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Religion’s Place in Utopia Evan Sidrow Language Arts Seminar Organized religion has been a controversial subject ever since its origin. It has been the source of enlightenment and happiness to countless citizens, but has also been the reason for much of the hardship and war in the world. One of the questions that man has struggled with for centuries is where organized religion belongs in a utopian society. Are the hardships brought forward by religion offset by the hope and unity it provides people, or is religion only a pimple on the face of society, which must to be popped by the hand of rationality? There are many opinions on this topic, and all of them must be explored and understood. Many people would argue that religion is vital to the survival of utopia. These people include many (but not all) religious leaders and countless members of organized church. Religion fills a void that nothing else could possibly do. Many beautiful pieces of art and music have been motivated by religion. Without it, art such as the Sistine Chapel and the song //Amazing Grace// would not even exist. Furthermore, charities run by religious organizations do too much good to ignore. A great deal of help has been given to individuals that can not help themselves. The homeless have been given a home, the hungry have been given a meal, and the helpless have been given help. This would not be possible if faith in god was not present. Also, wisdom and scripture can be found all over the world with religious implications. The bible is just one example of this. Several books of incredible teachings and moral stories are found in this “good book”. The Torah, Qur’an, and people like The Dahlia Llama and countless monks join the bible in this category. Much can and should be learned from these sources, and all are religiously affiliated. Additionally, the answers that organized religion provides for the public is undeniably an easy way to answer questions that they alone can not. It gives people a sense of hope and gratitude for the life that they live. People now have a purpose in life, to serve their god. People now have a reason to be good, to be allowed into heaven. People now have a thing to turn to if life is not going well for them, religion. And people now have an entire community millions of people large to belong to. Without all of these answers given to them, a large number of individuals could be haunted by questions that they could not answer. As you may have noticed, these points are true even if the religion that a certain person belongs to isn’t, so the accuracy of the religion is irrelevant. However, some members of more serious religions such as Catholicism and Islam believe that __their__ religion must be in utopia because it is necessary in order for all of the citizens to both be allowed into heaven and for god to bless them. All of these points are valid arguments, and religion clearly brings hope, prosperity, and love into the lives of billions. Without it, an immense amount of the population would be utterly lost. Nevertheless, this is only one side of the story, and there is another point of view that sees quite differently. Other people believe that religion is poisonous and should be kept out of utopia altogether. Many (but not all) atheists and agnostics belong in this group of people. Religion is used as an instrument to do terrible things and sometimes blinds people to what would normally be perfectly rational thinking. The religious community often stops thinking in rational and objective ways because of religion. Two perfect examples of this are the crusades and anti-Semitism. Both of these resulted in countless deaths, all of them caused by religion. Moreover, religion has been a cause for numerous wars and conflict in human history. There is land in the Middle East in which many religions refer to as “holy”. This land has been fought over for centuries and far too many people have died over this land, which appears to be no different than land in America, Asia, or Europe. This is not the only conflict caused by religion. Extremists, not only Muslim, but Christian, Jewish, and every other religion have killed innocent people for their so-called holy cause. Abortion clinics bombed, Planes being hijacked, fear instilled into the hearts of millions, all senseless acts because of the blindness religion has produced in these extremists. Religion also gives good people bad reasons to be good. If being held at gun point by two people, one who said that he would not shoot because he would go to hell, and the other said that he would not shoot because it was wrong, most people would be inclined to trust the second gunman. Religion violates rights that should be given in a world run by rational and objective people as well. Many religions depict gay and female citizens as unequal, and therefore much discrimination is apart of our society today. Gays are often victims of abuse on both a political and personal level, both harassed by the public and not given equal rights by the government. Some religious homosexuals are often driven mad by the sin that they are committing in the eyes of god. Women as well are viewed down on by society. Women were not allowed the right to vote in America until 1920, and are not even allowed to show their faces in some Middle Eastern countries. In addition, intimidation is a major factor in many religions; people are scared into doing what’s right. Images of hell and demons can haunt the mind and force a nice attitude. Although others may see a nice and caring individual, that person may be scared and insecure on the inside, intimidated by his or her religion. Finally, religion often skews the views of politicians. Politicians may try to include his or her religion in the government. This is clearly unconstitutional, and forces religion down the throats of common people. These reasons are only some of the problems that religion has caused. There is sexual abuse, medical draw backs, brainwashing, and flat-out corruption caused by religion. **In a book by Christopher Hitchens called //God is not Great//; Hitchens goes into detail about all of these criticisms of religion. He clearly describes why religion is deadly, irrational, prejudice, ignorant, and corrupt. I would highly recommend it if you find any of these opinions interesting.