An atheist sign criticizing religion by the Connecticut Valley Atheists in Rockville's Central Park, Vernon in December 2007.

Criticism of religion involves criticism of the concept of religion, the validity of religion, the practice of religion, and the consequences of religion. Most Western criticism of religion focuses on the Abrahamic religions, particularly Christianity, with increasing attention in recent years on Islam. Not all criticisms apply to all religions: criticism regarding the existence of God, for example, has little or no relevance to Buddhism, or Unitarian Universalism. Motto: The Crossroads for Opportunity Government Country  State   County United States  Connecticut   Tolland Incorporated 1808 Mayor Dr. Ellen Marmer (D) Geographical characteristics Area    - City 46. ... A critic (derived from the ancient Greek word krites meaning a judge) is a person who offers a value judgement or an interpretation. ... For this articles equivalent regarding the East, see Eastern culture. ... map showing the prevalence of Abrahamic (purple) and Dharmic (yellow) religions in each country. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article is about the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Buddhism is sometimes regarded as a religion (or a spiritual philosophy) without an Absolute Creator God (who created the universe ex nihilo and to whom worship and adoration are due). ... The flaming chalice is the universally recognized symbol for Unitarian Universalism. ...

History

The first century BC Roman poet, Titus Lucretius Carus, in his magnum opus De Rerum Natura, wrote: "But 'tis that same religion oftener far Hath bred the foul impieties of men:"^[1] Titus Lucretius Carus (c. ... Not to be confused with The Nature of Things, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television show about natural science. ...

A philosopher of the epicurean school, Lucretius believed the world was composed solely of matter and void, and that all phenomenon could be understood as resulting from purely natural causes. Lucretius, like Epicurus, felt that religion was born of fear and ignorance, and that understanding the natural world would free people of its shackles.^[2] Epicureanism is a system of philosophy based upon the teachings of Epicurus (c340-c270 BC), founded around 307 BC. Epicurus was an atomic materialist, following in the steps of Democritus. ... Epicure redirects here. ...

Writing in 1776 of the ancient Romans, Edward Gibbon said: "The various modes of worship which prevailed in the Roman world were all considered by the people as equally true; by the philosopher as equally false; and by the magistrate as equally useful."^[3] Edward Gibbon (1737–1794). ...

Niccolò Machiavelli, at the beginning of the sixteenth century said: "We Italians are irreligious and corrupt above others... because the church and her representatives have set us the worst example."^[4] To Machiavelli, religion was merely a tool, useful for a ruler wishing to manipulate public opinion.^[5] Machiavelli redirects here. ... (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ...

Criticism of the concept

A dinosaur leading sheep. Cologne, August 2005

With certain exceptions, such as Raëlism, and the Bahá'í Faith, most religions were formulated at a time when the origin of life, the workings of the body, and the nature of the stars and planets, were poorly understood.^[6] Religious systems attempted to address significant personal emotional issues, and tried to explain a frightening existence, usually through a dramatic narrative outlining how the world and their community came to be. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 535 pixelsFull resolution (1575 × 1054 pixel, file size: 247 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 535 pixelsFull resolution (1575 × 1054 pixel, file size: 247 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Cologne (German: , IPA: ; local dialect: Kölle ) is Germanys fourth-largest city after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than... This article is about the Raëlian Church. ... This article is about the generally recognized global religious community. ...

These narratives were intended to give solace and a sense of relationship with larger forces. As such, they may have served several important functions in ancient societies. Examples include the views many religions traditionally had towards solar and lunar eclipses, and the appearance of comets.^[7][8] Given current understanding in such fields as biology, psychology, chemistry and physics, where our knowledge has increased dramatically, many critics — including Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and Michel Onfray — contend that continuing to hold on to these idea systems is absurd and irrational.^[9][10][11] For the song by Girls Aloud see Biology (song) Biology studies the variety of life (clockwise from top-left) E. coli, tree fern, gazelle, Goliath beetle Biology (from Greek: Βιολογία - βίος, bio, life; and λόγος, logos, speech lit. ... {redirect|Psychological science|the journal|Psychological Science (journal)}} Not to be confused with Phycology. ... For other uses, see Chemistry (disambiguation). ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... For other persons named Sam Harris, see Sam Harris (disambiguation). ... Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... Christopher Eric Hitchens (born April 13, 1949) is a British-American author, journalist and literary critic. ... Michel Onfray (born January 1, 1959 in Argentan, Orne, France) is a French philosopher. ... Absurd can refer to: Look up Absurd in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Absurdism is a philosophy born of Existentialism absurdity, with small a, is a form of Surreal humour Theatre of the Absurd is an artform utilizing the philosophy of Absurdism Absurd (band) is a heavy metal band This is... In philosophy: Irrationality In music: Irrational rhythm In economics: Irrational exuberance In mathematics: Irrational number Proof that e is irrational Quadratic irrational List of integrals of irrational functions See also: rational This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

Stanford philosopher John McCarthy states, "We also have no need for [the hypothesis of God], because science has been successful, and science is the best approach to solving the mysteries that remain."^[12] Stanford redirects here. ... For other uses, see Philosophy (disambiguation). ... John McCarthy (born September 4, 1927, in Boston, Massachusetts, sometimes known affectionately as Uncle John McCarthy), is a prominent computer scientist who received the Turing Award in 1971 for his major contributions to the field of Artificial Intelligence. ...

Many critics see significant difficulties in portions of the general population continuing to subscribe to these ancient traditions, many of which are outlined below. Their concern is that this remnant from relatively primitive conceptions of life and ourselves not only flies in the face of modern scientific and cultural values, but is having a negative impact on current social and ethical issues.

Irrational foundation

See also: Faith and rationality

Some critics see the requirement of a leap of faith beyond understanding as irrational. The adherence to strict beliefs and convictions, even in the face of evidence to the contrary, stands in direct contrast to the scientific method, based as it is, on empirical observation and repeatable experiment by neutral third parties.^[13][14][15] Faith and rationality are two modes of belief which are seen to exist in varying degrees of conflict or compatibility. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Irrationality is talking or acting without regard of rationality. ... Belief is assent to a proposition. ... Scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. ... A central concept in science and the scientific method is that all evidence must be empirical, or empirically based, that is, dependent on evidence or consequences that are observable by the senses. ...

Alvin Plantinga defines a theist as "one who believes in God as basic albeit not on logical grounds". In Is belief in God Rational?, he argues that religious believers do not believe doctrines in the way that scientists (at least in principle) believe theories — they do not have a readiness to reconsider their belief: "The mature believer, the mature theist, does not typically accept belief in God tentatively, or hypothetically, or until something better comes along. Nor, I think, does he accept it as a conclusion from other things he believes; he accepts it as basic, as a part of the foundations of his noetic structure. The mature theist commits himself to belief in God: this means that he accepts belief in God as basic."^[16] Alvin Carl Plantinga (born 15 November 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA) is a contemporary American philosopher known for his work in epistemology, metaphysics, the philosophy of religion and modest support of intelligent design. ... Theism is the belief in one or more gods or goddesses. ...

