Hear No Evil - A Brief Discussion on the Functionality of Religion in Society Essay

Abstract The main points of this essay are as follows; with the coming of modernisation religion is becoming less necessary, it is replaced by science and ethics born of logic rather than superstition. Modern religious fundamentalists thus try to mount a counter offensive against modernity in the form of terrorism or hateful protests and general bigotry. Although as a gatekeeper it keeps a minority of people down in terms of limiting some crimes under the fear of hell, religious belief for centuries have been used to justify some of the worst crimes mankind has ever known. Another point I make is that religion is anti-intellectual in its content as it demonstrates that knowledge and power are evil, and destructives influences. In terms of cultural integration and transmission of values, I have tried to show that when taken literally (fundamentally) most religious texts incite violence and hatred toward other religions and those they deem undesirable (homosexual/adulterers/atheists/people who have sex out of wedlock). Religion in this context actually serves not only to divide people from each other but to divide people from the physical world, thus further justifying violence and persecution as bodies are finite but the soul is seen as infinite, thus devaluing the lives of individuals. Every society passes through certain stages; the first is religion, as we lack physical evidence for existence we turn to a belief in an unseen higher power to explain creation. The second stage develops on this as we move into metaphysical concepts of our existence, we start mapping the world with logic rather than farfetched stories of mythical beings. The final stage is a positive or scientific stage, where the mysteries of the universe are unravelled with the aid of science and logic to reveal the truth. Human knowledge becomes more definite as it is refined through these stages. â€Å"in the end, when all society has passed through these stages, ethics will become a science, no less objective in its results than physics or chemistry. At this point, the moral and political conflicts of the past will disappear† John Gray (2003) This is the stage we live in today, sadly there are those trapped in a previous age by archaic belief structures that have no basis in reality. To those with apocalyptic beliefs (Christians/Jews/Muslims/Catholics) the world is finite and human life is insignificant in comparison to that of God, which to some degree I agree with but this reasoning is often used to justify inhuman carnage everyday. â€Å"They love Pepsi cola, but we love death† (Taliban fighter). Martyrs feel no pain; they give their bodies to God without thought. Their lives are worth nothing, they are empty vessels who worship death as an escape from the life they have no love for. All responsibility in their eyes lies on god, they see they’re actions as the will of god and thus subtract all their own agency from the equation; they have no responsibility for their actions all they do is push the button, it’s up to god as to what happens next. â€Å"We should not be trying to solve problems through human intellect, we should seek   Ã‚  Ã‚  salvation instead† (Ian Buruma. 2004:81) The terms â€Å"religious education† are somewhat juxtaposed as the purpose of religion today is to argue against science and against knowledge, the only book fundamentalism holds dear is their own religious text. Adam and Eve is a story about the corruption of knowledge, they lived happily in ignorant bliss and then they ate from the tree of knowledge and were cast out to suffer on alone. Here and now doesn’t matter to religion, life is a waiting room and people just scramble around trying to score points waiting to be dead. â€Å"We seek religion because we are afraid of the present† (Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 1939-1987). People turn to religion because they’re afraid to live their own lives. â€Å"Religion can never reform mankind because religion is slavery† Robert G. Ingersoll (1833-1899) Every institution on the face of the earth lies, why not religion? In fact it is the foundation all the other lies are dependant on, removing it is key to modernisation. Religion is a prison, it tells you what to think, what to wear, what to eat, who to marry, what to buy, who to kill. It serves no other purpose than to detach the species from the natural world and each other. â€Å"Hush up and obey your god!† Shirley Phelps (Matriarch of the Phelps family of the Westboro Baptist church 2007) Westboro Baptist church is a relatively small fundamentalist Christian sect, which is most famous for picketing the funerals of dead soldiers returning from Iraq and the Australian actor Heathe Ledger as he portrayed a homosexual cowboy in the film â€Å"Brokeback Mountain†. They preach hate and intolerance towards gay people and gay culture, which to them encompasses anyone involved in perverted sex acts; anything other than one man and one woman in their marital bed. They carry signs exclaiming; â€Å"God Hates Fags!† God for these people isn’t a creator, he’s someone to blame. He is a scape-goat for their homophobic beliefs. They hide behind their god. They pour their hate through this imaginary figure because in their minds it washes their hands of it. They distort their religion for their own vicious agendas and hold god responsible. Modern society forces the decay of religion. When we read something like â€Å"God Hates Fags† our natural impulse is revulsion, we know this is wrong, being gay isn’t a choice we’re all born differently but we are all more or less the same. We have evolved in terms of human rights and sexuality to a point where religion isn’t as necessary as it once was. It’s because of this terrorism and fundamentalism is born, terrorism is a defensive action taken by religion trying to avoid its own demise. We just didn’t assume they would fight so hard. Bilbliography: Gray, J. (2003). Al Qaeda and what it means to be Modern. Faber and Faber limited. Joseph, P. (Writer Director) (2007). Zeitgeist. USA: Retrieved from http://www.zeitgeistmovie.com/ Pinkerson, D., Levin, M. (Director) Voll, D. (Writer) (2000). Soldier in the Army of God. USA: Offline Entertainment Group. Theroux, L. (Writer and Producer) (2007). The Most Hated Family in America. UK: BBC Townsend, C. (2002). Terrorism, a very short introduction. Uk: Oxford university press.