** Although these two viewpoints have very valid arguments, a great deal of people, including me, feels another way. In a true utopia, religion would still be present, but revised. All of the basic teachings of religion should still be taught, but the semantics and details should be open for the individual to interpret. The moment that any one person starts to take religion to justify rash or irrational behavior, religion is not utopian anymore. This is why all of the violence happened due to religion. It was not actually the religion on its own, but people misinterpreting the teachings and wisdom religion has to offer. Times have also changed, so some of the rules and stories in religion should no longer be accepted. This includes the teachings about gays and females not being equal. In essence, religion is fine when taken on a basic level, but when people start to lose sight of basic morals and love for one another due to the fine details of religion, utopia is lost. If you would notice all of the awful problems with religion, it is caused by just what I have stated before. As the survey I conducted supports, many of my classmates agree with me. However, keep in mind that none of my classmates live in an abusive religious country, nor do they live in a highly religious country where religion is the cornerstone of life and government. Of the people with an opinion, 3 out of every 4 students feel that religion has had a positive impact on their life. Yet, over eighty percent of students do not think that religion is perfect. Therefore, I can conclude that even though religion is a beneficial aspect of many people’s life, it is not perfect, and therefore needs to be altered in a true utopia. Of course, this is only true in the utopia of a group of 8th grade advanced language students. Undoubtedly, religion has both beneficial and dreadful features. The amount of hope, love, and sense of belonging it gives its members is matched only by the conflict and arguments it creates. So, is religion truly utopian? This is not a fact that one can prove. It is only an opinion that one can construct.

Not all atheists are hostile to religion, but many do think that religion is bad. Here are some of their reasons: 
 * This is my utopia project research**
 * THE BAD **
 * Religion gets people to believe something untrue.
 * Religion makes people base the way they run their lives on a falsehood.
 * Religion stops people thinking in a rational and objective way.
 * Religion forces people to rely on outside authority, rather than becoming self-reliant.
 * Religion imposes irrational rules of good and bad behaviour.
 * Religion divides people, and is a cause of conflict and war.
 * The hierarchical structure of most religions is anti-democratic, and thus offends basic human rights.
 * Religion doesn't give equal treatment to women and gay people, and thus offends basic human rights.
 * Religion obstructs scientific research.
 * Religion wastes time and money.
 * religion gives good people bad reasons to be good
 * people kill for religion
 * <span style="font-size: 16.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;">people use religion to sexually offend and apress people
 * <span style="font-size: 16.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;">people are blinded to whats right by what is religiously right
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">people brainwashe their children for their religion
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">religion is harsh on pigs
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">people refuse medicine because of religion
 * People can be scared into doing what is right by hell
 * people use religion as an instroment to rationalize violent and mean things
 * extremistists
 * the church requests money from their patrons for personal finance
 * The church made downright dumb healings to the bubonic plague
 * political leaders can be influenced by their religion and legislate it

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<span style="font-size: 16.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;">The good ======

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<span style="font-size: 16.5pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;"> ====== <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Most atheists willingly concede there are some good things about religion, such as: <span style="font-size: 16.5pt; font-family: 'Arial', 'sans-serif';"> The Middle
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Religious art and music
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Religious charities and good works
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Much religious wisdom and scripture
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Human fellowship and togetherness
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">All of the very bad of religion is only because of twisted veiws and people.... extemists.
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">If religion works for people, so be it if it gives people hope
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It explains things that may haunt people without an answer
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It is easy for people to belong to
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">It is the easy answer to all of lifes problems, even IF untrue
 * Many people can look at these statistics and realize that religion can be a very good thing to many people, but still has its draw backs and people use it to do very bad things. The basic teachings of religion are very wise, but people somtimes take the bible to literally and dont see the harm they are causing by it. This is what I beleive, and It makes the most sence to me.

