Full name: Nguyễn Mai Linh

Student ID: 11223597

Topic: Would the world be a better place without religion?

It is widely known that religions have played a significant role in human civilization
for a very long time. The influence of religions has both beneficial and harmful
aspects in our lives. However, there are reasons that prove the disadvantages outweigh
the advantages, therefore I believe the world would be a better place without the
existence of religion.

First of all, religion is not needed in the world nowadays. According to K.Marx,
religion is a phenomenon created by humans. “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed
creature, the sentiment of a heartless world and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the
opium of the people”. Since science has solved most of the problem, therefore people
should believe in science, which is widely acknowledged, rather than believe in
religion, which is not verified by anyone. Moreover, in reality, religions did not do
anything for the society physically because they are just beliefs and they do not have
actual human parts such as hands or legs to function. It was all humans who built
churches, pagodas, and made money to help others in need. The only thing religions
can do is give something for people to believe in, but what brings people a motivation
to work and make their life happy is not just religion. There are so many other
elements that affect people’s motivation and happiness like their family, their work,
their hobby, etc. In fact, Vietnam, a country where most residents are atheist (86%
according to General Statistics Office of Vietnam in 2019), ranked #48 in the Happy
Planet Index (HPI) by New Economics Foundation ( NEF), which means religions do
not play a dominant part in a person’s mental life.

Secondly, religion causes numerous negative influences on society and politics. The
wide spread of religions is the main “inspiration” for some people to establish heresies
in order to profiteer others. Contrary to other traditional religions, a heresy incites
people to commit crimes and from that the general crime rate will be increased. In a
Korean heresy called Agadongsan (Baby Garden), a 5-year-old boy named Nak Gwi
was mercilessly beaten to death by his own mother and aunt just because their leader
Kim Ki Soon told them he was haunted by a demon and as the Agadongsan’s rule, he
must be purified by getting beaten. Another example is the newly infamous “Hội
Thánh đức Chúa Trời” which is infamous for its unreasonable rules, one of which is
forcing female participants to abort. This is undoubtedly a both illegal and unethical
activity. Furthermore, even orthodox religions have their negative sides, including the
consequence of blind faiths. Some people get so obsessed with a religion that they rely
on nothing but the god they worship. Surprisingly they believe only god or pure luck
can cure any disease, or make one’s life wealthier, or accomplish anything that person
desires. On March 18, 2020, more than 25,000 Muslims in Bangladesh gathered in a
field to ask their “Saint” Allah to save them from the COVID-19 pandemic. The
incident shocked many people because the organizers did not ask for permission and
irresponsibly looked down on the safety of local people.

In certain situations, religious convictions can breed intolerance and prejudice against
particular groups based on traits like gender and ethnicity. Social divisions may result
from this, which could impede the development of inclusive and equitable social
policies. One of them is the status of women in certain religions which is extremely
underrated. They are mistreated, unfair, and more disadvantaged than men. Religious
beliefs can also sometimes lead to unfair treatment and prejudice against LGBTQ+
people. In some countries where religion has a strong influence, there are laws that
deny LGBTQ+ people their rights and legal protections. For example, in some
conservative religious contexts like in Orthodox Christianity, Islam. Some
interpretations of religious texts consider homosexuality to be morally wrong. There
has been a religious protest of Orthodox Christians against LGBT Pride March in
Montenegro in 2022 as the church urged believers to gather and pray to uphold the
“sanctity of marriage” and ensure the preservation of the family. Indeed there are
numerous religious individuals and organizations that promote inclusion, acceptance,
and human rights for particular groups of people. However, it is indisputable that in
some situations, religion has a significant socio-political influence that contributes to
intolerance and prejudice against specific people, and affects the development of a
society as a whole.

The last negative effect of religions, perhaps is also the worst, is how they strike on
both individuals and the national economy. Many followers of a religion had to quit their jobs
to join “religious” activities. Some people with weak health, diseases, and serious illnesses, have
spent a lot of money just to seek out hope of recovering from the religion. For example, followers of
the “Hội Thánh Đức Chúa Trời '' must pay 10% of their income to the head. It is also not a strange
case that many religious leaders organize polls, pilgrimages, tours, etc., in combination with illegal
religious activities in public places, which cause costs and adversely affect security, social order and
safety festivals.

In conclusion, religions have had a variety of detrimental consequences on society and

the economy in addition to having no discernible value in human daily life.

References:
1. https://happyplanetindex.org/wp-content/themes/hpi/public/downloads/happy-
planet-index-2006-2020-public-data-set.xlsx
2. https://tuoitre.vn/hang-chuc-ngan-tin-do-hoi-giao-bangladesh-tu-tap-cau-qua-
kiep-nan-covid-19-20200319112606854.htm?fbclid=IwAR3Jk6OHA--
54dkkcFgnscx9y_QXn51I0DpmR006fxIF057O61B7vRl0Cpc
3. https://balkaninsight.com/2022/10/04/orthodox-christians-to-rally-against-lgbt-
pride-march-in-montenegro/