Committed belief is sometimes called "faith based on zeal". Many philosophers consider the subordination of reason to emotional commitment detrimental, as in Plato's Crito, where Socrates states to the naive Crito, "Your zeal is invaluable, if a right one; but if wrong, the greater the zeal the greater the evil."^[17] A similar sentiment is expressed by Bertrand Russell, who regards belief, despite the absence of evidence, harmful. "Christians hold that their faith does well, but other faiths do harm. At any rate, they hold this about the Communist faith. What I wish to maintain is that all faiths do harm. We may define ‘faith’ as a firm belief in something for which there is no evidence. When there is evidence, no one speaks of ‘faith’. We do not speak of faith that two and two are four or that the earth is round. We only speak of faith when we wish to substitute emotion for evidence."^[18] For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ... The Crito (IPA [kriːtɔːn]; in English usually [ˈkɹiːtɘʊː]) is a short but important dialogue by the ancient Greek philosopher, Plato. ... This page is about the Classical Greek philosopher. ... Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS, (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970), was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, advocate for social reform, and pacifist. ...

Implausible beliefs

The Flying Spaghetti Monster is a common symbol of the criticism of creationism.

Certain beliefs shared by many religions are considered by some observers to be implausibly counter to common sense or science. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 227 KB) In celebration of your birth, you, JENNIFER STRANART, are entitled to one touch by His divine Noodly Appendage. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 227 KB) In celebration of your birth, you, JENNIFER STRANART, are entitled to one touch by His divine Noodly Appendage. ... This parody of Michelangelos The Creation of Adam depicts the Flying Spaghetti Monster in its typical guise as a clump of tangled spaghetti with two eyestalks, two meatballs, and many noodly appendages. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is the deity of a parody religion founded in 2005 by physics graduate... Creationism is a religious belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe were created in their original form by a deity or deities (often the Abrahamic God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam), whose existence is presupposed. ...

For example the concept of sin and original sin was criticized by Friedrich Nietzsche in his Biblical parody Thus Spoke Zarathustra with the aphorism "For the act of being born, we must seek forgiveness." In addition some religions teach that there was, or is, a human with divinity or touched by divine guidance and is therefore infallible: for example Jesus, Muhammad and, in certain circumstances, the Pope. This conflicts with real-world experience which suggests that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for a human to follow the narrow definition of good dictated by most religions. For other uses, see Sin (disambiguation). ... Original Sin redirects here. ... Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (October 15, 1844 – August 25, 1900) (IPA: ) was a nineteenth-century German philosopher and philologist. ... “Also sprach Zarathustra” redirects here. ... The word aphorism (literally distinction or definition, from Greek: ) denotes an original thought, spoken or written in a laconic and easily memorable form. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ...

Many religions feature creation myths that, when taken literally or interpreted strictly, are incompatible with widely accepted scientific theories such as Evolution and the Big Bang. (See Creationism.) This article is about evolution in biology. ... For other uses, see Big Bang (disambiguation). ... Creationism is a religious belief that humanity, life, the Earth, and the universe were created in their original form by a deity or deities (often the Abrahamic God of Judaism, Christianity and Islam), whose existence is presupposed. ...

Plurality of religious message

While there are some general similarities, there are also significant differences between religions. The plurality of religion illustrates many mutually exclusive claims, such as who has been selected for a higher purpose. This article is about religious pluralism. ... Various groups have considered themselves chosen by God for some purpose such as to act as Gods agent on earth. ...

In application, some religions attack or defame other religions as being corrupt, such as Protestant leaders' criticism of Catholicism during the Protestant Reformation. Religions that are no longer widely practiced (e.g. ancient Greek religion) are often seen today as untrue or fictional mythology. Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... As a Christian ecclesiastical term, Catholic—from the Greek adjective , meaning general or universal[1]—is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as follows: ~Church, (originally) whole body of Christians; ~, belonging to or in accord with (a) this, (b) the church before separation into Greek or Eastern and Latin or... Reformation redirects here. ... Greek religion encompasses the collection of beliefs and rituals practiced in Ancient Greece in form of cult practices, there for the practical counterpart of Greek mythology. ... For other uses, see Mythology (disambiguation). ...

Another issue of plurality is in the varying interpretation of the afterlife. Even different denominations of the same religion vary in their views on what exactly the afterlife entails, and what the temporal requirements are to secure their place in a positive realm (for example, Heaven, Valhalla) or negative realm (for example, Hell, Hades, or Purgatory). For other uses, see Afterlife (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Heaven (disambiguation). ... A Valkyrie is waiting at the gates of Valhalla on the Tjängvide image stone from Gotland, in the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities in Stockholm. ... This article is about the theological or philosophical afterlife. ... Hades, Greek god of the underworld, enthroned, with his bird-headed staff, on a red-figure Apulian vase made in the 4th century BC. For other uses, see Hades (disambiguation). ... Illustration for Dantes Purgatorio (18), by Gustave Doré, an imaginative picturing of Purgatory. ...

Social construct

See also: Development of religion

Many criticisms hinge on the proposition that religion is a social construct and thus just another human ideology. Under this view, the origins of religion lie in human beings and human societies, not in the intervention of some divine being or cosmic truth. Accordingly, the historicity of religious accounts is called into question. There are a number of models regarding the ways in which religions come into being and develop. ... Social scientists and literary scholars have claimed that many things are social constructions or social constructs, or that they have been socially constructed. ... An ideology is an organized collection of ideas. ... Young people interacting within an ethnically diverse society. ...

Opium of the people

Karl Marx

According to Karl Marx, religion is a tool utilised by the ruling classes whereby the masses can shortly relieve their suffering via the act of experiencing religious emotions. It is in the interest of the ruling classes to instill in the masses the religious conviction that their current suffering will lead to eventual happiness. Therefore as long as the public believes in religion, they will not attempt to make any genuine effort to understand and overcome the real source of their suffering, which in Marx's opinion was their non-Communist economic system.^[20] Image File history File links Karl_Marx_001. ... Image File history File links Karl_Marx_001. ... Religion is the opiate of the people is one of the most frequently quoted statements of Karl Marx. ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883) was a 19th century philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... Karl Heinrich Marx (May 5, 1818 – March 14, 1883) was a 19th century philosopher, political economist, and revolutionary. ... The term ruling class refers to the social class of a given society that decides upon and sets that societys political policy. ... For other uses, see Capitalism (disambiguation). ...

In this perspective, Marx saw religion as escapism: Escapism is mental diversion by means of entertainment or recreation, as an escape from the perceived unpleasant aspects of daily stress. ...