RESOURCES <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">[] [] http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090406215930AAPYUuc God is not great by Christopher Hitchens, ever so kindly lended to me by shannan sweeny. Thanks! [] interview on Pastor Daneil Schultz mconducted by [] my noggin

The Accused ** Unanimity. Because of this one word my demise is inevitable. To think that if it has not been for this word I could be roaming the streets just like one of you. I could come home to my loving wife, beautiful family, and well-paying job, without a care in the world. But because of unanimity, that can’t happen. Instead, I get to sit in a box, waiting for the day that I will surely perish. ** That son of a bitch Parker really out did himself this time. He’s pure evil, and he’s a genius. The perfect crime. This really was // the perfect crime. // I remember when the phone rang only two weeks ago. Sitting on my couch, I watched some Gossip Girl with my large Doctor Pepper, just like every Thursday. The phone scared me as it suddenly rang with RRRIINNGG. Once I picked it up, I could here my good friend Parker on the phone; he asked me if I was open on Saturday to have a guy's day out. //Why not?// I thought. I had nothing planned on Saturday, and Parker and I had some catching up to do. I heard that his parents had recently passed away, so he probably needed someone to let out his feelings with. That put me inside of his house, right where I was supposed to be for the story that was made up to fit together. However, I was not the only one there. Parker was there as well. Who did the home belong to? Who knows about all of the nooks and crannies in the house? Not I! Oh, no, it was not I! ** As I sat in the seat of the burgundy desk labeled “defendant”, I could not help but to realize just how hopeless my situation was. Standing by the juror’s table was an idiotic looking man named James Jones. As a part of the jury, the job belonged to James to determine whether or not I deserved to be imprisoned for the rest of my life. They sure choose the wrong guy for this job. Bright pink stains littered his tie. From where, I’d rather not know. The rest of his outfit was no better, a puke-ish green color that stood out in the worst form of the word. This man was convinced of my guilt. ** Parker knew that I might have been sour about my dad giving me nothing in his will. My father founded a company when he was only 18 years old. Its name is Logitech, a software company that has been thriving for nearly fifty years. Because of this, he was very wealthy man. But he gave none of his money to me. My father only wrote his will a few short days before the crime, so it could have been a crime of passion. That gives me the motive. Oh, but how they overlooked this as well! I did not care that my father gave me no money. My dad loved me to no end and that is far more valuable than any amount of money. ** The only reason why this idiot was certain of my evil doing was that DNA testing meant everything to James Jones. As soon as my DNA was found on the weapon, James’ face exploded with excitement, for he thought that justice was to be served. How pitifully wrong he was. ** Although I was given no money, it was // Parker // was entitled to all of the money in my father’s will. Do you know why? Parker was a good family friend, and could not support himself without tons of support from my parents. My father knew this. Because Parker’s mother and father recently passed away, the poor couple died in a tragic car crash, my father gave all of his money to Parker, the lazy bum who couldn’t get a job. ** James only stared the other way as countless other pieces of evidence exemplified my innocence. I did NOT have the proper motive. I did NOT have the time to wake up and go into my father’s room. At least that was what my lawyer argued. ** Parker had a whole day planned. We would play baseball in the morning, a nice lunch at noon, and an exciting evening watching the football game to end the day. The morning began with a nice game of baseball, my father’s favorite pastime. The grass was green, and the mood was optimistic. Each of us had a turn to bat, except for Parker. // He ////said// that his back was hurting, and so he played all-time fielder, and never touched the bat. ** Perhaps the only characteristic about James that outshined his stupidity was his stubbornness. This man could wait up to a year to convict me of the false crime, if it took that long. Most of the jurors gave me pitiful looks that said, “I don’t think that you are guilty, but I don’t think I can convince everyone”. Pretty specific looks, but almost every jury member looked me in the eye with the same glare! That Jones man was my only opposition. However, that Jones man was very worthy opposition. ** Okay, everything was fine so far. My belly felt like a time bomb ticking away, ready to explode, as one of the buttons on my tiny jeans snapped. Parker looked back from the driver’s seat in his Hummer H2 as we drove off of The Cherry Cricket, my absolute favorite burger joint. Damn Hummers. I hated them. They had so much unnecessary space, such unnecessary gas guzzling. Even still, the mood was jolly because it was