Religion’s Substantial Problems: People Share Their Biggest Issues With Modern Religions

Religion is on its way out. More and more people are turning their backs on humanity’s most powerful institutions. 

People Less Religious

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A Gallup poll from 2021 found that less than half of all Americans belonged to a religious congregation, down from 70% twenty years ago. 

Pew Research found a rise in the number of Americans who call themselves “unaffiliated” and a decrease in the amount who label themselves Christian. 

Why the Turn Away?

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The data has researchers, and religious leaders baffled. Why are people turning away from religion in such high numbers?

Where there’s a question, there’s an Ask Reddit conversation. Users laid out their most significant concerns with modern religion, pointing to the myriad of reasons people turn away. 

Hypocrisy

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Religious leaders need to take a hard look as to whether their behavior and followers’ behavior reflect their beliefs. 

Many people turn to religion because of the followers rather than the institution. They see the most hateful humans preaching Christian love and decide they don’t want anything to do with it. 

Money and Power

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Religious institutions hold vast swaths of wealth and enjoy massive political influence. However, they use the cash to build mega-churches and the power to restrict people’s rights. 

Many believe that if a god exists, that’s not what he’d want. 

Holier Than Though

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Many people run into the religious folks who think they’re superior to everyone else because they believe in the “right” religion. They don’t feel the need to do good deeds or be decent people because their belief is enough to make them “better.”

Protecting Abuse

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The Catholic Church scandal brought religious abuse to light. Religious institutions are filled with predators, but the flock works to protect the perpetrators rather than help the victims. 

People who think it’s just the Catholic church are mistaken. Many powerful men in other religions use their positions to subjugate and abuse women and children. Victims are hushed or punished for coming forward, while the men who engage in abusive behaviors are protected. 

Tithing

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Some churches push tithing so hard that their poorest members give their last dollars to support the cause. We get that churches make money through tithing, but too many guilt and manipulate their parishioners into giving what they can’t afford. 

Destroys Agency

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Some folks find comfort in all knowing deity that controls everything, but others find the concept terrifying. A belief in god takes away our agency. Things happen because “god wills it,” not because of anything we did. Bad things are “gods plan,” and good things are “god’s grace.” 

What about what we want?

Keeps People Complacent

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Many religions push suffering as the ultimate sacrifice to God. Suffering on Earth will earn you good graces in Heaven. People don’t push for better conditions because they truly believe they’ll be rewarded in the afterlife. 

What if none of it is true, and the only life we’ll ever have is the one we’re living now? Would people accept their suffering so readily if they didn’t have an eternal reward to look forward to?

It’s More Culture Than Faith

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A lot of religions are cultures masquerading as faith. People wear their symbols and praise their lord without ever cracking open their religious texts or considering what the faith truly means. Most don’t live according to the belief system. They simply call themselves whatever religion. 

No Evidence

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There’s no evidence outside of the Bible that proves the bible is true. Some folks struggle with the concept of faith, relying instead on hard evidence to form their beliefs. 

Bigotry

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Religions create an in-group and an out-group. In most of the world’s major religions, straight men are in while everyone else is out. 

Religious teachings justify all forms of misogyny and bigotry, and many people are starting to see through it. 

Cherry Picking

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People like to pick and choose which aspects of their religion to believe when it suits them. The idea that you can just decide you don’t like something about what God said and not do it implies that none of it really matters. 

Which is Right?

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Everyone thinks their religion is the right one. They were lucky enough to be born into a culture and family that just so happened to believe in the exact right religion out of the thousands that have existed. 

It’s easy to see why people who look at this logically have a problem with this. 

It’s Abusive

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Many religions pattern abusive relationships. You must worship God because you’ll suffer eternal punishment if you don’t. 

If you experienced something like this in any other relationship, your friends and family would tell you to run. 

Science

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Hundreds of years ago, humanity didn’t have a lot of answers. We didn’t know why the sun rose in the east, the seasons change, or why the world abounds with such variety. 

Now we know. 

We don’t need religion to fill in the gaps. We ask science and vigorously research the problem until we develop a solution. 

What is Goodness?

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Many people are turned off by religion’s claim that you need it to be good. Is the fear of punishment the only thing keeping you from slaughtering thousands?

What is goodness anyway? Is it doing what a religious leader says regardless of who it harms, or is it treating every other human with respect and dignity irrespective of their views?

Terrible Track Record

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Throughout history, people have done horrendous things in the name of their religion. Religion played a role in the Spanish Inquisition, burning people at the stake, the Crusades, and Nazi Germany. 

Religion has a way of making people commit atrocities. 

Are Witches Real?

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From medicine woman to legendary monster – discover the truth about witches and witchcraft throughout history. 

Astrology vs. Astronomy: What’s the Difference?

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Astrology and astronomy may sound the same, but they are very different. One is a hard science, while the other is a deeply held belief system. Find out which is which and why we actually need both

15 Real Life Haunted Hotels You Can Actually Visit

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Want to spot a real ghost? Stay at one of these real life haunted hotels for your chance to glimpse the otherworldly residents

The Best Songs About Monsters for Your Playlist

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Rock out to monstrous ballads with these epic songs about monsters, creatures, and the worst enemy of all: ourselves

Everything You Need to Know About Hecate’s Night

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The pagan ritual ritual can teach us a lot about modern practices. Discover Hecate’s Night for yourself!
 

Source: Reddit