The abolition of religion as the illusory happiness of the people is the demand for their real happiness. To call on them to give up their illusions about their condition is to call on them to give up a condition that requires illusions. The criticism of religion is, therefore, in embryo, the criticism of that vale of tears of which religion is the halo.

Marx also viewed the Christian doctrine of original sin as being deeply anti-social in character. Original sin, he argued, convinces people that the source of their misery lies in the inherent and unchangeable "sinfulness" of humanity rather than in the forms of social organization and institutions, which, Marx argued, can be changed through the application of collective social planning.^[21] Original Sin redirects here. ... Anti-social behaviour is that lacking in judgement and consideration for others, ranging from careless negligence to deliberately damaging activity, vandalism and graffiti for example. ...

Viruses of the mind

In his 1976 book The Selfish Gene, Richard Dawkins coined the term memes to describe informational units that can be transmitted culturally, analogous to genes.^[22] He later used this concept in the essay "Viruses of the Mind" to explain the persistence of religious ideas in human culture.^[23] Year 1976 (MCMLXXVI) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Selfish Gene is a book on evolution by Richard Dawkins, published in 1976. ... Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... Meme, (rhymes with cream and comes from Greek root with the meaning of memory and its derivative mimeme), is the term given to a unit of information that replicates from brains and inanimate stores of information, such as books and computers, to other brains or stores of information. ... Viruses of the Mind (1993) is a controversial essay by Richard Dawkins using memetics, epidemiology, and an analogy with biological and computer viruses to analyse the propagation of religious beliefs. ...

Dawkins argues that religious ideologies are a set of ideas and concepts working together to ensure the perpetuation and proliferation of the religion itself. For instance, important concepts in Christianity are raising your children to be Christians, following The Great Commission and its Monotheistic nature. These are proposed to work together to protect the religion from competition from other memes. In this context, religion is criticised for being maladaptive in that it can cause the carrier of that meme to act irrationally, misallocate resources and feel guilt, fear or other negative emotions without real reason. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... In Christian tradition, the Great Commission is the instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples, that they spread the faith to all the world. ... Monotheism (in Greek monon = single and Theos = God) is the belief in a single, universal, all-encompassing deity. ... Meme, (rhymes with cream and comes from Greek root with the meaning of memory and its derivative mimeme), is the term given to a unit of information that replicates from brains and inanimate stores of information, such as books and computers, to other brains or stores of information. ... For other uses, see Meme (disambiguation). ...

Fruits of madness

Saint Francis Borgia performing an exorcism, by Goya.

American author Sam Harris, who has written on the subjects of neuroscience and reason, authored a book titled The End of Faith following the 9/11 terrorist attacks and later Letter to a Christian Nation. In The End of Faith, he compares religion to mental illness, saying it "allows otherwise normal human beings to reap the fruits of madness and consider them holy."^[24] Image File history File links Saintfrancisborgia_exorcism. ... Image File history File links Saintfrancisborgia_exorcism. ... Francis Borgia was born near Valencia, Spain, on October 28, 1510. ... Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo, fresco of Giotto Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed (taken control of). ... This article is about Francisco Goya, a Spanish painter. ... For other persons named Sam Harris, see Sam Harris (disambiguation). ... Sam Harris began writing The End of Faith in what he has described as a period of collective grief and stupefaction following the September 11, 2001 attacks. ... Letter to a Christian Nation is a non-fiction book by Sam Harris, written in response to feedback he received following the publication of his first book The End of Faith. ...

There are also psychological studies into the phenomenon of mysticism, and the links between disturbing aspects of certain mystic's experiences and their links to childhood abuse.^[25][26][27] In another line of research, Clifford A. Pickover explores evidence suggesting that temporal lobe epilepsy may be linked to a variety of spiritual or ‘other worldly’ experiences, such as spiritual possession, originating from altered electrical activity in the brain.^[28] Carl Sagan, in his last book The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, presented his case for the miraculous sightings of religious figures in the past and the modern sightings of UFOs coming from the same mental disorder. According to Professor Vilayanur S. Ramachandran, “It's possible that many great religious leaders had temporal lobe seizures and this predisposes them to having visions, having mystical experiences.”^[29] Dr. Michael Persinger stimulated the temporal lobes of the brain artificially with a magnetic field using a device nicknamed the “God helmet,” and was able to artificially induce religious experiences along with near-death experiences and ghost sightings.^[30] Neuropsychology Professor John Bradshaw also says: This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Child abuse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Clifford A. Pickover is an author, editor, and columnist in the fields of science, mathematics, and science fiction. ... Spiritual possession is a concept of supernatural and/or superstitious belief systems whereby gods, daemons, demons, animas, or other disincarnate entities may temporarily take control of a human body, resulting in noticeable changes in behaviour. ... Insert non-formatted text here Carl Edward Sagan (November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer and astrobiologist and a highly successful popularizer of astronomy, astrophysics, and other natural sciences. ... The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark is a 1997 book by Carl Sagan. ... Dr. Vilayanur Ramachandran on an episode of PBSs NOVA Television program. ... This article is about the medical term, epileptic seizure, as distinct from psychogenic non-epileptic seizure. ... Dr. Michael Persinger Dr. Michael Persinger (born June 26, 1945) is a cognitive neuroscience researcher employed at Laurentian University, Canada since 1971. ... The term God Helmet refers to a controversial experimental apparatus in neurotheology. ... NDE redirects here. ... For other uses, see Ghost (disambiguation). ...

Some forms of temporal lobe tumours or epilepsy are associated with extreme religiosity. Recent brain imaging of devotees engaging in prayer or transcendental meditation has more precisely identified activation in such sites - God-spots, as Vilayanur Ramachandran calls them. Psilocybin from magic mushrooms contacts the serotonergic system, with terminals in these and other brain regions, generating a sense of cosmic unity, transcendental meaning and religious ecstasy. Certain physical rituals can generate both these feelings and corresponding serotonergic activity.^[31] Psilocybin (also known as psilocybine) is a psychedelic alkaloid of the tryptamine family, found in psilocybin mushrooms. ...

In his book Is Religion Dangerous?, Keith Ward specifically addresses the claim that religious belief is a "delusion." He quotes the definition in the Oxford Companion to Mind as "a fixed, idiosyncratic belief, unusual in the culture to which the person belongs" suggesting that "most great philosophers have believed in God" and that the many religious people who exhibit a high degree of rational ability ... and who can produce a reasonable and coherent defence of their beliefs" refute the idea that belief in God is a delusion - whether or not it may be mistaken.^[32] Is Religion Dangerous? is a book by Keith Ward examining the questions: Is religion dangerous? Does it do more harm than good? Is it a force for evil? Looking at the evidence from history, philosophy, sociology and psychology, Ward focuses on the main question at issue: does religion do more... The Reverend Professor (John Stephen) Keith Ward (born 22 August 1938) is a British cleric, philosopher, theologian, and scholar. ... A delusion is commonly defined as a fixed false belief and is used in everyday language to describe a belief that is either false, fanciful or derived from deception. ...