The Fourth Amendment Act Of The United States - 1378 Words

Introduction: The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights that prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures and requires any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. In the landmark cases below, the cases went to court because the defendant accused law enforcement of violating their Fourth Amendment Rights. Under the Constitution the Fourth Amendment protects officers of unreasonable search and seizures. Officials as public schools has the authority to search student’s property. These officials are representatives of the state and they do not need to obtain a warrant to search a student’s property. Officers are also protected under the Fourth Amendment when using a trained drug dog to investigate for evidence outside a person’s home. The following landmark cases had an impact on law enforcement. Case 1: New Jersey v. T.L.O. 469 U.S. 325 (1985) Facts: At a New Jersey High School, a fourteen year old girl and her companions was caught in the bathroom smoking cigarettes by a teacher. The girls were taking to the Principal’s office. In response to the Vice Principal’s questioning, the girls denied that they had been smoking. Upon demanding to see the girl’s purse, he found a pack of cigarettes and then noticed a rolling paper associated with marijuana. After a thorough search, the Vice Principal found some marijuana, a pipe, plastic bags, and other items associated with drug dealing. Delinquent proceedings wereShow MoreRelatedWiretapping And The Fourth Amendment Rights Of Criminals1559 Words   |  7 Pages1928- Olmstead v.United States Supreme court rules federal investigators can wiretap into suspects phones legally, and use those conversations as evidence. Roy Olmstead, a suspected bootlegger, was bugged in the basement of his office, and also in the streets surrounding his home. 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More than two years after the incident the victim identified Glenn Joseph Raynor, hereby known as petitioner, as a possible suspect. After departing a voluntary police interview in which petitioner ultimately

Hesters Story Essay Example For Students

Hesters Story Essay Hesters StoryHesters StoryRegarding The Scarlet Letter, the subject of of the main character has been widely debated by all. Some say that it is Hesters story, while others insist that it is Dimmesdales story. Personally, its quite obvious to me that the novel is centered around Hester, for shes the character that develops and grows the most. Throughout the story, Hester matured, became more independent and earned the respect of the townspeople. When Hester was first released from prison, she was openly defiant towards the townspeople. To rebel against her punishment, she elaborately embroidered the scarlet A into a beautiful work of art. Her pride demanded that she held her head high and not conform to the Puritan ways. ?Those who had before know her?in which she was enveloped.? (56). As the story progressed, Hester put aside her pride and placed her priority in Pearl, her daughter. She learned to be more self-reliant and when forced to take up embroidery to support her child. In addition, she worked hard to remain chaste and help the unfortunate to build a role for Pearl as the daughter of a respected woman, instead of as an illegitimate bastard of a condemned criminal. Hesters dilligence and kindness won over the respect and admiration of the townspeople, who had earlier ostracized her. She provided help and comfort for all that needed them. Soon, even the interpretation of her punishment changed. People began to say that the scarlet A meant Able, for it reprented Hesters helpfulness. Do you see that woman with the embroidered badge? they would say to strangers. ?It is our Hester-the towns own Hester, who is so kind to the poor, so helpful to the sick, so comfortable to the afflicted.? From the very beginning, Hester took responsibility for her actions. She never revealed the name of her ex-lover, Dimmesdale, because she believed that it was her duty to face the consequences. In order to secure a promising future for her daughter, Hester tossed aside her pride to transform into a model citizen. By making the best out of her circumstances, she earned the admiration of her peers, who were impressed by her courage and determination. After leaving New England to arrange a marriage for Pearl, Hester returned by her own free will to live out the terms of her punishment. ?But, in the lapse of the toilsome, thoughtful, and self-devoted years that made up Hesters life, the scarlet letter ceased to be a stigm a which attracted the worlds scorn and bitterness, and became a type of something to be sorrowed over, and looked upon with awe, yet with reverance too.? (273). Through it all, she matured and grew not only as a woman, but also as a survivor. English Essays