Would We Be Better Off Without Religion? An Essay from an Ex-Christian on the Value of Religion

The debate on the benefits of religion versus the harms of religion is as poignant and passionate today as it ever has been. Some would argue that religion itself is inherently evil and the root cause of mass destruction, with genocide and oppression at the top of their list of examples. On the opposite side of the spectrum are those who adamantly argue that without the framework of religion, people would have no moral compass at all. Which view is right? Would the world be better off with or without religion? I am in the somewhat unique position to have an abundance of experience in the religious world, complete with a theological degree and twenty-seven years of involvement in Christian ministry, and yet have ultimately walked away from religion. Despite walking away from religious belief personally, I still believe there is enough value within religion to consider it useful within certain frameworks. Let's explore the benefits of a world that retains religion, beginning with scientific studies that reveal the positive effects of religious practice on the brain, then move to a historical argument on the social progress religion has inspired, and finally, examine some arguments against the value of religion with an attempt to place them in balance with why religion matters.

One of the most compelling arguments for the importance of religion in society is the scientific evidence of the neurological effects of religious practice. Andrew Newberg et al have several studies where they have taken brain scans of people from various faiths while they participated in religious rituals such as praying, chanting, or meditating and comparing them with scans of the same people when not engaged in spiritual practice. One of these studies they performed on aging people who were experiencing memory loss. Newberg took a brain imaging scan at the beginning of an eight-week period, then taught participants a basic mantra to repeat for twelve minutes daily for the following eight weeks. After the eight weeks were complete, he took another scan of their brains, which revealed remarkable results. The participants reported feeling greater clarity of thought and quicker recollection of memory. The scans themselves confirmed improvements of 10-15 percent (Talk of the Nation, 2010). 

Because humans are social creatures, having a common worldview with regularly scheduled services to share in the expression of these beliefs is important to overall mental health and usually motivates social action for the betterment of the community.  This can be recognized in the establishment of hospice and palliative care, which were founded by religious communities. The end of slavery was largely influenced by abolitionists, who took their inspiration from the Scriptures and attributed their strong belief in equality to God and Christian values. Rabbi Julia Neuberger states, “In my view if we didn’t have religion, we would be even more selfish, self-indulgent, certain, and cruel, more than we already are. Religious people can without doubt be all those things. But they can, at best, change the world because they believe in moral purpose, experience a sense of inspiration above and beyond themselves, as many of us do, and are inspired by their belief to act.” (Films Media Group, 2007)

There are some, perhaps many, that would counteract these arguments with their own examples of religion-inspired atrocities. These could range from 9/11 to conversion therapy for the LGBTQ community, to racism and slavery. A recent example of the harm that fundamentalist Christian ideologies were linked to is the January 6^th Insurrection at Capitol Hill in the United States. Amidst propagandic symbolism devoted to White supremacy were Christian symbols such as crosses and signs pledging allegiance to Jesus and Donald Trump, almost as if they were one and the same. A term coined by Marlene Winell referring to PTSD symptoms related to religious extremism is Religious Trauma Syndrome, something that many people, including myself, have come to identify with (Winell, n.d.). However, studies show that the harms versus the benefits that religion can offer the world are largely based on what kind of god a person believes in. Referring to Newberg’s work, Mike McHargue speaks of the dichotomy of the “Angry God” versus the “Loving God”. The Angry God is the one who rains down judgment on sinners and whose angry actions and words are attributed to his justice. People who believe in this type of God tend to be hard on themselves and others, as they view their own set of standards as an extension of God’s. This leads to higher levels of stress and anxiety, and quicker reactions of anger and fear towards people and things outside of one’s worldview. However, on the flip side of the coin, belief in a loving God shows significant differences in the brain and behaviour, such as richer gray matter in the prefrontal cortex, and greater focus, concentration, compassion, and empathy. The key is not to hold belief higher than the Love it produces. “I’ve learned that the need for certainty is an addiction we can kick… We can approach beliefs not as gems to be mined from the earth and protected with clenched fists, but as butterflies that land on an open hand—as gifts to enjoy but not possess.” (McHargue, 2016, p.141)

The challenge, then, is to practice religion in such a way that it is an asset rather than a weapon or burden. There are ways in which religion can be extremely damaging to an individual, and indeed, entire people groups. Does that mean the whole thing should be thrown out? Not necessarily. Rabbi Julia Neuberger states, 

“… one reason I feel so strongly that we wouldn’t be better off without religion is that by no means all religion is fundamentalist, extreme, exclusive, and damaging. At its best, it’s something modest, inspiring, and sustaining. The modern division, to my mind, should be seen as that between those full of certainty, who scorn the beliefs about others and have a dogma of their own that allows for no real debate, and those who are occasionally full of doubt, but who are tolerant and who are respectful of other people’s views.” (Films Media Group, 2007).

If one can find a way to embrace a loving God, and at the same time be open to the meaning, practice, and outlook of that belief changing as that person grows in maturity, religion can be not only meaningful but extremely beneficial. Take it from an ex-religious individual... as deeply as religion can hurt, it can deeply heal. There is a place in the world for religion if it can be held with an open hand.

 

 

 

 

 

References

Films Media Group. (2007, March 19). We’d be better off without religion: A debate. Films On Demand. https://fod-infobase-com.ezproxy.mohawkcollege.ca/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=105603&xtid=40529

Mike McHargue. (2016). Finding God in the Waves: How I Lost My Faith and Found It Again Through Science. Penguin Random House.

Talk of the Nation. (2010). Neurotheology: This is Your Brain on Religion. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2010/12/15/132078267/neurotheology-where-religion-and-science-collide

Winell, M. (n.d.). It’s Not Just Personal: The Collective Trauma of Religion. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/viewer.html?pdfurl=http%3A%2F%2Famericanhumanist.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F07%2F01_Winnell-Its-Not-Just-Personal.pdf&clen=128834&chunk=true