[catonsville]

Interesting article. I believe violence is in our genes, as well as our morality. Held back by our sense of right and wrong and fear of punishment. But given the right conditions , I believe we all can be murderers. Religion has lead to violence , but it has also helped to contain it. And looking at societies that actively condoned anti-religious activity in the 20th century,(China, Russia, etc) religion was far less harmful

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?"

Probably not. But, throughout history, religion has been the leading cause of death among humans.

[weikel]

People obey law and restrain their evil out of fear of punishment not generally of religion.

[princess leah]

"Faith makes people hate each other" What a truck load of crap this is...Let me repeat what I heard a very wise Evangelical pastor once say about Religion, "it is man's failed attempts to reach up to God through his own futile efforts" However, a Relationship with God is possible through Jesus Christ Romans 6:23 "For the penalty of sin is death, but the FREE gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord"

[RightWhale]

it has also helped to contain it

Similar to the rise of the legal system[s]. Blackwood says that we choose to live in society, and in so doing we give up some freedom. If we each exercised total freedom, we would quickly run into other people who were also exercising total freedom.

[Aliska]

If the fall is really true, that would explain the killer instinct. People need religion; absent any religion, they would invent their own.

It is hard to imagine a world without religion. The atheists would have it that way; but in a way they have a religion, science and reason. So we're back to square one.

Most intelligent people would agree that much of religion and behavior motivated by religion is a scourge of the planet.

[drstevej]

Without religion the author would Gregg Spring-holidays-brook.

[JH147]

Conveniently, this writer has left out the anti-religion regimes of the 20th century.

While we're at it - let's get rid of all knives. Knives certainly have killed millions and millions of people throughout the ages. The world would be a much better place without such medieval devices.

[pbear8]

In the end wars are always about resources.

[A Navy Vet]

"Would The World Be better Without Religion?"

Organized religion? - Possibly
Faith - no.

[txzman]

You know I find it very strange indeed that so-called knowledgeable writers would even make a statement like this.

For my "religion" is the relationship I have with God. This argument is akin then to saying "wouldn't the world be better off without God?".

Poor soul doesn't seem to realize that nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God's world by mistake.

[Real Cynic No More]

Maybe I have a short memory, but it seems to me the only time that organized and/or fanatical religion has been a problem is when we have a government based on one religion. That was the problem in 1776 with forced religious observance in England; it's a problem today with the religious zealots controlling certain governments. The U.S., I think, has the best model for the opportunities of the people.

Separate religion from governance.

[onedoug]

God cares.

[x]

Non-religious ideologies were stronger and more destructive in the 20th century. Religion was seen as a bulwark against destructive materialism -- whether totalitarian and utopian, technological or economic.

The question now is where we are going. Will the future be an age of new atheistic ideologies? Or of materialistic trade and technology, with the potential for radical transformation of human nature? Or will it be a new religious age with the potential for renewed persecution and compelled conformity?

No path looks ideal. Perhaps the best we can hope for is a creative tension between the religious and the secular, which allows each some freedom, but keeps check on the extremes of both.

[Argus]

Religion doesn't kill people.

People kill people.

[MarkM]

Religion combined with an oppressive government is harmful. But a just government will stop violence against the innocent regardless of the "justification".

We have luckily been free of religous violence in this country because special rights are not granted based on religion or lack of religion.

Also probably the worst killing has been done by governments that are anti-religous: for example, the various communist regimes or even the French revolution.

So if you seek peace, fight oppressive government not religion.

[sayfer bullets]

It is an intellectually lazy argument.

People want cookie-cutter answers to complex problems. Assigning man's sin, crime, and destruction to specific groups makes it easier to digest, especially in the body of an article or a "soundbite".

By the way, how would this author go about ridding the world of this infection?

[Digger]

We were told that the Civil War which killed more Americans than any war was fought over black slavery. So would the world have been better w/o blacks? Gregg Easterbrook is a nutcase.

[Irish Queen]

Yes- religion is an invention of human beings. Mankind creates their own gods in their own vain images. Mankind designs their gods to serve best themselves.Religion is a hopeless madmade institution.

As a young adult I was religious. When I was 25 years old I stopped being religious and became merely a follower of Jesus. I am a Christian. I do not call myself an Evangelical, Catholic or Baptist or any other such name. Through the grace of God I am simply a Christian.

[KC_Conspirator]

I have listened to these ignorant article. A world where nihilsm and paganism dominates (Nazism) and atheism domiantes (communsim) has killed more people in the 20th century than all of human history combined. That includes the crusades, for this effing idiot.

Now you tell me which would be better.

[chilepepper]

It is not religion which causes strife in the world, it is the INTOLERANCE that comes with it.

If people would just feel comfortable enough with their religion instead of so damn insecure there wouldn't be attempts to jam it down everyone else's throat, as happens with fundamental christianity, islam, to a lesser extent with catholicism, most of the protestant sects, and a lesser extent still with the oriental religions such as buddhism (hare krisna to you too).

Being concerned with the non-material side of existence a vital component to our humanity, unfortunately this spirituality gets corrupted by ego, venality, the lust for power and all the sins which our species manifests.