Superseded by science, philosophy, and the arts

Philosophy and Christian Art. W. Ridgway, 1878

For nontheists, the explanatory need is satisfied by science and philosophy, ethics addresses concerns over questions of good and evil, and inspiration and beauty can be found in the arts.^[33] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 684 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2784 × 2439 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 684 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2784 × 2439 pixel, file size: 3. ... Natural philosophy or the philosophy of nature, known in Latin as philosophia naturalis, is a term applied to the objective study of nature and the physical universe that was regnant before the development of modern science. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christian... Nontheism or non-theism is the absence of belief in any gods. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... For other uses, see Philosophy (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Ethics (disambiguation). ... Bouguereaus LInnocence (Innocence). Both the child and the lamb represent fragility and peacefulness, as seen in religious art. ... This article is about Arts as a group of disciplines. ...

Daniel Dennett, author of Breaking the Spell, said “I expect to live to see the evaporation of the powerful mystique of religion. I think that in about twenty-five years almost all religions will have evolved into very different phenomena, so much so that in most quarters religion will no longer command the awe it does today."^[34] Daniel Clement Dennett (born March 28, 1942 in Boston, Massachusetts) is a prominent American philosopher whose research centers on philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and philosophy of biology, particularly as those fields relate to evolutionary biology and cognitive science. ... Cover of Breaking the Spell Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon (published 2006) is a book by the American philosopher Daniel C. Dennett, which attempts a scientific analysis of the origins of religion and of its pros and cons. ...

Geoffrey Miller,^[35] in November 2006 edition of New Scientist said: “Evolutionary moral psychology will reveal the social conditions under which human moral virtues flourish. The US will follow the UK in realizing that religion is not a prerequisite for ordinary human decency. Thus, science will kill religion - not by reason challenging faith, but by offering a more practical, universal and rewarding moral framework for human interaction. A naturalistic moral philosophy will replace the rotting fictions of theological ethics.”^[36] Dr. John Bradshaw, Professor of Neuropsychology Monash University Melbourne wrote: “Evolutional models are every bit as beautiful and intellectually and morally satisfying as the myths, stories and precepts of an ossified theology - and they can explain, predict and be applied in hosts of important and socially useful ways.”^[37] Geoffrey Miller Geoffrey Miller is a widely recognised evolutionary psychologist, whose work is in the tradition of scientists such as Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Steven Pinker. ... New Scientist is a weekly international science magazine covering recent developments in science and technology for a general English-speaking audience. ...

Critics point out that many religions and practices once considered vital by their society, such as Haruspex,^[38] have long since died out. A short work by the ancient author Lucian of Samosata, titled “The Syrian Goddess” provides many examples of once thriving religions that no longer exist.^[39] The bronze sheeps liver of Piacenza, with Etruscan inscriptions In Roman practice inherited from the Etruscans, a haruspex (plural haruspices) was a man trained to practice a form of divination called haruspicy, hepatoscopy or hepatomancy. ... Lucian of Samosata (c. ...

In 1999, Comedian George Carlin performed a routine entitled "Religion/There is No God" on his HBO special You Are All Diseased where he refers to religion as "The all time champion of false promises and exaggerated claims." In the routine, he refers to God as "The invisible Man living in the Sky" and attacks the Church's income intake and tax exemption. He also attacks the idea of praying, instead he jokingly prays to Joe Pesci. Carlin satirically claims to be a sun worshiper because he can actually see the sun. At the end of this routine, Carlin calls religion superstitious and claims that God does not exist and has never existed. This routine inspired many comedians to break out their views on religion (when George Carlin was on Bill Maher, he told Carlin it was his "There is No God" routine that inspired him to finally speak out against religion). Events of 2008: (EMILY) Me Lesley and MIley are going to China! This article is about the year. ... George Denis Patrick Carlin[15] (born May 12, 1937) is a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. ... For other uses, see HBO (disambiguation). ... You Are All Diseased is the title for the 1999 HBO stand-up special with comedian George Carlin and was also converted into an album. ... Prayer is an effort to communicate with God, or to some deity or deities, or another form of spiritual entity, or otherwise, either to offer praise, to make a request, or simply to express ones thoughts and emotions. ... Joseph Frank Joe Pesci ( Born February 9, 1943 ) is an Academy Award-winning American actor, comedian and singer. ...

Harmful to the individual

In 1978, 914 followers of Jim Jones (276 of them children including 40 babies) committed a mass suicide in Jonestown, Guyana.

Many aspects of religion are criticized by skeptics on the basis that they are harmful to the individual believer. Skeptics cite such things as dogmatic adherence to irrational beliefs and practices (e.g. snake handling, cult suicide, walking on water), unnecessary restrictions on natural human behavior and the subsequent mental and emotional trauma of fear and guilt. Download high resolution version (471x721, 623 KB)Jonestown aftermath File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Download high resolution version (471x721, 623 KB)Jonestown aftermath File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the Peoples Temple leader. ... For other uses, see Jonestown (disambiguation). ... Snake handling at the Pentecostal Church of God, Lejunior, Harlan County, Kentucky 09/15/1946 (National Archives and Records Administration). ... Cult suicide is that phenomenon by which some cults, have led to their membership committing suicide. ... Not to be confused with Walk on Water . ...

Dogmatism

Many religions promote beliefs that critics consider irrational superstitions, and defend themselves by opposing or suppressing rational and inquiring thought. Many of these religions teach that 'life is a test', and that believers are constantly under siege by those trying to lure them away from their faith.^[40] Often this is done by passing laws against blasphemy and by demanding that religious beliefs are shown greater respect than other beliefs.^[41] Irrationality is talking or acting without regard of rationality. ... For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation). ... For the black metal band, see Blasphemy (band). ...

Some notable recent philosophers of religion, such as Alvin Plantinga, have argued that religious belief founded on irrational reasons such as religious experiences are justified, even if the believer can't prove his conviction by rational arguments. The idea that rational reasoning is not relevant to religious beliefs is known as Fideism. Alvin Carl Plantinga (born 15 November 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA) is a contemporary American philosopher known for his work in epistemology, metaphysics, the philosophy of religion and modest support of intelligent design. ... Religious is experience is a sacred experience where an individual comes in contact with transcendental reality. ... Theory of justification is a part of epistemology that attempts to understand the justification of statements and beliefs. ... In Christian theology, fideism is any of several belief systems which hold, on various grounds, that reason is irrelevant to religious faith. ...

