Lately it seems like religion is to blame for everything going wrong in the world.
My Facebook feed has been blowing up with article after article explaining why we need to leave religion behind, listing the horrible events it has caused, and why it is "only for the weak" (yes, there is actually an article about that). Going to church, reading scripture and praying are all viewed as outdated, imaginary, ridiculous practices that have no place in our 2016 world.
The answer to everything always seems to be to remove God, when in reality it should be the exact opposite.
It is ironic that a society that demands so much open-mindedness, tolerance and acceptance of being different also puts people down based on their religious beliefs. Religion-bashing is everywhere, and it can be easy to jump on the bandwagon of people who ridicule others for what they believe because frankly, religion can seem "weird" to us. However, it is of the greatest importance that we understand and acknowledge the truth about religion and it's much-needed role in our society.
Let me first start off by stating the fact that people are responsible for their own actions. No matter what they claim to do in the name of a religion, ultimately if they do something wrong, they are the only person to blame.
When a politician chooses to make a dumb, biased, uneducated statement, they are to blame.
When somebody decides to attack and kill a large number of innocent people in a night club, they are to blame.
No matter the instance, people cannot blame their poor choices on any group, school, family, or church and I think this is something that we have forgotten.
The actual, honest truth is that religion isn’t always how the media headlines portray it to be. Muslims and Sikhs are not terrorists. Baptists do not hate gays. Jewish people don’t hate Muslims or Christians. Catholics don't worship the pope. Mormonism is not a polygamous cult. Methodists aren't racists. Scientologists don’t hate doctors.
Most of these people are simply trying their best to do good and hope in something bigger than themselves.
Are there exceptions to these? Of course, there are. In a world of over 7 billion people, there are bound to be people who twist things around to justify their own ridiculous behavior and there always will be. The actions of a few crazy people, however, cannot negate the pure intent of goodness that lies in their religious doctrine. Each of these religions (and others) have something good to offer our world that so desperately needs something good.
So no, religion isn't the problem. Stupid people are the problem.
Throughout history, human beings have searched for answers regarding who they are, where they came from and why they are here. Humans want and need something bigger than themselves - a purpose, a plan, a hope for something better. Being a part of a group that helps answer some of these questions can be extremely helpful when walking through the adversities of life.
Religion, in most every instance, teaches kindness. It teaches self-control. It teaches to respect, to love, to learn and to progress. Whether you are religious or not, you cannot deny that these are good, noteworthy ideals.
Not only can religion help us in our own personal lives but is crucial to the structure of our communities as well. Children who grow up in religious homes have a much higher chance of graduating from high school and college, avoiding drugs and staying out of jail, all of which are good for our society as a whole. According to Forbes Magazine, “the American economy benefits to the tune of $2.6 trillion per year thanks to being a quite religious country." Less drugs, less crime and more education is extremely good for the economy, if nothing else.
Just because a few people have wrongfully perverted the doctrines of religion, doesn't mean we need to hide our beliefs and values, apologize for them or judge the belief's of others.
It is okay to acknowledge God when saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
It is okay to enthusiastically take part in Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Diwali, Kwanzaa, Day of the Virgin, Visakha Bucha, or whatever other religious holiday you'd like.
It is okay to take pride in what we believe in and stand up for religious freedom.
And it is okay to recognize and appreciate other religions even though you may not have the same beliefs. Light and truth can be found in the pure doctrines of every religion.
In a world of hate, violence, war, envy, anger, injustices, immorality, pain and adversity, the world needs religion now more than ever.
