Nature of Religion

The contribution of religion on society. As far I see religion has made a

great contribution by giving us meaning and peace, but religion has also
ended in war and violence.
For example, without religion society we will have never had such
beautiful architecture holy places such as mosque, temples, churches and
many historical sites that have been made by the purpose of religion,
many religious and non-religious people say they have been recognised as
masterpieces. Religion have also dictated the appropriate diet and dress
for people. Religion also gave us the weekly and yearly calendar which we
follow till today.
Throughout history it has been religious institutions that have developed
hospitals, orphanages. Many charity fundraisers have come from religious
activity such as churches funding homeless people or giving money to
countries that have suffered from natural disasters. In Islam how every
person who has an income must give 2.5% of his annual income to the
poor. These things really help the world of today cause the amount of
poverty increasing each year.
In many cases societys laws are based on the ethical system of religious
traditions for example the teachings of the Mohammad the of the Jain law
in Jainism the teachings of Jesus in Christianity the teaching of budda in
Buddhism, also the teachings of shri guru nanak dev ji in Sikhism. Even
though some laws may be too violent or harsh for todays times but these
laws have kept a community together for hundreds of years by people
following and obeying them as believed to from god. Also Today most of
the human rights have come from religion.
Religion has played a significant role in maintaining peace meaning and
purpose. Religion is so important in modern societies because we live in
such a hopeless world. People are constantly losing their value and
purpose in life. This is seen through the increased rate of suicides. Religion
is a way of uplifting many, giving them something to look forward to in
life. Because of religion people decide what is wrong from right. Without
religion people wouldn't fear disobeying God, they would act as they
please. Think about it without religion people would be killing whoever
they want robbing, raping, with the confidence that nothing is going to
happen to them. A survey shows more than 40% of people that are going
to commit a crime stop because they are afraid that god is watching
them.
On the other hand, religion may give some purpose meaning and peace in
life it has also caused a lot of negativity. For example, Religions supporting
the destruction or discrimination against innocent people simply because

they are not of the same faith. In many cases people dont want to meet a
person in a different faith talk to them get to know them or even help
them if they are in need of help just because they believe in different
gods. Religion has caused most wars. We see in the likes of Syria,
Palestine and Israel, and many other countries that these wars are either
fought over Land or Religions sometimes both.
Here are some other reasons
Religion is filling people with fear The starting point of religion is fear.
Religion is based on the idea of sin all people are born sinners, impure
souls, and if they dont purify themselves, they will soon be condemned to
hell by God, where they will have to experience eternal suffering not all
religions believe in this.
In order to avoid hell, religion demands that people prove to God that they
are worthy of heaven. How? By following the demands of god through
religion. Naturally, when people are put in such a situation, they find
themselves in a continuous state of fear. They are always afraid whether
their actions are right according to religion or not.
Many people say Religion is turning people against each other in some
religions people get the idea that its us and them as if they are other
beings that are lower than them just because they dont have the same
religion. Many religious wars have ended up on slavery or killing of the
innocents.
Emperor Karl in 782 had 4500 Saxons, unwilling to convert to Christianity,
beheaded.
15th century: Crusades against Hussites, thousands slain. [DO30]
1538 pope Paul III declared Crusade against apostate England and all
English as slaves of Church.
September 11, 2001 4 airliners hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda members in the
East Coast of the United States: two planes crashed into and destroyed
the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre
December 24, 2000 Christmas Eve 2000, Indonesia bombings of
churches in eight cities, 18 killed.
September 24, 2015 A bomb attack on a Shia mosque in Sana'a killed 25
and injured dozens more during prayers for the Muslim holiday of Eid.
The Paris bombing November 2015 Mass shooting, suicide bombing, hostage taking
130 victims 7 perpetrators 368 fatal injuries.
Sept. 30, 2015 a group of Hindus killed a Muslim man in India for eating beef.
All these acts have been done in the name of god or religion.

All these events prove how easily a religion can mislead people on
thinking differently or in some cases this shows how religion can get
corrupted. All these attacks are never the teaching of any religion around
the world. This are the corrupt teachings of leaders that want the world to
be as they like. Thats why they use religion to bring people in.
I would like to end my speech by saying religion has made a great
contribution on society by proving meaning propose and peace to life. It
has also ended up in war and turned people on each other.