....some of the effects that organized religion has had on society? What are some examples?? Help...
214825
i don't know what u mean exactly by organized religion , but i know that when the religion it self is very specific in its basics and believes and when the people are religious a whole revolutions could happen . \n\nFor Example: When the Islam started in the Saudi Arabia , 1400 years ago, they were just nomadic , and after few years from Prophet Mohamed Death Islam had spreaded and covered great areas , from south Asia to west Africa and from south Europe to mid Africa , not by fighting but the real faith which made the Islam spread in some countries like China and Indonesia (without any armies or fighting) and now Indonesia is the country which have the largest number of Muslims around the world. \n\n  If you wanna check it out , try to know about the early Islamic history , :  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_History\n\n     Hope that Helps.
528881
Religious affiliation can be a positive when it provides a social support network for people that goes beyond immediate family.  This can be good if the group is truly caring of the other members and if their support is based on love rather than on judgement and criticism of others.\nReligion can also be positive if it creates a framework for behaviour that is beneficial to the fabric of society.  But this framework must be broad, flexible and inclusive in order to accommodate the diversity of the human experience.
213706
Don't forget that all homosexuals are devil-worshiping demons who shall be condemned to the bowels of hell. The whole concept of organized religion is so RIDICULOUS, that you just gotta laugh.
403180
You make good points. My problem with organized religion is that it has WAY too strong a grasp on some people. A lot of times I see questions here that ask, "What do you guys think about (insert any topic related to spirituality)?" -- and all too often, the answers you get are this: "Nope, I don't like it, because it's not in the Bible."\n\nThat's the mindset that people have. If it's not in the Bible, it has no value whatsoever. The truth is limited to that ONE holy book and all other holy books which may have different interpretations are totally worthless. -- I just don't think that's a healthy mindset to have. There's a lot of great stuff out there and people are missing it when they just delve right into one religion and never bother to look anywhere else. A lot of those Eastern religions and belief systems have some really valuable teachings, but nope... if it's not in the Bible, forget it. I just wish some people opened up a bit more.
446454
I would "outlaw" things that tear society down.  Some religions makes a society more cohesive, others divide and hurt a society.  Obviously, not all religions are the same and lead to the same outcome.  I think some religions are beneficial to society, while others are harmful.\nHarmful religions I would do away with.  Not by outlawing the religion itself, but outlawing the negative things some religions cause.  \nThe penalty for breaking this would be counseling.  They would would have to see a therapist.  Perhaps blacklisted from positions of authority...  But again, I would not prohibit anyone from believing what they want, as long as it doesn't damage society in a real way.
581235
Look up statistics on when prayer was in schools and when they took it out. There is some great stuff out there.\n\nI'd love to read your paper when your finished. :)
615019
welcome to the club sister.  I don't think you have a problem at all.  I think that you are a free thinking and open minded person.  It's when you feel that pressure to conform and be like everyone else and resist it, that you truly begin to gain a greater perspective of reality.  I suggest you read "the herd" chapter from Nietzsche's "Beyond Good and Evil".  This is the book in which the phrase was coined "God is dead".  Don't let that scare you.  What I think he really meant to teach was that organized religion and the God they invent is dead.  He challenges you, in the chapter entitled "the herd", to ask yourself if all these things that people are telling you that "God" has said are indeed from "God".  Or, are they something made up by leaders of church to influence the masses opinions to get a desired social result.  That result is control.  Don't let anyone but God control you.  He wouldn't force control on you.  He doesn't want to control you.  He offers suggestions and you choose freely.  To me though, all this damnation and hellfire are not products of Christ at all.  Christ is like the sweetest friend I have ever had.  I don't live right at all.  I have done bad things in my life.  Yet, he has never left me.  People, on the other hand, have behaved terribly...  and for that matter... so have I at times.  I decided that I would not be controlled by "the herd" either.  People will accuse you of rebellion.  Rebellion it may be, but against whom?  God?  I don't think so...  The "herd", definitely.  I had to separate myself from them, and while it is lonesome at times, it is at least free.  Knowing God should never feel like being in a social or political prison in which you are interrogated and punished.  They're like religious nazis and they have confused social control with God.  Welcome to freedom sister.  You may find groups that you "fit" with...  I never did.  This is the tragedy of the genuine individual.  Perhaps you should start your own "group" on yahoo groups.  If you do, let me know, and I will join.  This topic is certainly worthy of discussion.  Don't feel like you are alone.  There are many, many, people who have went through this...
