Humans are in a perpetual race to find explanations for Earth’s creation and our being. The
earliest and seemingly most primitive answer we have produced to the question of both is
That there is religious meaning to all human life is an enticing idea and it has lead to religion’s endurance to the test of time — but at what point though, has religion become more destructive than beneficial?
Varying belief in a higher power has been the cause of many wars and resulted in countless deaths in the name of one god or another. From the Crusades, to the Holocaust, to the conflict between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in the Middle East, the body count seems endless when discussing religion-based wars. Animosity between different theologies has plagued human history and resulted in a myriad of needless destruction.
It is understandable that clashes amongst different religious beliefs may have led to pointless battles in an age where science did not have the impact that it does today, but what is our excuse now?
The vast majority of the scientific community has come to a consensus on Earth’s age, how it was created and how humans came to existence. Yet the majority of the human race is trying to convince itself otherwise, and indirectly, causing what I believe to be more harm than good.
The struggle to separate government and church is another problem that directly affects our daily life regardless of belief. When religion starts to affect what type of health care we receive, whom we choose to marry and other personal life choices is when, to me, the line has been crossed.
The thought that somebody may be persecuted and barred from marrying somebody they love because they have the same genitalia is absolutely ludicrous. The basis of this injustice comes from texts written millennia ago by regular men who claimed to hear the word of God, and frankly, that standard should not be applied to modern society.
Contrary to popular belief, the religious are not any more morally sound than those who are not. Religions like Christianity that preach humility have become more oppressive than humane. Although many have disassociated themselves from more extreme factions of Christianity, such as Westboro Baptist Church, the fact is that they preach the same values but in a much less hostile manner. While half the country still does not allow gay marriage, taking away basic civil rights, religion seems to be hindering society.
And, while there are many different religions, who’s to say which one is correct?
While many religions conflict with each other, the fact is that many have bizarrely similar origins. Horus, the Egyptian god of the sky, was believed to have been born of a virgin on Dec. 25 and to have had 12 disciples. The story of the messiah has been circulated for thousands of years and is an intriguing story; and that is what it should be taken as: a story.
His story originated around 3000 B.C. Mithra, the Zoroastrian god of oath, was also born of a virgin on Dec. 25, and had 12 disciples. It was also written that he died and was resurrected on the third day. His story originated 1200 B.C. It is not a coincidence that these gods have virtually the same origin as Jesus Christ.
People should be able to believe what they choose, but to take religion in such a literal sense that it is directly obstructive to progressing the human race is detrimental.
Karl Marx once said, “Religion is the sign of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless
world, just as it is the spirit of a spiritless situation. It is the opium of the people.”
The sad truth is life is very difficult for most people. Humans are often distraught, and religion provides
solace, much like people who are physically injured can be treated with opiate-based drugs. But drugs can only do so much. They help numb the pain temporarily, but ultimately do not heal the injury. Instead, religion helps us to forget the pain and look forward to an imaginary future where the pain will eventually stop. Religion can help instill joy in many suffering people, but we must be able to decipher fact from fiction.
Parsa Rafatian is a junior from Oxford.
