Who Needs Religion, If It's the Cause of So Much Violence?
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Question:
I am Jewish, but cannot embrace Judaism as a religion. Religion is the cause of all wars, and I believe we would be closer to world peace without it. Wouldn't the world be better off if it weren't for religion?
Answer:
Rejecting Judaism because you believe in world peace is like refusing to enter a Japanese restaurant because you like sushi. It just doesn't make sense.
War comes naturally to people. It existed long before any religion. Peace did
not. Peace is not natural to the human condition. It had to be taught and
learned. And it was a religious idea.
The first and most powerful vision of world peace was presented to mankind by
the prophets of ancient Israel. They predicted a time when "one nation will not
lift a sword against another nation, and they will no longer learn to wage
war." In a world that saw war as an inevitable fact of life, the Jewish religion
introduced a radical new concept: that war is ultimately undesirable and peace
is the ideal state for which to strive.
Without religion we would find other things to fight about, like parking
spots and noise from the neighbors. But without religion, world peace would not
have entered the human vocabulary. Whether you are aware if it or not, your
dream of world peace is biblically inspired. Ideals do not live in bubbles. Like
people, they need parents to give birth to them and a home environment to
sustain them. Peace without religion is homeless. It was Judaism that gave birth
to the vision of world peace and still provides a framework to implement that
vision.
True, religion has been used by some as a pretext for war. But this does not
invalidate all religion, just as when football players brawl it does
not invalidate the game of football. Ridding the world of all religion would not
end war any more than abolishing football would brawls. In fact, religion still
provides the strongest argument for peace between people: that we were all
created by the same G-d. Without this belief, is there anything that really
unites us all?
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Latest Comments:
It really comes down to where the word and meaning "Peace" derived from. If it came from out of religion then man can live without religion and live better without it. On the contrary if religion did bring this word to man and implemented it then man would be hopeless without it.
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B"H
I need religion, but the religion I need may not exist yet. I'm certain it will someday, hopefully soon. Whether I believe in a man who spoke as though he were a book, or a Book that speaks as a man; it is the same words being spoken. How many can actually hear those words fully in thier completeness and depth? I know that I can't bear to hear them without some kind of dilution. The Truth of those words can burn us if we aren't prepared. Tradition helps with this. Tis too awfully deep to convey. Many have given up the pursuit, still others have decided to try and make money off it. Others attempt to market the mystical tools only for self-gain, rather than the betterment of mankind. There is a power in Torah put there by all who have been martyred, Keeping their sacrifice in active remembrance humbles me greatly, I am not worthy to have suffered what I have as a Jew compared to their pain and suffrage. This is why I will do my utmost for Torah, and Our People, no matter what.
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B"H
Most questions are answerable through logic, yet I am fairly certain that not all questions can be. There are also questions that have many answers, and there are those, which do not have any. I am of the opinion that; If there is a G-d, or Superior Intellect, then He/She/ It does not need man to do It's/ His/ Her fighting for them what-so-ever. If He/ She/ It did need mere mortal men to fight and kill on It's/ His/ Her behalf, then mankind is a more powerful being than He/ She/ It. Fighting and killing in the name of any g-d, regardless of name is more about the animal world, the infantile and instinctive world man creates for himself rather than any true G-d. My opinion is just that, and I am no one special to be regarded, but logically speaking it is a sound opinion. Man has, as yet, not left behind his primal survival instinctual & beastial side, and therefore; his conceptions of G-d are much to be desired. (G-d? Schmod! As long as we get paid, who cares, right?!)
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Who needs religion? I will IGNORE the second part, because, as I said, this is a fallacy. It is not the religion which causes wars, it is the PEOPLE who USE religion to JUSTIFY going to war. So, for the first part, who needs religion? Here, too, we can separate the word religion into ORGANIZED and INTERNAL. Not everyone needs organized religion. Everyone needs INTERNAL religion. My definition of internal religion is having all emotional and psychologically positive feelings and beliefs which SUSTAIN you through hard times. Belief in G-d is the icing on the cake, because in praising Him in all things good we do, have, and enjoy, we are FOCUSING on the good in life and not the sad/horrid/tragic occurrences of which there are many. Everyone needs this type of internal religion of belief, hope, faith, strength, resiliency, optimism, survivalism, etc. That's my answer. Whether we call ourselves Jews or whatever, it is what is in the inside that counts. No? Showing love, etc.
