Religion

The oxford defines it as the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. Wikipedia says that a religion is a set of beliefs and practices often organized around supernatural and moral claims, and often codified as prayer, ritual, and religious law. But sometimes I think that it’s pure evil. I am not an atheist and I believe in God, but I think this institution of His is nothing but a bad hat. And sometimes I just wish that the practice of it was banned! That would give humanity one less reason to fight amongst themselves. And the manifestation of religion which I hate the most is the organized one, which is the most prominent. They are nothing less than corporations fighting for bigger numbers and more territory. How else can the desperate attempts to convert people of one faith to another be explained ? What was the purpose of religion? How did a faith or a particular way of living your life evolve into a religion? A glimpse at the history of the world tells that a lot of blood has been spilled in the name of God. Most of the major confrontations of today are centered on religion. The so called Men of God decree their own faith to be the only path to the Almighty and blaspheme the others. It is said that ‘everything is fair and love and war’. It should be changed to ‘everything is fair in love, war and in the name of thy God’. Why should I be a part of an institution which breeds hatred and mistrust, mostly? There would not have been a WW II had there been no religion . There would not have been so many riots and genocides . There would be no terrorism . There is only one God , but man has so many different versions of him . The fairer sex has been at the receiving end of the religion since ages . I do not think I have the right to comment on how other religions treat women , but as a born Hindu I can freely comment on it . Shakti meaning sacred force, power or energy is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect, sometimes referred to as 'The Divine Mother'. Shakti represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power. In short, there are scores of Goddesses in Hinduism and they all are worshipped with no less veneration. But at the same time, women are burnt alive for dowry, raped, beaten, tortured, bullied and mistreated in a number of ways. What greater hypocrisy can be there? And Religion is not just about the conflicts. Religion controls big bucks as well. The preachers and evangelists, the pilgrimages, and the endless TV channels. How many of these preachers are truly spiritual themselves? How many of them really lead a Spartan life and are trying to attain enlightenment? They live larger than life and have a celebrity life style. And they want the poor sucker who is listening to them to leave the web of delusion that is this world. The Tirumala temple at Tirupathi has a system which offers different kinds of Darshan for the price you are willing to pay. And the revenue generated from that place alone is in multitude of cores . That’s commercialized religion . The Babri Masjid – Ram Mandir row of Ayodhya is another instance of enmity fostered by religion . Why don’t they build a university or a hospital there , which would actually benefit the populace . But no , that would be against the sanctity of the faith , after all it is the birthplace of Shree Ram . I believe in Maryada Purushottam Ram , but I don’t believe in the cause to build a temple by violence or bloodshed. It positively repulses me when I think of the misery caused by religion , and makes me pity my fellow man . I need God but I don’t need a religion . How can you be a part of the system and not let it influence you consciously or sub-consciously ? But how do you abandon it as well ? I don’t believe in the image of God being a tall man with a flowing beard and a booming voice , sitting on a throne in heaven , but if I did , I wonder whether He is laughing at us , crying for us or in a perplexed state of mind .

Religion is a by-product of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn't killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity? – Arthur C. Clarke

Religion is against women's rights and women's freedom.
In all societies women are oppressed by all religions. - Taslima Nasrin

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward

after death . – Albert Einstein

The religious persecution of the ages has been done under what was claimed to be the command of God. - Susan B Anthony