Has "religion" helped or hindered mankind as a whole?

Question

Look at history, religion(s) have been responsible for holding mankind's pursuit of knowledge back, or worse yet, trying to control it for their purpose. The Crusades, witch hunts, Earth is center of universe, The Inquisition, Jihad, the Taliban, the Catholic church and Pope, ethnic cleansing(mostly along religious lines, yes?). If there was no such thing as any religion, would it be possible that we would be more advanced today? A lot of the great thinkers were persecuted and labeled heretics in their lifetime, forced to renounce discoveries and trains of thought that future students picked up on slowly, having to "re invent the wheel" every generation or so. Think of all the great minds that have been snuffed out over the course of history in the name of religion. Did the next Galileo die in the Iron Maiden? Was someone just as smart as Albert Einstein butchered because he dared to have his or her own beliefs in a world that crammed "GOD" down your throat in the "civilized world" of the 1500's? Would it have been possible to have the Internet in the 1800's without the churches meddling? Or automobiles in the 1700's? What do you think? I would like rational, thought out answers, for or against, not knee jerk ranting that only proves one of my personal beliefs about Pavlovian response in zealots. 10 points to the best argument, no matter which way you lean.

Update:

I am surprised at the lack of "helped" answers so far. Religion is a great motivational tool, and there have been many times in history where "religion" was the only thing that held a group of poeple together in hard times, (Dark Ages, the Plague, the Colonists ((except for Jamestown)), wanderings of the Jews, ect...

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

It has hindered us GREATLY.

It slowed the process of science, which would it not have happened would have saved us from much bloodshed and brought our modern world to bear far earlier. It has been the subject of thousands of needless wars, cruel governments, and has eternally been a way for monarchies to control the masses. Organized religion should be abolished, or at least be completely removed from state.

TheAsender · Answer

the mystics who received the message of love were often destroyed, Jesus was one of many down through the ages  Although some of them had religions started well after their deaths, of the words that they spread.  The problem was they spread the word of love by the sword and just used it to further there play for power and control and wealth I mention Einstein, a true mystic, in my web site check it out.
They probably set man back by a 1000 years or more

Anonymous · Answer

Hindered.

Even destroyed some cultures.

. · Answer

Hindered. Most of the world's religions have done a good job of spilling lots of innocent blood in wars and conflicts, all in the name of God. He is being misrepresented greatly. Search for the truth, you will find it.

elbeekanob · Answer

Even with all the evil committed in the name of religion, I believe the overall effect has been one of great benefit. Let me explain.

Religion has given us moral codes to live by. It doesn't matter what religion it is. It has a code of ethics that bind people together to do the right thing. Religion has taught us not to lie, steal, cheat, kill and other acts that prevent us from living peacefully together in common society.

Religion has taught us charity. They built hospitals, provided care for our elderly and dying. Religion has given us self worth as a people....given us hope is the face of severe hardship and tragedy....often times given us reason to live.   

Religion is what happens when people of faith (any faith) focus their faith in a common direction. It is what builds a culture. Without religion we would be very poor indeed.

To those who would argue that religion is a source of great evil I would ask them to turn the coin over and examine the other side very closely.

God is Good! · Answer

Do you really think auto's 200 years ago would have been progress? 

We wouldnt have ice caps today and the internet would be moot since all of our computing power would be underwater. I believe faith gives us hope, without hope you have despair.

I love technological progress, but do not believe it is always for the better.



Blessings.

James Melton · Answer

Faith can move mountains. Religion can crush them into rubble.

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Has "religion" helped or hindered mankind as a whole?

7 Answers