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It is a compound interrogative sentence.
1. Who needs religion? and
2. Religion is the cause of all wars.
So, to answer this, I'd have to defer to logic. This sentence would read, in logic, as: There was a war in xxx year. The basis of that war was stated as being for religion, There as another war in xxx year. The basis of that war was stated as being for religion. Therefor, ALL wars have the common denominator of being fought for religion. This is a fallacy. It's like saying people kill many cows for their meat, for food. People kill many chickens for their meat, for food. Therefore ALL animals which are killed are for food. This is not correct. Hunters often kill for sport. It is not good, in my estimation, but it happens. They also kill to show who can get the biggest animal, thinking that will make the hunter the best/most talented crackshot with a rifle. So, the question is illogical. Because the question is illogical, all the answers given are moot.
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B"H
The conclusion is assumed out ofa supposition that the question was incomplete? If we divide the question into two parts, we can only conclude one part and not both. However; if we leave the question whole, then both parts of the question may be answered. Part 1) If I divide a child between two women, would it still be alive? Obvious answer; NO. Judaism says that the righteous of all nations shall have a part in the world to come. Catholicism says only Catholics, Protestants, say only Protestants, Islam - only Muslims. There are more than one women claiming sole proprietor of truth. Therefore my reasoning led to this thought thread: Judaism does not lay a claim to be sole proprietor, Truth is the child of G-d. The child is still alive in the Jewish world. Judaism is for the people of Israel, tho' the rest of the women may just fight and kill the child that was given to them. There are those who have surrendered to hope rather than religion. U C, It had 3 parts.
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OK, if we follow your reasoning, then the answer would be NO ONE needs any religion EXCEPT Judaism. Right? The question as stated was a hasty generalization, with no exceptions mentioned.
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If I divide a child between two women, both claiming to be its' true parent, would it still be alive? If we divide a question, and make it two; could the point and intent of it be lost? Judaism does NOT say that only Torah based Orthodox Jews are to be granted salvation. Catholicism Does say that only the Mother Church has the way to true salvation, Protestants, say the same of their beliefs, and in Islam, whether Suni, Shi-ia, Sufi all lay claim to be sole proprietor. If you argue with them, they may even kill to justify their beliefs on this point. Judaism early on fought only as a matter of self-preservation, not because of such a claim. Even G-d has killed men directly, if Torah is believed on the literal level. G-d took the sons of Aaron, Korah and the 1st born of Egypt. Shall I say that G-d was wrong to do this? War is sometimes a necessity. Law has to do with gov't. Our G-d has a Kingdom, once we enter(Pesach) it, we live by His law; like when we go to Canada.
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In utero, baby boys experience a testosterone brain bath. Too much testosterone leads to aggressive and hurtful behavior. So, since MEN all down through history have started the wars and not women, it's more right on target to ask "WHO NEEDS MEN if they're the cause of so much violence?" You see the analogy?
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First, WHO NEEDS religion. Second is a premise that RELIGION is the cause of wars. If we DELETE the premise, or second half of the question because we don't agree that religion, per se, causes wars but people cause wars, then we can easily answer the first part. EVERYONE needs SOME religion, even if it is NOT organized. Depends how you define religion. I believe it means LOVE within your heart, belief in one Go-d who is your inner armor and strength. He is your faith, your hope, your clinging to life when all else seems to be falling all around you. It is doing good for others as well as yourself, and being kind. True religion is within one's heart and not in following 10 or 613 or 1 million laws. The following of the laws MUST strengthen what is within, or else it is just outward candy others can look at and applaud you for doing. It is true people USE RELIGION to justify their own need to war and kill. Each says G-d is on their side.Kill if you must for revenge. This isn't G-d.
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