Ideological indoctrination of children

See also: Indoctrination

Richard Dawkins equates the religious indoctrination of children by parents and teachers in faith schools to a form of mental abuse on children. Dawkins is angered by the term “Muslim child” or a “Catholic child”, of which he discusses and devotes a whole chapter to in his book The God Delusion. He asks how a young child can possibly be considered intellectually mature enough to have such independent views on the cosmos and humanity’s place within it. By contrast, Dawkins points out, no reasonable person would speak of a "Marxist child" or a "Tory child".^[42] Indoctrination is the process of inculcating ideas, attitudes, cognitive strategies or a professional methodology. ... Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... A parochial school (also known as a faith school or a sect school) is a type of school which engages in religious education in addition to conventional education. ... The God Delusion is a book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, Professor for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... Marxism is both the theory and the political practice (that is, the praxis) derived from the work of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. ... For other uses, see Tory (disambiguation). ...

Faith healing

Further information: Exorcism related deaths

There is also the issue of how religion has addressed what it does define as mental illness. Faith Healing, and in its most extreme form, Exorcism have both been practised by many traditions throughout history. In both cases, symptoms that would today be diagnosed by a doctor, psychiatrist or other medical professional in one way are interpreted as signs of spiritual malaise by the faith healer or exorcist. The cause and cure are defined using criteria set out by the faith tradition of the healer. As with all other aspects of differing traditions, these criteria will vary according to the healers' religion.^[43][44] Superstition-based healing has come into direct conflict with both the medical profession and the law when victims of these practices are harmed, or in the most extreme cases, killed by these ‘cures.’^[45][46][47] Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo, fresco of Giotto Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed (taken control of). ... Faith healing is the use of supernatural or spiritual intervention to cure disease. ... Saint Francis exorcised demons in Arezzo, fresco of Giotto Exorcism (from Late Latin exorcismus, from Greek exorkizein - to adjure) is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities from a person or place which they are believed to have possessed (taken control of). ...

Jerusalem syndrome

Main article: Jerusalem syndrome

There are certain places with deep associations with religious feeling, often called places of pilgrimage. One of these is Jerusalem, which is revered by followers of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Jerusalem has lent its name to a unique psychological phenomena where Jewish or Christian individuals who develop obsessive religious themed ideas or delusions (sometimes believing themselves to be Jesus Christ or another prophet) will feel compelled to travel to Jerusalem.^[48][49] The Jerusalem syndrome is the name given to a group of mental phenomena involving the presence of either religiously themed obsessive ideas, delusions or other psychosis-like experiences, that are triggered by, or lead to, a visit to the city of Jerusalem. ... This article is about the religious or spiritual journey. ...

Harmful to society

Some aspects of religion attract criticism on the basis that they damage society as a whole. Critics cite such things as religiously inspired or justified violence, resistance to social change, attacks on science, repression of women and homophobia. Steven Weinberg (born May 3, 1933) is an American physicist. ...

Most religions hold their teachings or revelations to be those that are the closest to the universal truths and those of other religions to be further from, or more often, in direct contradiction with these truths. Critics of this world-view claim that this monopoly of universal truths leads, inevitably, to a very ingrained 'us vs. them' group solidarity and mentality which, to a wide range of extents, dehumanise or demonise individuals outside the particular faith as 'not fully human', or in some way less worthy and less deserving of rights and regard. Results can, based on the fanaticism of this belief, vary from mild discrimination to outright genocide.^[50]

Apologists often respond that those guilty of such actions are merely misguided extremists and don't represent mainstream religion, or that such things are only exceptions and that, by and large, religion is a positive civilising influence on society. This may be a No true Scotsman fallacy. Extremism is the act of taking a belief, political view or ideology to its most literal extreme. ... No true Scotsman is a term coined by Antony Flew in his 1975 book Thinking About Thinking – or do I sincerely want to be right?[1]: Imagine Hamish McDonald, a Scotsman, sitting down with his Press and Journal and seeing an article about how the Brighton Sex Maniac Strikes Again. ...

One wide-ranging study^[51] has shown that there is a direct correlation between religiosity and societal dysfunction, including homicide, sexual disease, teenage pregnancy and marital problems. Data for this study was obtained from approximately 23,000 people in almost all (17) of the developed democracies. While the data was multi-national, further evidence of religion's effect on societal health was concluded from regional differences in the United States. According to Gregory S. Paul: Gregory S. Paul (born 1954) is a freelance paleontologist, author and illustrator. ...

There is evidence that within the U.S. strong disparities in religious belief versus acceptance of evolution are correlated with similarly varying rates of societal dysfunction, the strongly theistic, anti-evolution south and mid-west having markedly worse homicide, mortality, STD, youth pregnancy, marital and related problems than the northeast where societal conditions, secularization, and acceptance of evolution approach European norms.

Holy war and religious terrorism

Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinople by Gustave Doré (1832-1883).

Main articles: Religious war, Religious Terrorism, and Religious violence

Critics often point to the phenomenon of religious war as one of the more destructive consequences of religious belief. ^[24][9] Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku considers religious terrorism as one of the main threats in man's evolution from a Type 0 to Type 1 civilization.^[52] Some argue that these are mostly caused by misinterpretations of the relevant religions' ethical rules and a combination of non-religious factors.^[53][54][55] Image File history File links Size of this preview: 483 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (976 × 1210 pixel, file size: 363 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Gustave Doré (1832-1883), Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinopel. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 483 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (976 × 1210 pixel, file size: 363 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Gustave Doré (1832-1883), Entry of the Crusaders into Constantinopel. ... The Crusaders (formerly the Canterbury Crusaders) are a New Zealand Rugby Union team based in Christchurch, New Zealand that competes in the Super 14 (formerly the Super 12). ... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... Doré photographed by Felix Nadar. ... For other uses of the term, see Holy War. ... Religious terrorism refers to terrorism justified or motivated by religion and is a form of religious violence. ... Religious violence Throughout history, religious beliefs have provoked some believers into violence. ... For other uses, see Voltaire (disambiguation). ... Michio Kaku (加來 道雄 Kaku Michio, born January 24, 1947 in the United States) is an American theoretical physicist, tenured professor, and co-founder of string field theory, a branch of superstring theory. ... Religious terrorism refers to terrorism justified or motivated by religion and is a form of religious violence. ... Kardashev scale projections ranging from 1900 to 2100. ...

These conflicts are among the most difficult to resolve, particularly where both sides believe that God is on their side and has endorsed the moral righteousness of their claims.^[56]

In 1209 during the siege of Béziers, a Crusader asked the Papal Legate Arnaud Amalric how to tell Catholics from Catharism when the city was taken, to which Amalric replied: "Tuez-les tous; Dieu reconnaitra les siens. (Kill them all; for the Lord knoweth them that are His.)^[57] Béziers (Besièrs in Occitan, and Besiers in Catalan) is a town in Languedoc, in the southwest of France. ... Arnaud Amalric, or Arnau Amalric, (d. ... Cathars being expelled from Carcassonne in 1209 Catharism was a name given to a religious sect with dualistic and gnostic elements that appeared in the Languedoc region of France in the 11th century and flourished in the 12th and 13th centuries. ...

