by Kentucky Country Day

The Dark Side of Religion …

by Adam Wilson

Religion can be defined as set of supernatural beliefs and practices that to give meaning to one’s life through the existence of a deity or multiple deities.Religion is meant to be uplifting and to console people during difficult times.It is meant to bring communities and nations together and to strengthen them.Religion generally inspires the world to be a better place by it’s very nature.

Sometimes though religion can also be negative and destructive.It can tear nations apart, fueling wars and causing mass destruction and mass genocide.Religion can cause people to feel ashamed of things they shouldn’t, it can cause extreme fear and guilt, intolerance, lowered self esteem, dangerous obsessions and perfectionist attitudes.

Religion is often forced upon people, especially children.Often time these people grow up feeling alienated and like they don’t belong.They are led to feel guilty if they don’t feel enthusiastic or right about their religion.Guilt ensues and sometimes they become suicidal.People should always have the right to choose their religion, even children.

People sometimes use religion as a weapon, an excuse to hate certain groups of people.Christian groups have targeted pagans and witchcraft, the LGBT community, the Muslim community, and many others.Extremist Islamic groups have use religion as an excuse to attack Christians and Christian nations.People have often murdered and committed great atrocities in the name of religion since the beginning of time.There will always be those who will pervert and corrupt religion to their own selfish ends.

People often abuse religion.People often use religion to justify violence and wars.They use it for personal gain and to advance political or economic agendas.The abuse of religion has always been around and always will be.

Religion should never make you feel hateful, guilty, insecure, shameful, obsessive, or negative in general.It should never lead you to commit or want to commit ill acts against another human being.Religion should foster spiritual growth and development as well as improving the health of the mind, body and spirit.It should unite people and empower them to enrich their lives and the world around them.

If your religion doesn’t do these things for you and it makes you feel negative or oppressed, then perhaps you need to find another group or church within your religion or perhaps even find a new religion completely.Never let religion harm you in any way.It was never meant to be used as a weapon.

© SpiritualAdviceToday.com

Visit Spiritual Advice Today for more articles.

Find More World Religion Articles