Conversations with a Sceptic (17): Are Religions any good?

 Q:

The problem is, most religions, if not all, do not seem to honour those fundamental, practical principles. The biological human instinct to fight and invade and dominate seems to be more powerful.

A:

I have some problems with this statement.

Religions, intended as institutions of coded belief systems, all promote some sort of socio-cultural guidelines for better coexistence. Some focus more on ritual (unfortunately), while others specialize in more practical matters of the mind. In all cases, they point to something higher/bigger than us.

Every religion has different layers of truths that are stacked on each other. Which one you can access depend on your own personal level of development and understanding.

At the most fundamental level, a person will usually take the stories literally and find comfort in the rituals, without questioning the hidden meanings.

Higher levels will reveal higher truths. People can form abstract connections between the teachings of the religion and their own personal life.

At the highest level, the one I value the most, are the teachings that put you in direct contact with the Divine. They are discoverable in every religion and are very similar across apparently very different religions.

That's why I think that a religion is only as good as its ability to pick up people at the fundamental level and carry them to the highest level. It should be a religion's most sacred responsibility to do so!

Wars, conflict, hatred....they come from people at the lowest level, not necessarily from the religion itself.

If a religion keeps its followers at the lowest level (more or less intentionally), then not only is it doing a terrible job, but in my opinion is committing the worst sin of them all!