Terrorist atrocities such as the September 11, 2001 attacks, the 2005 London bombings and the Bali bombings are sometimes carried out by those with very strong religious convictions. These acts of religious terrorism are seen by the terrorists as small skirmishes in the context of a much larger global religious war.^[58] A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11—pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... The 7 July 2005 London bombings (also called the 7/7 bombings) were a series of coordinated terrorist bomb blasts that hit Londons public transport system during the morning rush hour. ... Bali Bombings Attacks against tourist locations in the Indonesian island of Bali 2002 Bali bombing 2005 Bali bombing ...

Although the causes of terrorism are complex, it may be that terrorists are partially reassured by their religious views that God is on their side and will reward them in heaven for punishing unbelievers.^[56][59]

Impedes science and human progress

Galileo facing the Roman Inquisition.

When religion purports to offer a complete answer to problems of purpose, morality, origins or science, it often discourages exploration of those areas by suppressing curiosity, denies its followers a broader perspective, and can prevent social, moral and scientific progress. The classic example of this is the Catholic Church's attack on Galileo for suggesting that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Image File history File links Galileo_facing_the_Roman_Inquisition. ... Image File history File links Galileo_facing_the_Roman_Inquisition. ... Galileo can refer to: Galileo Galilei, astronomer, philosopher, and physicist (1564 - 1642) the Galileo spacecraft, a NASA space probe that visited Jupiter and its moons the Galileo positioning system Life of Galileo, a play by Bertolt Brecht Galileo (1975) - screen adaptation of the play Life of Galileo by Bertolt Brecht... This article is about the Inquisition by the Roman Catholic Church. ... Purpose in its most general sense is the anticipated aim which guides action. ... Morality (from the Latin manner, character, proper behavior) has three principal meanings. ... Look up origin in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ... Galileo before the Holy Office, a 19th century painting by Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury The Galileo affair, in which Galileo Galilei came into conflict with the Catholic Church over his support of Copernican astronomy, is often considered a defining moment in the history of the relationship between religion and science. ...

In more recent time, many debates have arisen that follow a pattern of faith versus reason, in particular the rise of fundamentalist and bible literalist, opposition to science and liberal democracy. Examples include the creation-evolution controversy, and controversies over the use of birth control, the separation of church and state, opposition to potentially life-saving research into embryonic stem cells, or theological objections to vaccination, and anesthesia.^{[60][61][62][63][64]} Faith and rationality are two modes of belief which are seen to exist in varying degrees of conflict or compatibility. ... Fundamentalism is a movement to maintain strict adherence to founding principles. ... Biblical literalism is the supposed adherence to the explicit and literal sense of the Bible. ... Liberal democracy is a form of government. ... The creation-evolution controversy (also termed the creation vs. ... For other uses, see Birth control (disambiguation). ... Constantines Conversion, depicting the conversion of Emperor Constantine the Great to Christianity, by Peter Paul Rubens. ... Human embryonic stem cell colony. ... A vial of the vaccine against influenza. ... Anesthesia or anaesthesia (see spelling differences) has traditionally meant the condition of having the perception of pain and other sensations blocked. ...

During the 19th century what scholars today call the historical conflict thesis developed. According to this model, any interaction between religion and science must inevitably lead to open hostility, with religion usually taking the part of the aggressor against new scientific ideas.^[65] Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Galileo before the Holy Office by Joseph-Nicolas Robert-Fleury, a classic depiction of science clashing with religion The conflict thesis, also known as the warfare thesis, the warfare model or the Draper-White thesis, is an interpretive model of the relationship between religion and science. ... A magnet levitating above a high-temperature superconductor demonstrates the Meissner effect. ...

This framing of the historical relationship between religion and science as being predominantly one of conflict remained common in the historiography of science during the late 19th and much of the 20th centuries, was favoured by many scientists in the last 100 years, and is still prevalent in popular culture. Most of today's historians of science consider the conflict thesis an oversimplification, and prefer to take a more nuanced view of the subject.^[66][67] Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ...

Moral deficiency

See also: Religious intolerance, Human sacrifice, Honor Killing, and Female genital cutting

Critics such as Dr Shirin Ebadi say dogmatic religions are morally deficient, elevating to moral status many ancient and ill-informed rules that may have been designed for reasons of hygiene, politics, or other reasons in a bygone era.^[68] “Einstein” redirects here. ... Religious intolerance is either intolerance motivated by ones own religious beliefs or intolerance against anothers religious beliefs or practices. ... Human sacrifice is the act of killing a human being for the purposes of making an offering to a deity or other, normally supernatural, power. ... Honour killings are often perpetrated in Muslim-majority areas, especially in countries of the Middle East. ... Female genital cutting (FGC), also known as female genital mutilation (FGM), female circumcision or female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C), refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs whether for cultural, religious or other non-therapeutic... Shirin Ebadi at a press conference in November 2005. ... Morality (from the Latin manner, character, proper behavior) has three principal meanings. ... Hygiene refers to practices associated with ensuring good health and cleanliness. ...

An example of this would be the idea that women and men must be kept separate, or that women who do not cover themselves up modestly have tendencies for immorality, or are in some way responsible for sexual assault.^[69][70]

Critics such as Dawkins contend that theistic religions devalue human compassion and morality. The Bible contains many injunctions against following one's conscience over scripture. In addition, positive actions are supposed to originate not from compassion, but from the fear of punishment.^[10] Religious institutions typically declare they have special knowledge of absolute morality and invoke this in order to hinder debates on many issues such as stem cell research, euthanasia and same-sex marriage.^[63][71] Compassion is best described as an understanding of the emotional state of another; not to be confused with empathy. ... For other uses, see Fear (disambiguation). ... Moral absolutism is the belief that there are absolute standards against which moral questions can be judged, and that certain actions are right or wrong, devoid of the context of the act. ... Mouse embryonic stem cells with fluorescent marker. ... For mercy killings not performed on humans, see Animal euthanasia. ... Recognized in some regions United States (MA, CA eff. ...

