Modern society is stricken with many problems. Populations are divided and have developed a strong us-and-them mentality. Basic human rights are restricted and the pursuit of happiness for some, has been infringed upon. These current problems in society can be traced back to religion. Religion in modern society produces prejudice, creates unnecessary conflict, and inhibits self growth.
In today’s society, groups of people have been victims of prejudice. Whether it is gender roles, sexual orientation, or merely religious affiliation, religion certainly generates rifts. Going through our day to day lives, moral decisions arise and “our religion often determines the way in which we apply our ethics--for instance, it may determine our attitudes …show more content…
While religion does not necessarily advocate segregation or prejudice, it is “all too often [that] religious people have preferred to be right rather than compassionate. That have shielded themselves from the demands of empathy by making secondary and peripheral goals━such as theological correctness or sexual orthodoxy━central to their faith” (Armstrong 568). Because various religions denounce homosexuality and its practices, gay people often face burdensome prejudice in their day to day lives. These ideas presented by Armstrong can be seen affecting the marriage rights of homosexuals in America and around the world. Apart from sexual orientation, gender itself is often subject to religious bias. Author Marjane Satrapi exemplifies the religious gender bias in her autobiographical cartoon. Satrapi exclaiming “‘I am the last prophet.’” (Satrapi 555), is quickly …show more content…
To understand how self growth is being restrained, human nature must first be understood. Psychology professor, Paul Bloom, explains human nature. Bloom goes into detail, explaining that humans are the only animals that prefer to live in a state of fallacies, opposed to reality. Bloom finds that “Our main leisure activity is, by a longshot, participating in experiences that we know are not real. When we are free to do whatever we want, we retreat to the imagination” (Bloom 577). The idea of man preferring to live in imagination is key to the understanding of the hold that religion has and how it inhibits self growth. When humans face stress or unpleasantries, they sink into the fallacious comfort that religion provides, missing out on the learning opportunities available by facing challenges. Renowned philosopher, Plato, in his famous work The Allegory of the Cave, describes a group of humans chained down, staring at a wall with nothing but the shadows of figures moving upon it. The shadows, casted by a fire burning behind the humans, are only mere representations of the objects actually in front of the fire; however, to the chained humans, the shadows are their only known reality. Once a human is no longer restrained and is “compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to
In today’s society, groups of people have been victims of prejudice. Whether it is gender roles, sexual orientation, or merely religious affiliation, religion certainly generates rifts. Going through our day to day lives, moral decisions arise and “our religion often determines the way in which we apply our ethics--for instance, it may determine our attitudes …show more content…
While religion does not necessarily advocate segregation or prejudice, it is “all too often [that] religious people have preferred to be right rather than compassionate. That have shielded themselves from the demands of empathy by making secondary and peripheral goals━such as theological correctness or sexual orthodoxy━central to their faith” (Armstrong 568). Because various religions denounce homosexuality and its practices, gay people often face burdensome prejudice in their day to day lives. These ideas presented by Armstrong can be seen affecting the marriage rights of homosexuals in America and around the world. Apart from sexual orientation, gender itself is often subject to religious bias. Author Marjane Satrapi exemplifies the religious gender bias in her autobiographical cartoon. Satrapi exclaiming “‘I am the last prophet.’” (Satrapi 555), is quickly …show more content…
To understand how self growth is being restrained, human nature must first be understood. Psychology professor, Paul Bloom, explains human nature. Bloom goes into detail, explaining that humans are the only animals that prefer to live in a state of fallacies, opposed to reality. Bloom finds that “Our main leisure activity is, by a longshot, participating in experiences that we know are not real. When we are free to do whatever we want, we retreat to the imagination” (Bloom 577). The idea of man preferring to live in imagination is key to the understanding of the hold that religion has and how it inhibits self growth. When humans face stress or unpleasantries, they sink into the fallacious comfort that religion provides, missing out on the learning opportunities available by facing challenges. Renowned philosopher, Plato, in his famous work The Allegory of the Cave, describes a group of humans chained down, staring at a wall with nothing but the shadows of figures moving upon it. The shadows, casted by a fire burning behind the humans, are only mere representations of the objects actually in front of the fire; however, to the chained humans, the shadows are their only known reality. Once a human is no longer restrained and is “compelled to look straight at the light, will he not have a pain in his eyes which will make him turn away to