608949
That happened to me.  I guess at first I felt totally betrayed, mad, I didn't know what to do or what to think.  Then I started trying to educate myself to "make sure" that I was correct that my belief system was based on lies.  The whole process has taken several years, but then I started researching many other beliefs and religions and found out that most of them were also.  So I am no longer a part of organized religion and I have discovered my own beliefs.  I'm still on my spiritual quest but my current beliefs probably lean toward New Thought.
99450
"FIND YOURSELF" it took a while but I did it and I recommend it to anyone.  Forget what the church says, organized religion in the modern day is little more than corrupt brainwashing.  For once, follow your hearts.  Form your own oppinions because your mind and heart say it is right, not because a man of God tell you to think that way.  If you find that with no persuassion you still seek out God or whoever, than that is your way, but if you find you stray from their teachings, than perhaps you need something more than they could offer you.  None are right, none are wrong, you cannot prove otherwise and arguing is pointless.  Let God make the arguments and choose the rightcheous.
333384
Religion changes with the times and people involved, it is solely because people don't practice what is appropriate for their own time, and seek what remains eternally true that religion in non-sensible. Worse is when people claiming to be religious act against the very religion they claim adherence to by hurting others out of egotism, killing those who'd be their friend etc.\n\nReligion is for a good purpose, and that should be well known and used, but when it becomes the very problem it claims to fix it will ultimately die away in fits and fights.
642934
what i find more interesting, is that in the religion questions, everyone is hyper-focused on homosexuality.  like that is the only sin being committed right now.  and like i'm gonna be punished for things that you do.  i'm thinking of doing some research on this.  why has homosexuality become the major focus in religious circles?
530109
The Universalist Unitarians are probably the closest thing to what you are asking.\n\nNot a specific religion but more a conglomeration of them and generally, as far as religious people go, extremely welcoming and not prone to proselytizing.\n\nI am generally against y kind of organized religion because of the negative effects that seem to come from it (especially these days) but even I can't really find too much fault with them, they are all about spiritual growth and worshiping in your own way... kinda odd but different at least.
166498
Its opened my eyes about alot actually.  I see how people react to religion. I have learned alot about different religions and understand them a little better.  It has given me links to read more on them and I have and I feel that has given me a better perspective on them.  I havent converted to anything as I am happy being the little witch but it has given me more of an appreciation for it.  It has given me thought on my own faith. And has even given me a little guidance along the way.\nI thoroughly enjoy this section best.  There is too much to learn and understand.  I enjoy learning about religions and societies (ancient and modern) so this place has been perfect for me!
677300
Right on!!  I live a sheltered life, honestly... out in the middle of nowhere, where everyone you know goes to your church and everyone in the community is one great big family.  I was shocked to learn of some of the things that people believe, for instance, I didnt know that there was an actual religion called Satanism, and they go to church at the church of satan!  What??!  \nAfter asking some of my questions on here, I have learned a whole lot.  There are soooooo many people who are lost, and I never realized that until now! (BTW - I'm 20yrs old)
89961
It's not the religions themselves that cause harm.  The harm is caused by people profiteering and politicing off of a religion.  Whether it be Hitler, Irani Mullahs, the Catcholic Church, or the President of the United States (all of them), they use religion to push their agendas and pad their pockets and that is where the problems begin.
462391
It always makes me sad when ignorance is made to seem a virtue.  And, yes, I would say religion's interference in education is a factor in the decline of education in the U.S.  I wouldn't say it's as large a factor as lack of discipline due to overcrowding in classes and parents who are too distracted by jobs or their own selfish wants to make sure kids do their homework and respect their teachers, but it's a factor nonetheless.
650065
I honestly think it is a financial issue.  I think the problem with organized religion is the organization itself and the fact that it requires money to maintain.  Once you have a mortgage and mouths to feed, you have to focus on fundraising - and that means building and keeping a congregation.\n\nI think many feel that to do that, you need to prove to the faithful that your version of the Universal Truth is the correct one and the others are false.  The worse you can make the punishment also seems to help to keep people in line and making their weekly donations.  I think it is a shame, but a harsh reality of our capitalistic society.\n\nCouple that with the histories of bloody intolerance on all sides (the Roman pagans fed the Christians to the lions, the Christians invaded and murdered the Celtic Pagans, etc.).  No one side is at fault - with the aggressive nature of humans, this is a natural consequence of growth and the development of our warrior nature.\n\nThere is a way to rise above it, though.  I think that if we look at the religions of the world, we can see commonalities, similarities - a basis in love, truth and good will.  If we could focus our attention more on the similarities and let the donation chips fall where they may, we could come out of this as 1 planet ,1 people, infinite diversity for maximum prosperity for all.