posted February 24, 2008 04:02 PM         

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Religion is flawed

Michael Haberman / Columnist

There is a great need that exists in society. It is a need that people have all around us, but we rarely see as a weakness. It is something in which we so strongly desire to feel like we are a part of something that our own morals are often compromised to satisfy the 'greater cause'. And that greater cause, of course, is what we refer to as religion.

When one allows themselves to become so caught up in the teachings of a particular religion and make their daily decisions entirely because of what some book tells them to do, they are putting an abrupt halt to the degree of critically thinking that their mind potentially has.

When we believe in the absolute certainty of the way in which a certain doctrine prescribes, it leaves us very susceptible to being ignorant of the changing values and situations that come with time.

What we need to realize is that what religion deals with is a series of chronicles that documents events that happened centuries before our time. While the moral fibers that are presented to us through these teachings may be accurate in many situations, what religions teach does not accurately take into account the changing advances, events and views that have taken place since they were written.

We can not blindly put our reasoning for our actions and beliefs into the supposed miracles that occurred in the times that were unknown to us, as they really have little effect on the here and now. We can not take all the accounts that are documented in religion for their literal meaning, yet rather understand that many of them are figurative recounts that are designed to instill a sense of moralityamongst those who follow.

Religion is not something like math or science that has definitive equations for which problems can be solved. It should not be treated like so either. Accepting a religion in its entirety and never being open to the idea that that religion has flaws creates an abundance of ignorance in our world that greatly diminishes the advancement of society as a whole. A person should not try to thrust religion on someone else or allow it to be thrust on them because of their environment. Rather, it is an aspect of life that should involve a great deal of exploring one self in to understand as to whether their beliefs correlate to those of a particular religion. And if their beliefs don't, it isn't something that should be looked down upon, as that person may not need a religious affiliation to enhance their moral standards or guide them on the path of life.

Contact Michael Haberman at opinions@elon.edu or 278-7247.

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