I have, as of late, been bombarded by various religious articles and opinions and have been trying to come to terms with them and religion in general. My problem is that there is no comfortable middle ground (my favourite hiding place ) Religion, by it's very nature, is intolerant of other religious beliefs. The very nature of Faith precludes belief in anything else. How then, considering this, can we as a race ever hope to live in the kind of peaceful utopian ideal that most world and religious leaders proclaim as the ideal.
I accept that most religious people are perfectly happy to live and let live, they are not happy, however, to share their childrens schools, to share their time or a myriad of other things that would ease the constant stream of racialy based hatred that i see on tv everyday.
The thing that I Hate most about this state of affairs is the reverance I am expected to show to a set of ideals that i do not nescesarily concur with. I am expecting, for example, a certain amount of flame for this topic. Why, because i dared to speak out about religion.
Religion! what do i consider it to be? a set of guidlines on how to live your life. wether passed down from a deitic being or from a really wise dude doesn't really matter, at the core of each religion is a set of rules (even if the rule is there are no rules). I cannot think of a more personal thing, and by personal i also mean individual, so why is it that religion, an intensly individual experience, has no space within its purview for other religions ie other peoples individual point of view as to how to live their lives?
anyway, i'm tired and ranting in a very rambling kind of way.
Opinions? Discussion?

I say religion is neither the root of all good, nor all evil. All the evils associated with religion are found in other belief systems, cultural beliefs and so on. All the bad deeds associated with religion can be found done under other banners (racism, conquest, class) and so on. People love to assume religion is direct and fixable cause for reasons I don't quite grasp. Human stupidity and/or evil kills the utopian ideal theory as much (or more) than any religion. As evidenced by cultures without the 'classic' western beliefs, the communist countries and so on.

You're right, bryden. Most religious people are fine to live and let live - it's the assholes that always make themselves heard, though. That said, don't judge a person by the fact that they have their beliefs - no big deal. So yeah, some people are jerks, it's not big deal.

Now... to the point at hand:

I don't think religion is inherently anything. I think it's a good thing to give something people to believe in, to take solace in, and to help govern their lives morally by (you know, don't murder, steal, etc.) However, religion, like all man controlled things (though I'd like to think God is at the head of my religion) is corruptable.

So that brings me to this point: religion is not the root of good or evil. Man is the root of both. Get it? Let's not blame God for our shortcomings.

Whoo!

I have to agree on whats been said allready religion is not good or bad, its how people interperit the teachings.

I agree, religion is inherently neither good or bad, it's what we do with it except in certain circumstances where someone makes up a religion for nefarious purposes (cultism, etc).

It's still not so much religion causing the problem as the sheep-like qualities of humanity, however.

There are some religions which I do think are 'bad'(mostly ones which require a living sacrifice of some sort, or ritual slaughter) and some which I do think are 'good'(which seem to preach respect) but in the end it comes down to the people. Bad can be good in the hands of the right people, and good can be bad in the hands of the wrong people.

Errr...which religions require that? Have some people declared that they're neo-Aztecs or something?

I don't really have anything on topic to add...just echoing everyone else who said that religion in itself is neither evil nor good. It's all about the people who follow that religion and what they do with it.

Actually, I was thinking about the aztecs. I don't think that anybody currently practices those types of religions, but they are/were religions.

I think that religion has been invented as an easy palatable way for people to explain things. (sorry if I am being blasphemous (sp?))
Therefore if we invented evil, we also invented an excuse for it i.e The Devil etc.
The same applies with good things- "You are a Godsend" is still a widely used phrase, but it means hardly anything unless you do actualy believe in divine intervention.

Therefore religion can never be at the root of all evil/ good because people invented religion. So we are to blame for all the good and bad stuff which happens- which ironicaly enough is also what most bibles say...

My computer had a hiccup when I was editing my last post to thank Mata for suggesting the replace function (why do the computer teachers at school never tell me anything useful?) and it seems to have vanished , so I'll do my serious post now. I'm too lazy to find the source sites for the last post again.
I have to agree with what's been said about religion being interpreted by the people who practice it. A sword is neither good nor evil in itself, but people percieve everything based on its use. Swords are seen as objects for violence and killing when you could also use it to prop open a door or as a substitute for a pitchfork. We understand religions based on what they are used to accomplish. Satanism is seen as evil by society as a whole because it is set up to be the opposite of Christianity, a (supposedly) peaceful religion. Overall, the divisions of Christianity are seen as good and peaceful because they teach respect and kindness. However, a number of pointless and bloody wars along with some fairly stupid intolerance can be put squarely at the feet of Christian church officials. As others have said, the purposes of religion define whether it is good or evil.
On the point about ritual slaughter: some Satanists are believed (not proven that I know of) to practice blood sacrifice of animals or humans. Some pagan groups in Europe practiced sacrifice of a willing person, but the practice has died off, as has the Aztec notion of ritual slaughters. Hope that helped!
Anyway, Mata, I'll know about the swearing and replace button now. Thanks!