"The World Would Be a Better Place Without Religion" -- A Sentiment Common on College Campuses [View all]

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nick-sexton/the-world-would-be-a-bett_b_4252655.html

Nick Sexton
Student, Princeton University

Posted: 11/16/2013 1:38 pm
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Recently, a friend was telling me how a certain musical artist had entranced him with her talent --until he found out she was very religious and thanks God for her success.

My friend considers himself liberal and advocates for the rights of women, racial minorities, and the LGBT community -- yet, for him, religion elicits a "bad taste in his mouth." Unfortunately, this negative visceral reaction towards religion is something that sometimes seems pervasive among people in our age group, and the Princeton University community is no exception. I have encountered a handful of people who identify as liberal and espouse the necessity of equal rights and tolerance, but turn up their noses at the mere mention of religion. It is problematic that some people nearly cringe upon finding out that someone goes to church every weekend.

I have had quite a few conversations with people who "hate religion," or "don't understand its purpose." The gist of their arguments lies in the idea that religion is used to justify things that are affronts to human rights, or simply as another factor on which we divide ourselves. I spoke with a peer who is deeply involved with Princeton's Society of Secular Humanists. The club recently put up provocative advertisements all over campus, which read, "I think, therefore I am atheist." I asked him if he thinks that religion is generally a positive force for humanity, and he responded that he generally feels that it isn't, that "religions teach...[negative] things directly. You know that famous Bible verse where it says that homosexuality is an abomination. Some Christians take that literally and use that to discriminate against gay people." He went on to assert, "If you look across history, there are way more bad things than good things that come of religion."

I'm generally not a religious person, but from what I've gathered, by talking to friends and family who are, holding faith is a transcendent, personal experience, that should not compel anyone to oppress others. When large religious institutions promote oppressive ideals, it is the fault of power-hungry, hateful individuals -- not the fundamentals that are most central to the religion.

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