Is Religion Dangerous?

All religions are not equal.  And all adherents to a specific religion neither practice nor equally believe everything in the same way within that one religion. 

I think it is safe to say that within as well as between all religions there are good beliefs and bad beliefs, good practices and bad ones.  In effect this means that some religions deserve more respect and consideration than others, given the nature of their specific teachings and practices.

Likewise, people are all over the map in their response or attitude toward faith and religion.  Some simply tolerate religion and presume that faith in God is nothing more than a childish human weakness—as in the old quip that religion is the opium of the masses.  For others, religion is primary, first and foremost as the author and giver of life’s meaning and purpose, and life’s ultimate end.

Whatever the practice, belief, or attitude about religion, one thing is sure, religion is here to stay.  Religious faith is alive and well.  Belief in God, a Higher Being, or belief in “that which is greater than I” is real and is powerful, guiding and instructing, directing and leading billions of people on the face of this planet.  Indeed, those who believe in no God are in the minority.  And I dare to say, always will be.

The fact is that many religions, especially the larger ones, overlap and agree in many of their moral and ethical teachings about being honest, having integrity, being good, patient, kind, generous, having respect for others, etc., etc.

So why do religions have such a tough time with each other where they disagree?  Because where religions disagree is where the core issues arise with respect to cultural values, social rules, applied freedoms and/restrictions, and the exercise of power and authority to enforce them.

This is why, for example, here in America there is ongoing and unrelenting tension between Secularism and Christianity, the dominate religions (most influential) in the U.S.  Yes, whether they admit it or not, those who subscribe to the Secular/Humanistic persuasion, do so in a religious faith like manner, no less so than adherents of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam, for example.  That is, Humanists religiously want to enforce Humanistic cultural values and laws accordingly, as would adherents of any other faith.  And thus we have “culture wars” with respect to our nation’s core values, social rules, and the power and authority exercised over them.

Now throw into the mix the radicals of any religious faith or belief system (including Secular/Humanism), the far left or far right, and what do you have?  Global life threatening power struggles!  And that’s where we’re at in 2015.  Whose rights and privileges, which truths and values, what rules and regulations, shall prevail upon us?  Whose power and authority will command our way of life?

In a place like Saudi Arabia, or Jordan, or Iran, for example, it is clear that Islamic Sharia Law commands the people’s way of life.  In a place like the U.S. it was at one time assumed that our Judeo-Christian heritage along with the precedence of Roman Imperial law, embedded in our Western Civilization’s historical development, had sway over our governing principles and legal applications.  This may be changing.

So what should be our guiding light?  How should a mixed, pluralistic, diverse society form the best laws to ensure basic human rights and freedoms as well as maintain responsible privileges?  How do we have rights without license, freedoms without excessive permissiveness, and privileges without unwarranted indulgence?

There is nothing new under the sun.  The answer is really not that difficult to come by.  Human nature has changed very little over the centuries. Thus, long standing governing principles espoused by ancient prophets and sages and wise ones in all civilizations are as relevant today as they were millenniums ago: Live by the golden rule, seek to be balanced in all things, that is, avoid excess and extremes, be fair and just, have respect for all life, do not oppress, create an economy that provides for a fair and equitable distribution of wealth and resources so that all may have the opportunity to prosper, not just a chosen few; in business use just weights and measures and treat workers with respect and dignity.  Be a person of integrity, a person whose word is true and trustworthy.  Think communally as well as individually; that is, we are responsible for each other, not just one’s self, and so-on and so-forth.

All major Religions teach as much.  They are universal teachings, wise principles that all should learn to follow and apply in order to become fully human.  And they work well, creating a prosperous and peaceful community, when the majority of people embrace them and live by them.  Hence, religion is not dangerous as such.  However, religious practices and teachings do become dangerous when these universal teachings are set aside for peculiar and sectarian ones that excuse their practitioners from submitting to these greater universal principles.  We call such religious practitioners “extremists” for good reason.  For they place themselves above such universal principles and presume to be the gatekeepers of their own particular standards of righteousness, goodness, and holiness.  That’s when religion becomes dangerous.