Homophobia

A Westboro Baptist Church picket in Northlake, IL on November 29, 2005

See also: Homosexuality and religion

Most major religions consider homosexuality immoral. Such influence has led to a rise in homophobia, particularly in the United States. Singer Sir Elton John said organized religion promotes the hatred of homosexuals (among other things). He said, "I think religion has always tried to turn hatred towards gay people... Organized religion does not seem to work. It turns people into really hateful lemmings and it's not really compassionate."^[72] Image File history File links 20051129_northlake-il5. ... WBC member Jael Phelps (right) and an unidentified Westboro Baptist child protesting near the Boston Avenue United Methodist Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is a religious organization headed by Fred Phelps and based in Topeka, Kansas, United States. ... The relationship between homosexuality and religion varies greatly across time and place, within and between different religions and sects, and regarding different forms of homosexuality and bisexuality. ... Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, also the third book in the Torah (five books of Moses). ... The King James or Authorized Version of the Bible is an English translation of the Christian Bible first published in 1611. ... Homosexuality refers to sexual interaction and / or romantic attraction between individuals of the same sex. ... A protest by The Westboro Baptist Church, a group identified by the Anti-Defamation League as virulently homophobic. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... This article is about the rodent. ...

In the United States, conservative Christian groups such as the Christian Legal Society and the Alliance Defense Fund have filed numerous lawsuits against public universities, aimed at overturning policies that protect homosexuals from discrimination and hate speech. These groups argue that such policies infringe their right to freely exercise religion as guaranteed by the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.^[73] The Christian Legal Society is a non-profit, non-denominational organization of Christian lawyers, judges, law professors, and law students whose members profess to follow the commandment of Jesus to do justice with the love of God. ... The Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) is a conservative Christian non-profit organization with the stated goal of defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation. ... Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Gay bashing Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial... The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, taken with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment make up the Religion Clauses. ... Wikisource has original text related to this article: The United States Constitution The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. ...

Homosexuality is illegal in most Muslim countries, and in many of these countries carries the death penalty. In July 2005, two Iranian men, aged sixteen and eighteen, were publicly hanged for homosexuality, causing an international outcry. Gay and human rights organisations estimate that hundreds of people have been executed for homosexuality by Iranian authorities since the 1979 revolution.^[74] Mahmoud Asgari (Persian: ) and Ayaz Marhoni (Persian: ) were Iranian teenagers from the province of Khuzestan who were publicly hanged in Edalat (Justice) Square in Mashhad, northeast Iran, on July 19, 2005. ... This article is about the 1979 revolution in Iran. ...

Racism

Despite many religions forbidding racial and other forms of discrimination, religion has been used by some as justification for advocating racism. The Ku Klux Klan, Christian Identity movement and many Post-Medieval Theologians made claims that white people are closer to God than other races. Religious terrorist organizations such as the forenamed Ku Klux Klan, Kach and others also hold ostensibly racist views.^[75][76] Manifestations Slavery Racial profiling Lynching Hate speech Hate crime Genocide (examples) Ethnocide Ethnic cleansing Pogrom Race war Religious persecution Blood libel Paternalism Police brutality Movements Policies Discriminatory Race / Religion / Sex segregation Apartheid Redlining Internment Ethnocracy Anti-discriminatory Emancipation Civil rights Desegregation Integration Equal opportunity Counter-discriminatory Affirmative action Racial quota... Members of the second Ku Klux Klan at a rally during the 1920s. ... // For the general identity of an individual with certain core essential religious doctrines, see Christianity. ... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... Kach was an extremist right-wing Israeli party led by Meir Kahane. ...

Misogyny

See also: Role of women in religion and misogyny

The role of women in religion has only recently become a topic of research. ... In Eva Prima Pandora, by Jean Cousin (Louvre Museum), Eve, the equivalent of Pandora embodies Original Sin Misogyny (pronounced ) is hatred or strong prejudice against women; an antonym of philogyny. ...

Political opposition

Many objections focus more on the churches and priests themselves, than on their doctrines or beliefs. Critics point out that these priesthoods give undue authority to unelected individuals. In many cases throughout history, they have support and upheld un-democratic and oppressive power structures, such as the absolutist monarchies of Europe, or the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt.

Authoritarian

See also: Theocracy and Censorship by religion

The term "authoritarian" is used to describe an organization, an institution, or a state that enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against those within its sphere of influence, generally without any attempt at gaining their consent and often not allowing criticism of its policies. Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      For other uses, see Theocracy (disambiguation). ... Censorship by religion is a form of censorship where freedom of expression is controlled or limited using religious authority or on the basis of the teachings of the religion. ... The term authoritarian is used to describe an organization or a state which enforces strong and sometimes oppressive measures against the population, generally without attempts at gaining the consent of the population. ...

In this sense, some religions can be seen as authoritarian, insofar as their goal is to define themselves as the ultimate authority by which the law of the land is granted. As this divine source of authority is not to be criticised by non-religious arguments, it is the antithesis to secularism. A country where the above has been achieved is called a theocracy.^[77] This article is about secularism. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      For other uses, see Theocracy (disambiguation). ...

Divine mandate

See also: Imperial cult

The ancient egyptians believed that upon taking the throne, the pharaoh became the earthly embodiment of the god Horus. They believed that in his role as both man and god, he was responsible for preserving not only the empire, but the universe itself.^[78] An Imperial cult is a kind of religion in which an Emperor, or a dynasty of emperors (or rulers of another title), are worshipped as demigods or deities. ... The pyramids are the most recognizable symbols of the civilization of ancient Egypt. ... For other uses, see Pharaoh (disambiguation). ... Ihy redirects here. ...

Until the end of the second world war the Emperor of Japan held a similar status,^[79] and deification of Roman emperors was common practice following the reign of Augustus.^[80] Systems such as this equated political opposition to heresy, and served to support existing power structures by suppressing dissent. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... The Emperor , literally heavenly sovereign,[1] formerly often called the Mikado) of Japan is the countrys monarch. ... Apotheosis - the posthumous transformation of a Roman emperor into a god, Theosis - being unified with God in East Orthodox theology of salvation, Assigning divine qualities to any mortal and, usually, worshipping that person as if they were a supernatural being. ... For other persons named Octavian, see Octavian (disambiguation). ...

Dominionism

Main articles: Dominionism and Religion and fascism

The term "Dominionism" describes a political movement among fundamentalist Christians. It emerged in the late 1980s inspired by the book, film and lecture series, "Whatever Happened to the Human Race?" by Francis A. Schaeffer and C. Everett Koop.^[81] This article is on the political-religious concept of dominionism. ... Fundamentalist Christianity, or Christian fundamentalism, is a movement that arose mainly within British and American Protestantism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by conservative evangelical Christians, who, in a reaction to modernism, actively affirmed a fundamental set of Christian beliefs: the inerrancy of the Bible, Sola Scriptura, the... Francis A. Schaeffer (30 January 1912 – 15 May 1984), an American Evangelical theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor, is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the LAbri community in Switzerland. ... C. Everett Koop Charles Everett Koop, M.D. (born October 14, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American physician. ...

