Religion
In reply to the discussion: 'I didn't kill her. I killed the demon inside her' - Religious delusion kills again. [View all]Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)On the other hand, real science can be dangerous too.
Anything can be a tool for harming others in the hands of those wanting to do so.
I think the distinction should lie rather in teachings that deliberately focus on two things. First, requiring that in some way other people be given worse treatment than people who share whatever common traits the 'in-group' have. We should treat everyone equally well, whether they share skin tone, gender, gender preference, nationality, or any other traits with us or not.
Second, teachings that we should treat the world we live in now as something that doesn't matter as compared to some future world or 'afterlife'. Not only do we live here now, but those who come after us will have to live with what we leave behind. So we shouldn't just not care about trashing the world simply because we may think that we'll die soon enough and go somewhere 'better'.
So the good parts of religion? Be kind, helpful, generous to others, be a good steward of the world.
The bad parts? Purge the unbelievers, help those who do believe above those who don't, and the lack of respect for our current world, no matter how transient believers might consider it.