Does Religion Hurt More Than It Helps?

Daniel BottittaStaff WriterThe late Christopher Hitchens used to give a proposition that I found very interesting at debates and speeches on the topic of religion. He asked the audience to think of an immoral or evil action that could be committed by a secular person that could not be committed by a believer. He then asked them conversely to think of an immoral or evil action that could be committed by a believer that could not be committed by a secular person. Hitchens maintained that he had not heard a credible response to the first proposition, but that any learned person could think of multiple examples to answer the second.It’s a rather interesting question. One can think of many examples that exemplify his second proposition, but perhaps the one most relevant to the last decade is the rise of theocratic societies in the Middle East that have institutionalized the role of religion in oppressing women. These societies have created a system that persistently and fervently root out any gains made by the feminist and secular movements, and this has caused the suffering of millions of people.This is not to say that Middle Eastern societies would be essentially like western countries if not for extremist religion, but it is evident that in these societies religion has not gravely exacerbated and prolonged all of the conditions that we detest in western culture. When acid is thrown into the face of a woman for dressing immodestly, who can argue that this is not a function of particularly revolting religious belief.Now, it may be easy to brush aside these arguments with the assurance that only certain kinds of religion are not forces for good in the world. Few in Santa Monica are likely to defend Muslim extremists. But where do we, as a society, draw the line?Is it at female circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa, which deadens the sexual pleasure for women entirely? Is it at the Seventh Day Adventist policy to prohibit their children from receiving potentially life-saving medical care? Is it at Scientology’s prohibition of psychiatric care? Is it at Catholicism’s shaming of sexuality in any form? Do we draw the line at male circumcision that has been shown to reduce sexual pleasure and possibly allow infection into a newborn child?Perhaps most damaging is the Catholic Church’s celebration of original sin. This callous cousin of circumcision, which seems to promote the belief that humans are innately imperfect, has been the cause of enormous existential strife for untold billions.Beyond any specific creed or denomination, religion encourages a particular mental state which is at odds with the struggle for temporal fulfillment. With the expectation of a better life in some imagined heaven, the religious are entreated to defer joy in this life. This psychological perspective is also ripe for manipulation by those who would use the faithful’s active rejection of fact to manipulate them for their personal ends.For its barbarism, its base metaphysical claims and the banal life choices it inspires, religion is not a force for good in society. It never was, and never will be.dbottitta@thesamohi.com