Schaeffer's politics has influenced conservatives like Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, John W. Whitehead, and although they represent different theological and political ideas, Dominionists believe they have a Christian duty to take "control of a sinful secular society", either by putting fundamentalist Christians in office, or by forcing biblical law into the secular sphere.^[82][83][60] This article is about Jerry Falwell, Sr. ... A panel from Tim LaHaye’s multi-million selling ‘’Left Behind’’ series, depicting the fate LaHaye anticipates for those who do not follow Jesus Christ. ... The Rutherford Institute is a public interest law firm and resource center based in Charlottesville, Virginia. ...

Criticism of specific religions

• Criticism of Prem Rawat (Maharaj Ji/Divine Light Mission)
• Scientology controversy
• Controversies regarding Jehovah's Witnesses
• Controversies about Opus Dei
• Criticism of Christianity
• Criticism of Islam
• Criticism of the Catholic Church
• Criticism of Judaism
• Criticism of Hinduism

Prem Rawat (also called Maharaji and formerly known as Guru Maharaj Ji) has at times been the subject of criticism from religious scholars, individuals related to the anti-cult movement of the 1970s, articles in the press and media, and former members. ... This article examines controversial issues involving Scientology and its affiliated organizations. ... Jehovahs Witnesses have beliefs and practices that are commonly regarded as controversial; by mainstream Christians for their doctrines that differ from mainstream Christianity; by governments for their refusal to participate in patriotic activities; and by the general public for their beliefs about blood transfusions and their treatment of members... Opus Dei is depicted as a dangerous cult by the Da Vinci Code. ... Throughout the history of Christianity, a wide range of Christians and non-Christians alike have offered criticisms of Christianity, the Church, and Christians themselves. ... (Arguments critical to religion in general, or specific to Monotheism, such as the Existence of God, not dealt with here. ... Criticism of the Catholic Church subsumes critical observations made about the current or historical Roman Catholic Church, in its actions, teachings, omissions, structure, or nature; theological disagreements would be covered on a denominational basis. ... Criticism of Judaism has existed since Judaisms formative stages, as with many other religions, on philosophical, scientific, ethical, political and theological grounds. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

See also

The anthropology of religion involves the study of religious institutions in relation to other social institutions, and the comparison of religious beliefs and practices across cultures. ... Antireligion is opposition to some or all religions in some or all contexts. ... Antitheism (sometimes anti-theism) is active opposition to theism. ... Atheist redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Christopher Eric Hitchens (born April 13, 1949) is a British-American author, journalist and literary critic. ... J. R. Bob Dobbs The Church of the SubGenius is a group that satirizes religion, conspiracy theory, UFOs and popular culture originally based in Dallas, Texas, which gained prominence in the 1980s and 1990s subculture, with a large presence on the Internet. ... The intended meaning of the term civil religion often varies according to whether one is a sociologist of religion or a professional political commentator. ... Cognitive dissonance is a psychological state that describes the uncomfortable feeling between what one holds to be true and what one knows to be true. ... For other uses, see Ceremonial Deism. ... There are a number of models regarding the ways in which religions come into being and develop. ... For other senses of this word, see dogma (disambiguation). ... Folk religion consists of beliefs, superstitions and rituals transmitted from generation to generation of a specific culture. ... This parody of Michelangelos The Creation of Adam depicts the Flying Spaghetti Monster in its typical guise as a clump of tangled spaghetti with two eyestalks, two meatballs, and many noodly appendages. The Flying Spaghetti Monster is the deity of a parody religion founded in 2005 by physics graduate... For the novel, see God is Dead (novel). ... A depiction of the Invisible Pink Unicorn, in the style of a heraldic animal rampant, though the nearest heraldic color to pink is purpure (purple). ... In psychology and cognitive science, magical thinking is non-scientific causal reasoning (e. ... In philosophy, ethics is commonly divided into two branches, normative ethics and meta-ethics. ... Philosophy of religion is the rational study of the meaning and justification ( or rebuttal) of fundamental religious claims, particularly about the nature and existence of God (or gods, or the divine). ... Psychology of religion is psychologys theory of religious experiences and beliefs. ... In epistemology and in its broadest sense, rationalism is any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification (Lacey 286). ... The topic of religiosity and intelligence pertains to possible relationships between intelligence (SAT Scores, IQ, Education, etc. ... Religious belief refers to a faith or creed concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine. ... Religious satire is a form of satire targeted at religion and religious practices. ... Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... Russells teapot, sometimes called the Celestial Teapot, was an analogy first coined by the philosopher Bertrand Russell, intended to refute the idea that the burden of proof lies upon the sceptic to disprove unfalsifiable claims of religions. ... For other persons named Sam Harris, see Sam Harris (disambiguation). ... Social criticism analyzes (problematic) social structures and aims at practical solutions by specific measures, radical reform or even revolutionary change. ... // The sociology of religion is primarily the study of the practices, social structures, historical backgrounds, development, universal themes, and roles of religion in society. ... For other uses, see Supernatural (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Superstition (disambiguation). ... Theism is the belief in the existence of one or more divinities or deities. ... Theology finds its scholars pursuing the understanding of and providing reasoned discourse of religion, spirituality and God or the gods. ... True-believer syndrome is a term coined by M. Lamar Keene in his 1976 book The Psychic Mafia referring to an irrational belief in paranormal events, even after direct confession or evidence that the events were fraudulently staged. ... The Root of All Evil? is a television documentary, written and presented by Richard Dawkins, in which he argues that the world would be better off without religion. ...

References

v • d • e Irreligion Atheism List of atheists · Demographics · Religion · History · State atheism · Criticism · Discrimination · Persecution · Weak and strong · Agnostic atheism · Implicit and explicit · Antitheism · Antireligion · Atheist Alliance International Ludwig Feuerbach Agnosticism List of agnostics · Agnostic theism · Agnostic atheism · Weak agnosticism · Strong agnosticism · Ignosticism · Apatheism Nontheism Secular Humanism · Post-theism  · Freethought · Secularism · Secularity · Criticism of religion · Freedom From Religion Foundation · Flying Spaghetti Monster · Invisible Pink Unicorn · Russell's teapot

v • d • e Theological thought Acosmism · Agnosticism · Animism · Antireligion · Atheism · Deism · Determinism · Dualism · Esotericism · Gnosticism · Humanism · Libertarianism · Monism · Mysticism · New Age · New Thought · Nondualism · Pandeism · Pantheism · Theism · Thelema · Theosophy · Transcendentalism · more Religion Portal

External links

• Why I left
• Douglas Adams's speech: Is there an Artificial God?
• The Academy of Evolutionary Metaphysics
• “Why I am Not a Christian” by Bertrand Russell, March 6, 1927
• A Historical Outline of Modern Religious Criticism in Western Civilization
• The Poverty of Theistic Morality by Adolf Grünbaum
• Transcendent Experience and Temporal Lobe Epilepsy