|
Religion serves a few critical purposes and thus, will always matter. Morality and mortality.
Morality - Religion gives us (as a society) guidelines as to what is right and what is wrong. Most laws across the globe are derivitaves of one religion or another.
Mortality - It eases pain when a loved one has past on to think they have gone to a better place as opposed to rotting in the ground. It also gives folks that need the comfort this nice happy thing to look forward to after their own imminent demise.
As long as no one knows what happens after we die and society deems knowledge of right and wrong vital information, religion will always matter.
Of course, we can't forget about the folks out there using religion to their own ends; amassing devout followers, raking in the cash, pushing a political agenda, etc... There will always be people doing those things too. Religion matters to them for entirely different reasons... It's their bread and butter.
And finally, whoever said there would be more killing and crime without religion needs a history lesson. The Bible is the most violent book ever written. More human beings have died in the name of religion than any other cause ever (Crusades, Holocaust, 9/11, etc...)
And yes, I do note the irony of stating how religion gives us morality and then discussing the violence that goes with it a few sentences later. The violence comes from 1 religion declaring they are the only true religion and imperialistically forcing itself onto others.
Anyways, that's my 2 cents. I vote yes, it still matters and probably always will.
|