Is religion the new social evil? Pope on the slippery slope?

In a poll conducted by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in the United Kingdom, faith — defined here not as limited to extremism but rather in the broadest possible terms — was considered to be tantamount to “intolerance, irrational behaviour and the basis for justifying persecution”.

Many of those polled not only believed that faith was divisive but also that it brought about irrational educational and other policies.

As an Orthodox Jew respectful to all faiths, including those who do not believe in any organised religion or in any religion at all, I was a bit taken aback by all of this. When I was growing up, religion was perceived to be the light guiding the path of the individual in his or her quest to attain a well-rounded and beneficial existence. Now it is being seen as some form of moral lassitude.

Yet it did occur to me that, amid the hubris and commercialism of modern-day religion and in particular the conduct of many of the leaders of the various faiths, there lies a compelling argument against organised religion. Setting aside the fact that many of the ongoing wars or conflicts, prejudices and even criminal activities are finding a home in religion, what many have forgotten is that the underlying sine qua non to faith is trust.

Unlike science, where tangible evidence is at hand, a belief system or religion — to a greater or lesser degree — relies on people having faith in something they cannot see or touch. This means that their assessment will, in the main, be guided by those things they can get a handle on — such as the behaviour of a religious group, rabbi, imam or priest — and it is here where many organised religions are coming up woefully short.

In terms of actual wars, which is not the debate we’re primarily concerned with here, religion often plays a part in occasioning the conflict and, in many instances, the intransigence in ending it. This can be due to an interpretation visited by some religious leaders or groups on the principles of their faith — hardly justifiable when humanity looks at the death toll that this occasions. This lends credence to those who want to see an end to organised religion.

Yet most British people who were polled were not concerned with conflict. They were thinking more along the lines of the ways in which religions and their followers affect them on a day-to-day basis.

For example, Terry Sanderson, in his column for the Guardian, asks why the British government continues to praise religion to the skies when half of those surveyed do not believe in God.

His article deals with the way the government goes about its business without giving consideration to the fact that half of the population isn’t interested in religion. Why should they still have to complete documents relating to religious issues?

If this surprises the more religious among us, then consideration must be given to the fact that many prejudices find a home in religion. A good example being the issue of gay and lesbian rights. There is no question that many of the major religions do discriminate against members of this community.

In my case I make no bones about calling this an irrational hatred with no place in modern society. Yet in religion, including my own, it encounters hatred and resentment where people should know better. On this blog we have even looked at the gay Iranian teenager who is facing the death penalty for having sex with another gay boy.

Hardly surprising, then, that these communities see organised religion as their natural enemy.

The women of Saudi Arabia apparently legally belong to their men — this being the strictest interpretation of sharia law within the Muslim world.

Jewish women, in the Orthodox community, are required to sit apart from their men at shul and follow several other rituals peculiar to them. In this regard we view a woman’s role as different rather than inferior.

In the case of Muslim women, I have quoted the Pakistani women who believe that sharia law offers them a buffer from the chaos and violence of modernity.

Having said that, many women the world over believe that religion is misogynistic and treats them as inferior. This in turn alienates a vast number of them from pursuing a religion — or rather an organised religion. Indeed, as mothers bringing up children, it may lead them and their offspring away from it.

Of course, another issue that would be of concern to many is the amount of crime being committed using the guise of religion. In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI was forced to confront the sexual-abuse scandal currently rocking the Catholic Church during his recent visit to the United States.

As many Jews will recall, we recently had the example of one of our Orthodox rabbis who was bust chasing after a member of his congregation’s wife.

This does not sit well with those who are considering the merits or demerits of religion. Again I must state that religion is based in faith, not science. Trust plays a major role in people’s decision whether to follow or abandon this path.

If we consider the prejudice, intolerance and disgusting behaviour of some members of the various religions, it is hardly surprising that people are turning their backs on organised religion.

In China, it is not easy to follow Christianity despite the size of the community. This also puts pressure on Christians either to abandon their faith or to go underground. This entails great sacrifice on their part and begs the question: How much longer will people keep doing this while the religious hierarchy lets them down so abysmally?

In Paraguay, we have a former bishop leaving the Catholic Church in order to make inroads into the devastating poverty afflicting his countrymen. His decision was based on effectiveness rather than persecution. How much more will this contribute to a decrease of church numbers in years to come? Will people regard the church as a hindrance to achieving social and political reform and other goals?

Belief is being perceived to be the preserve of the nutcases and local yokels.

Of course the attacks on atheists by religious observers does not do the cause any favours either.

Religion has to be sold as logically as science, even if the main element requires blind faith. To rant and rave as described in the article by Sue Blackmore sends the message that you have lost the argument, so you’ll batter your opponent into submission. (The Mugabe theory on debating?)

My belief in my own faith remains unshaken, but I believe that religious leaders across the board need to take stock urgently. If they continue to believe that they can carry on regardless — insensitive to other people’s views and concerns — then organised religion is going to come under ever-increasing pressure from the age of information.

People are quickly informed about the conduct of those who are teaching love, tolerance and redemption, while their behaviour suggests otherwise.

In God we trust — others?

Maybe not.