Religion: the world's greatest evil?

I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "Religion ruled the dark ages." It reminded me of one of the most often-repeated accusations against organized religions: that they are at the root of the most violent and detestable acts of human history

I understand the accusation. People look at the spate of terrorist attacks occurring in the last dozen years - including the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and the Boston bombing - and conclude that Islam is the principal culprit. People consider the current civil unrest and killings in Africa, India and Pakistan, the relatively recent "troubles" in Northern Ireland and in the past, the Inquisition, the retribution executions after the Reformation and the conquest of native peoples in the Americas and conclude that religion is to blame. An objective look, however, shows that it's another of the myths about religion that have continued to be fashionable.

"Popular" religion vs. the real thing 
What a religion teaches and how adherents understand it are two different things. Despite how some believers behave, the doctrines and leaders of most religions - including Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the eastern religions – promote non-violence. And the vast majority of people of faith, like their non-believer counterparts, want to live in peace.

Currently, Islam is a favorite target, expressed in the widespread belief that it supports terrorism. But a 2013 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life says, "Few U.S. Muslims voice support for suicide bombings or other forms of violence against civilians in the name of Islam; 81% say such acts are never justified … and around the world, most Muslims also reject suicide bombing and other attacks against civilians."

The violence in Northern Ireland that started on a wholesale level in the late 1960s occurred despite opposition from most Protestant and Catholic leaders. The "Catholics" and "Protestants" involved had their own agendas, and it had little to do with religion and a lot to do with jobs, political power and clash of cultures (which, of course, includes religion).

The pot calling the kettle black
Horrible things have happened in the name of religion, but like all historical phenomena, they should be seen in context. Calling the 1,000 or so years from 600 to 1600 the "dark ages," as was done by last century's historians, is a little like the pot calling the kettle black.

Was the bad stuff that happened then worse than what has happened in our time in which millions perished in two world wars - at least five million at the hands of the Nazis alone - other millions were murdered by Russian dictator Josef Stalin, and still other millions slaughtered in the "Rape of Nanking" and in Cambodia? These atrocities were not committed in the name of religion, but often by avowed atheists and people cynical about religion. They make the atrocities of the "dark ages" and of believers pale by comparison.

The Inquisition was an on-again, off-again Catholic campaign against Moslems, Jews and Protestants that was as much of state as religious origin. Best estimates on deaths are 32,000 people between 1480 and 1808, a period of 328 years. As an example of the evil of religion, the Inquisition just doesn't cut it by modern standards – even when you consider that the population of cities and countries was substantially smaller then.

What about the conquest of the Americas?
The violence against native peoples in the conquest of Latin America is also often blamed on religion, specifically, Catholicism. As with most generalizations, there is some truth to it. Most colonial leaders saw evangelization and conversion of the Indians as an important part of colonization and didn't shy from violence to attain their ends. And many solicited religious orders and individual clerics to help them. But as the colonization continued, clerics were more often at odds with the colonizers on treatment of native Americans.

Much of our knowledge of the subject comes from a Dominican priest named Bartolomé de las Casas, by the way, who was a fierce defender of the Indians. Google him to learn more.

There may be good reasons for rejecting organized religion, but belief that religion is the principal cause of evil and violence in the world is not among them.

These blogs are posted each Thursday. Please pass the blog address along to your family and friends. 

TC