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The problem is that the admittedly beneficial aspects of organized religion (charity, moral guidance, etc.) are outweighed by the magnitude (and scope) of the corresponding harms that organized religion causes. Most importantly, the harms currently associated with religion are unnecessary because concepts such as benevolence, morality, and empathy could just as easily be taught without the religious dogma. Unfortunately, much of the good done by religion is cancelled out by the damage caused by the alienation and antagonism that typically exists as a function of fundamentally different (and mutually exclusive) religious beliefs. .
Conclusion
It would seem that most of the benefits of religion could be taught as part of the socialization process without a religious background. If human beings can learn to control their negative impulses and to derive motivation to be moral from learned religious...
By extracting the most useful and beneficial aspects of organized religion and eliminating the natural source of antagonism between people with different beliefs about their supposed "gods," society could derive most (even all) of the benefits of organized religion without the bitter antagonism and intolerance that organized religion has inspired ever since human societies first realized that their respective religious beliefs were mutually exclusive.
Sources Consulted
Armstrong K. (1993). A History of God. London: Heinemann.
Einstein a. (1954). Ideas and Opinions. New York: Crown
Rooney a. (2006). Einstein: In His Own Words. New York: Random House.
Sagan C. (1997). Billions & Billions: Thoughts of Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. New York: Random House.
Sources Consulted
Armstrong K. (1993). A History of God. London: Heinemann.
Einstein a. (1954). Ideas and Opinions. New York: Crown
Rooney a. (2006). Einstein: In His Own Words. New York: Random House.
Sagan C. (1997). Billions & Billions: Thoughts of Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. New York: Random House.
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