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Religion is too often used as a justification to do harm to others, thereby negating the core function of religion in providing psychological salve, ethical frameworks for resolving conflicts, and for stimulating social cohesion. All religions from the traditional African religions Mbon (1994) outlines to the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all refer in some way to the Golden Rule: that treating others the way one wishes to be treated is the ultimate moral compass (Molloy, 2013). In the New Testament, the Golden Rule is framed as “Do for other people whatever you would like to have them do for you,” (Matthew 7:12). Other religions from Buddhism to Bahai also teach the Golden Rule, showing how important this universal precept is for cultivating compassionate societies and healthy human relationships (Robinson, 2016). Of course, the golden Rule needs no religious grounding at all. The Golden Rule makes logical sense, and could just as well be embraced by an atheist as a pious person. Religion is in fact no key to ethical behavior, and religion is easily distorted to undermine the very precepts it purports to uphold.
In this context of religion or spirituality as vehicles for developing human virtue, the justification of questionable behaviors by means of religious ideas is pure hypocrisy. History has shown that human beings cling to self-righteousness to promote concepts like manifest destiny, actions like jihad, and other religious crusades. Political systems like apartheid and the pretense of family values also have their roots in religious dogma; these justifications have no relationship at all to the Golden Rule. Any religion that promotes the killing or harm of others can be considered more a means of social control and political power than as a means to cultivate the best in the human spirit. Behaviors or political systems like jihad or apartheid are rooted in the very aspects of human nature the Golden Rule warns against.
References
Mbon, F. (1994). African traditional socio-religious ethics and national development. African traditional religions in contemporary society. (Olupona, J. editor) Paragon House: St. Paul, MN
Molloy, M. (2013). Experiencing the world's religions (6th ed.). New York City, NY: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Chapter 6: Daoism and Confucianism and Chapter 7: Shinto
Robinson, B.A. (2016). The Golden Rule. http://www.religioustolerance.org/reciproc2.htm
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