Why Humanity Is Better Off Without Religion

Religion presents us with the poster boy for hypocrisy. Religion is one of the main encouragers of segregation, and has been the primary architect and motivator for slavery, genocide, and war. Before there were corrupt politicians in America there were corrupt clergy, before there were corrupt Presidents’ there were corrupt Popes’. Religion is an amazing concept, for religion is the number one corrupter of truth. And ironically religion seems to have been able to drown the truth of Love.

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

James 1:27 (Brother of Jesus)

(Notice the verse says "unstained from the world"? No one can go through life unaffected by the world, but we don't have to allow the dirt to stain us, to define us. Religion is not a set of laws according to James, it's a life style of charity.)

Since the main religions of the world today have a great deal of respect for Jesus Christ then let's allow his teachings to plead the case for the claim in the title of this post.

Jesus starts his teaching in the synagogue and says the following to all of those present, and the religious leaders were there as well;

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed..."

Luke 4: 18-21

There was no one more oppressed than the religious people in this day and age.

What he’s saying here is clear; he came to teach us good news, and that we can be free from religion, and he also wanted to give the people sight. Anyone who is religious is a slave for they feel their religion is what guarantees their salvation, and they are obviously blind because they believe this.

"Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but every one when he is fully taught will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, `Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.”

Luke 6:39-49

In this passage above the message is again quite clear; do not judge others because everyone does wrong. The main religions of the world today are especially guilty of being blind to the truth spoken by the Jesus they all claim to honor, for the three largest religions judge each other ritualistically. Throughout history Christians have at times justified their hate towards Jews because of the speck they see in their eyes, (there were many Christian Nazis during WW2). In recent years those religious in Islam have fought what they perceive as holy wars against the Christians, while their hate for the Jews is common place. Christ never said a word to encourage such hate. He also mentions those who are once fully taught can be like their teacher, so he's not wanting a group where progress is suppressed, he's not wanting this at all.

Christ did not believe any one group of people was meant to be better than the rest, nor did he encourage belief in such a thing. The parable of the Good Samaritan touches on this. To put the story into context Jesus was being questioned by a lawyer after Jesus said to him “love your neighbor as yourself”. To this the lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?”

 Jesus: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, (wealthy man), when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, (despised by most Jews at this time) as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, `Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"

Lawyer: "The one who showed mercy on him."

Jesus: "Go and do likewise."

The religious groups do not view each other like Christ taught a neighbor should; they do not love their neighbors as themselves.

Christ did not want to teach religion, he wanted to share a philosophy rooted in Love. Religion and humanity has trampled all over his philosophy.

I'm still curious in how humanity can corrupt even that which seems incorruptible.

Jesus saw the dangers of religion in his time and his words hold true today when he said,

“Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls.”

"Now before faith came, we were confined under the law, (religious law), kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So that the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a custodian" Apostle Paul (Galatians 3:23-25)

Any faith claiming to honor the teachings of Christ should be united not divided. Today religion has confused millions, while Christs philosophy, rooted in love, was meant to show the possibility of a better life, a people united.

Warning humanity about Religious leaders, Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” As a defender of Love and Truth Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”