THE EVIL CALLED RELIGION
Every religion has its "unholy" portions which includes, but are not limited to coercion, deception, mind control, violence etc.
International relations scholars hold this strong belief that the world is built on various pillars. Among the pillars identified by them is religion. This is more valid considering the role played by religion world over, since human existence.
A brief definition of religion puts it that'' religion is the set of beliefs, feelings, dogmas and practices that define the relations between human being and sacred or divinity''. Wikipedia reveals that of the world total population, only 16% are irreligious, the rest belong to one religion or another. According to David Barrett et al, editors of the 'World Christian Encyclopedia': a comparative survey of churches and religions, revealed that there are 19 major world religions which are subdivided into a total of 270 large religious groups, and many smaller ones''. Some of these religious groups include; Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Judaism, Bahá'ísm, Jainism and Spiritism e.t.c.
Indeed, any country with a perfect religious homogeneity should count itself most fortunate but unfortunately there seems to be none. Hence, in the bid to dominate, popularise and gain more adherents, religious intolerance and crises within and between nations of the world have become a common phenomenon. And yet, some ignorantly term it a 'holy war' (how on earth can War be Holy?), perpetuated by fanatical thugs and some countries' government who considers some religions' doctrines a threat to their smooth running.
The U.S. State Department's annual report on international religious freedom released in 2014 indicated that the freedom of worship is under siege across the world. It is happening in Nigeria, India, Egypt, China, Europe, and America, and the list runs without end. Ironically, religious consciousness is on the increase but peace is fast declining heavily.
I must be truthful and hurtful right now, right here; religion has done more harm than good. Religion has garnered all the coals stocked piled to emblaze Hell, rolled it in to, ‘infernize’ our world. The result is seen here and there; distrust, hatred, depression, terror, hunger and starvation, broil boilings, killings and a potential end to humanity if nothing of worth is done. There are numberless Case studies with one of the most recent happening in Kano State of Nigeria where a mob of errant angry Muslim youths brutally murdered in the most gruesome of all manners, a Christian woman trader over allegations that she blasphemed Holy Prophet Muhammad.
From all factual facets, the problem staring us on the face is not with Religion and Belief as nomen abstractum, rather it is embedded in the hands of the blind Faithfuls of every religion who display the evils of fanaticism and extremism well wrapped with cowardice and arrant no sense. Thus bastardising Religion and making it culpable and the focal target of any reform and blame because "any part of you that offends you or others, should be cut off", hence the need for ‘dereligionization’ of the globe is as at now long overdue.
Every religion has its "unholy" portions which includes, but are not limited to coercion, deception, mind control, violence etc. All of these are embossed in pages of Holy Writs of each religion. However, the perception, understanding and interpretation of any of such pages and its original purposes are the reasons why our world is chaotic sad and bilious bitter today.
Be it as it may, but regrettably too, most members of all religion do not have the needed virtues (good understanding, good perception and rightful insightful interpretation) of their holy books and that accounts for the ugliness we see in all places; high and low. These wrong deeds in the name of our respective beliefs and religions are partly due to illiteracy, and largely due ignorance and bias.
As this has become the case and with the harbinger of worse days ahead, should we not call an end to the beginning and existence of your and my religion?
Won't the scrapping of religion and advocacy for Godliness without religious inclinations restore the sanity of mankind?
Until then, beware that spilling of innocent blood for the sake of religion is cowardly, stupid and worthy of any other ugly adjective that irritates you. Be and let others be!
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