The main religions, ironically, are the worst and most backwards religions that there are, and I think they are pointless and do more harm than good. Yes, I'm talking about Islam, Christianity and Judaism.
Some religions, however, such as Buddhism, I find less offensive as they are more a way of life and are very personal and there seems to be less preaching and indoctrination.
Religions are ridiculous for the following reasons.
1.They act as an identifier and cause segregation amongst communities. ie. Northern Island (catholic/protestant divide) or Sunni/Shia divide in Iraq.
2.The actual teachings in their holy books are violent, racist, homophobic, sexist and intolerant towards other religions/beliefs ie apostacy punishable by death in Islam.
3.They restrict advancement of the human race - I'm thinking about stem cell research, cloning and also the pope's idiotic comment that people in aids ridden Africa shouldn't wear condoms but pray instead. Also, teaching noah's ark in a science lesson??? Refusing to teach evolution.
4.Relgion gives people an excuse to do bad things - Terrorists think they will be martyred if they kill people in the name of their religion.
5.The morality of religion is awfully shallow in a lot of cases. People do good things to avoid damnation and to gain reward in the after life.
6.The religious look on life, which teaches that you some how get another life after death, seems to me to devalue this life somewhat and make this life less important because you'll get another chance.
7.Religion is like a virus spreading from generation to generation, catching children when they are young and impressionable and labelling them catholic or jewish children. This is wrong, they aren't old enough to make their minds up yet and be labelled accordingly!!!
8.Religion seems to have this impervious coat surrounding it, which shields it from any criticism. Why does it deserve this protection? Everything should be open to criticism without the fear of causing offence.
9.Religion has this stupid idea that it created the morals in the world and that if it wasn't for religion we would all be killing and stealing from each other. Wrong! Morals are a lot older than religion, they are what make our species successful on an evolutionary path. We realised long ago, as did most primates, that it is better for our survival if we work together and do good in the community and support each other. We have altruistic genes that play a part in this too.
10.My last comment, the idea of a god just doesn't make sense - If we needed a creator to create everything, then who created god?
