Religion: What good does it do?
I can be good without being religious! That is a common sentiment when somebody is asked about religion matters. There are many honest, compassionate, and responsible who are not attracted to religion. For example, few Western Europeans are churchgoers, although most say that they believe in God. Even in Latin America, only 15 to 20 percent of Catholics go to church regularly. Like many others, they feel that religion is irrelevant to a better life. Possibly, though, you are also aware that decades ago,in your grandparents' day, most people were much more religious than we are today. Now, how did religion lose its widespread appeal? What good does it do?
These are just few questions that lingers every individual's mind who are uncertain about religion. For centuries, most people in Christendom believed that God requires obedience. They went to church to gain God's favor, either through rites conducted by a priest or through guidance provided by a preacher. Of course, many were aware of the hypocrisy in religion. The role of religion in war was well-known too. Some clergymen used religion as their abused conduct. For some reasons, others like about its tradition, music, mass, and they'd like to believed that religion can save them from the threat of eternal damnation in hell, which was really never found in the scriptures. Then several development changed of how people viewed the churches. The theory of evolution became popular as ever. This theory convinces that life originated by accident, without God. In addition, as technology advanced, the achievements in medicine, transportation, and communication gave people the impression that any problem can be solved by science. Some were convinced with these theories. These conclusion affects the believers from turning off with their religion because during the reign of evolution, most religions also failed in their followers to provide evidence that God is the source of life.
This was the big reason why religion lose its widespread appeal despite of its propagation. In response, many churches crossed and changed their message. Priests and preachers gave up teaching that God requires obedience. Instead , many taught that each individual must decide for himself for what is right and what is wrong. Trying to gain popularity back, some religious leaders even claimed that God accepts you no matter how we live and what we believed.
But what does really a religion do good in our way of living in society? According to Bible, a persuasive explanation was provided that religion used for evil ends. In an instance of Satan, whose behind the misuse and corruption of religion. Despite of being a rebellious angel, he still keeps himself into an angel of light. He uses religion that makes a pretense of being Christian, moral, and enlightening in order to make people live by his standards rather than God's. Also clergymen today use religion to elevate themselves with high-sounding titles and to obtain money from their flocks. Governments have also used religion to persuade citizens to sacrifice themselves in war. To have religion is to have worship. This so called true worship is good for everybody to where it gives us higher purpose in life even how many times we fail and get disappoint. It helps us to become better persons. As we practice worship, we slowly cultivate a personality that leads to a happier relationships with others. You learn from God and from His Son about acting honestly, speaking kindly, and living responsibly. However, the true basis of a true relationship and worship with God comes not only with what religion we have but also how we apply good deeds we learned in church like the perpetual faith in God's glory............
sponsored by: rindee
