including Christianity, Hindi, and Islam. When they are asked about their religiosity, billions of people would profess to be a member of one of these religions. However a large number of people have been calling for abolition of all forms of religions.
Religions have served as a moral guide for most of the legal systems or constitutions around the world. The legal systems of western countries such as Britain, France and America, for example, are rooted in Christianity. With the exception of the legal system of Israel which is based on Judaism or Christianity the legal systems of countries in Asia and Middle East are also rooted in Hindi or Islam. Although their influence is still very much present in the legal systems of Asian and Middle East countries, the influence of religions in western countries has waned in recent years due to the rise of secularism.
There are a number of things that make religions appealing to governments and ordinary citizens. Highly religious people comply with laws of the land more than less or non religious people. They pay their dues promptly and their governments do not waste resources pursuing them to comply with the law. Religions also tend to consider life sacred and forbid followers from killing other human beings. Furthermore, religions condemn immoral acts such as fornication (the act in which two unmarried people have sexual intercourse) or adultery (engaging in extramarital affairs). There is no doubt that if people professing to belong to one religious sect or another could adhere to these principles the world would be a better place for us all.
However, religions tend to provide a fertile ground for breeding violence and other inhumane acts. The sexual abuse of children by some Catholic priests in Europe and United States, the killings of innocent people in Nigeria by Boko Haram, and the killings of people in Moslem countries such as Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan are all associated with religion. It is arguable that these crimes could not happen in the absence of religion. .
Truly, religions have played vital roles in human society and should not be abolished. Although some of these roles were positive, others were negative. Regardless of how we feel about them, religions are here to stay. It is difficult to envisage a world without them.
Religions have served as a moral guide for most of the legal systems or constitutions around the world. The legal systems of western countries such as Britain, France and America, for example, are rooted in Christianity. With the exception of the legal system of Israel which is based on Judaism or Christianity the legal systems of countries in Asia and Middle East are also rooted in Hindi or Islam. Although their influence is still very much present in the legal systems of Asian and Middle East countries, the influence of religions in western countries has waned in recent years due to the rise of secularism.
There are a number of things that make religions appealing to governments and ordinary citizens. Highly religious people comply with laws of the land more than less or non religious people. They pay their dues promptly and their governments do not waste resources pursuing them to comply with the law. Religions also tend to consider life sacred and forbid followers from killing other human beings. Furthermore, religions condemn immoral acts such as fornication (the act in which two unmarried people have sexual intercourse) or adultery (engaging in extramarital affairs). There is no doubt that if people professing to belong to one religious sect or another could adhere to these principles the world would be a better place for us all.
However, religions tend to provide a fertile ground for breeding violence and other inhumane acts. The sexual abuse of children by some Catholic priests in Europe and United States, the killings of innocent people in Nigeria by Boko Haram, and the killings of people in Moslem countries such as Iraq, Somalia and Afghanistan are all associated with religion. It is arguable that these crimes could not happen in the absence of religion. .
Truly, religions have played vital roles in human society and should not be abolished. Although some of these roles were positive, others were negative. Regardless of how we feel about them, religions are here to stay. It is difficult to envisage a world without them.
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