New article at Raw Story is titled, “These are the 12 worst ideas religion has unleashed on the world.” If only religions would divest themselves of these tendencies. But then, if they did so, they wouldn’t be considered religions.
Chosen People
Heretics
Holy War
Blasphemy – Blasphemy is the notion that some ideas are inviolable, off limits to criticism, satire, debate, or even question.
Glorified suffering
Genital mutilation
Blood sacrifice
Hell
Karma
Eternal Life
Male Ownership of Female Fertility
Bibliolatry (aka Book Worship)
This list is impressive in a really bad way. What other organization can come close to having this many terrible ideas? I’m reluctant to mention the runners-up in this regard, because it’s not going to be a flattering comparison.
Mike: I know that some religions do not embrace all of these ideas, and others downplay some or all, but this list invites a thought experiment: Suppose you and I decided to start an organization today, any kind of organization, and used any of these techniques as the foundational principles. I truly don’t know more than a small handful of people who would join my organization, I know that I would lose the friendship of hundreds of people I admire and care about.
Yet religions march on, with 80% or so of Americans afraid to cut the cord.