clear that everyone was about to explode from all of the food that was eaten. No one expected a thing. ** By now I could only wait. I skipped the whole courtroom crud; the entire trail was all lawyer stuff that even I couldn’t understand. After four long weeks, my fate was decided. I sat behind the all too familiar defendant’s table, waiting to hear the jury’s decision. This decision meant either a long and happy life with my wife and kids, or a life of pure misery. It all came down to this simple statement. ** I crashed on the couch as soon as I slammed open the pine door coming back into Parker’s home. Game time! The two best teams in the NFL, the Detroit Lions and Huston Texans, were about to brawl it out in the AFC division finals. After what I saw next, I was convinced that this man was trying to fatten my father and me up so that he could eat us. I indulged myself in the gooey, thick nachos that were only one of many, many hors d'oeuvres that Parker had prepared for us. Although I was as stuffed as I thought humanly possible, the wide arrangements of food on the table was impossible to resist. However, the food was probably the highlight of the football game. All three of us sat on the couch without motion for almost three hours as the game simply would not end. The Texans scored first (and last) early in the first quarter. From then on, not one more point was scored. No one in the room could say anything to each other. It was amazing how such a hyped up game was such a miserable excuse for football. By the end of the game, the old grandfather clock next to the television read 10:00 PM. The weight of my eyelids on my eyes was incredible. “Hey, Parker, do you mind if I crash at your place for the night?” These words being uttered from my mouth were the biggest mistake I have ever made. “Yes, I am afraid that it would be well into the next day by the time I got home if I don’t sleep here,” My father supposed. “Do you mind if I sleep here as well?” The smirk on his face should have given it away. That smile had the characteristics of pure mischief. He was up to something, and I knew it. I could have stopped it right there. I’m so stupid. I could have stopped this! ** The court room felt as if an elephant danced around on top of the shoulders of everyone present. James was talking what felt like an eternity to begin announcing the verdict. Finally, the words started to flow from his cold, chapped lips. ** ** “Your honor,” ** I must have been into a sound sleep for about three hours. Man, those beds were so comfortable. Parker’s parents left behind quite a fortune. Unfortunately, since his dad was quite the player, Parker had many half siblings. This divided up the fortune equally between about ten people. Heck, the government was going to split all of Parker’s belongings up (including the house) in about a week. The poor man was about to lose it all. That must have been why he did it. Anyway, a sudden //THUD// on the floor awoke me at once. With no time to prepare myself, I saw it. There it was the corpse of my dead father. Beaten to a pulp by no other murder weapon than the same bat we enjoyed a nice game of baseball with each other. Blood trickle down the pale nose of the lifeless man. Black, blue and red splotches littered the body, leaving almost no areas to spare. I could do nothing else but to stare in horror at the hideous sight. Gloves shined in the moonlight as they closed the door ever so carefully. //What just happened?// //How could this happen? Who could have done this? Could I have stopped this? __Why?__// As all of these questions raced through my mind, as all of my sorrow was suddenly unleashed, when all of my life and love for my father appeared, and was, hopeless, miserable, and forgotten, one named exploded in my head like dynamite. Parker. · · ·   ** Oh my god. By now I felt like crawling in a hole and killing myself. My entire body collapsed under the pillars, the pillars that trampled me under the weight of a life and almost death decision. The man reading the verdict started to become blurry as my senses shut down from the bone- crushing weight. ** ** I… I could barely make out what was said when my fate was decided. **
 * Okay, I can do this. I have confidence in the rest of the jury. They can overpower one man. **
 * “We, the Jury,” **
 * Never mind. I’m a little nervous. I mean, this could send me to prison for the rest of my life! **
 * “Find the defendant” **
 * Hurry up! Hurry up! I can’t take it! I could handle seeing the face of my father’s murderer, I could even handle seeing my father’s dead body, but this is unbearable! God, please let me get this over with, I need to go home to my kids. They NEED me. **
 * “Guilty of all charges” **
 * There it was. The path my life was going to take. Pure misery. Pure misery!! At this point, I couldn’t even feel my toes. My own name was foreign to me. The pillar of tension was quickly replaced by the pure weight of dismay. No pillar, block of cement, or anything could even compare to the pure power of this emotion. My eyes could only stare at the tiles that covered the courtroom floor as the guards clutched my hands and dragged me off to the one place on earth that I least deserved to be. **