Religion: A gift or a curse???

           Religion is a cultural system that creates powerful and long-lasting meaning, by establishing symbols that relate humanity to truths and values. It moreover advocates the existence of a supposed superior entity responsible for creation, sustenance and repercussions. To whom as famously believed paying homage is essential and often considered the corner stone of any religious practice. The purpose of this institution is to instill in people a sense of moral righteousness thus effectively averting the human tendency to indulge in the corruption of one’s mind and body for obtaining pleasure.

          
It serves the above purpose effectively to a certain extent. The looming threat of eternal punishment providing the individual an ample incentive to avert corruption.

        But these pros are often overshadowed by the cons which apparently are more pronounced...

          Religions instigate the segregation of society into a variety of factions based on the particular religious text followed, often instigating religious hostility resulting in bloodshed which in no way is desirable. It furthermore serves to strangulate and dilute the development of a country by generating a variety of demands each serving to uplift a particular group, often conflicting in nature. These demands slows down the pace of decision making. Most religions often indulge in time consuming rituals or establish biased restrictions often curtailing individual preferences. Patriarchy is reflected in most faith rendering women inferior, stifling them in manacles of restrictions subject to the authority of the father or husband.

          Religions also stunt the progress of science and reason, as observed during the age of Galileo and the vehement opposition to the cloning process (potentially an elixir of immortality) thus restricting mankind’s progression.

          Moreover the veracity of the entity termed as God is in no way secure. Religious texts which are supposedly truthful accounts of the truth are nonetheless authored by human hands and thus cannot serve as adequate proof.

          Though the existence of this superior entity thus cannot be proved, religions can serve as a cushion or a crutch during our times of need. Religions thus are efficient harbingers of hope that sustain mankind in the darkest of ages.