Religion is defined as "a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs."A specific set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of people.The article is not about God or gods.The negative aspects of organized religion will be discussed in this article.
Step 1: Understand the meaning of religion.
Religion establishes symbols, narratives, and traditions that relate humanity to spirituality and moral values.Religion is often used interchangeably with faith or belief in God, but it has a public aspect.Belief in the God of Abraham would be theism.Catholicism is the religion.
Step 2: Don't start a discussion about religion without knowing how organized religion works.
Islam and Judaism are the most discussed religions as they have an understanding of the main Christian religious ideologies.
Step 3: Books like God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens and The Moral Landscape by Sam Harris can be used for research.
Daniel Dennett wrote about religion as a natural phenomenon.Counter arguments to points about morality and an understanding of the history of various religions are important.
Step 4: Understand some of the arguments against organized religion.
Group-think is replaced by focused, independent thought when you subscribe to a religion.You're told what to believe instead of learning to discern truth on your own.You rob yourself of spiritual depth perception and attach blinders that don't allow you to see all realities if you say "I am a Catholic"The majority of believers are at the bottom of the hierarchy, where power is lightest.Religions can turn human beings into sheep.They erode your trust in your own knowledge and convince you to put it into an external entity, such as a deity or a great book, so that you can be saved.You have to attend church, read religious texts, and pray in order to be a part of a religion.Some people take this to the next level by studying religious texts or other time consuming activities.You can either forgo intelligence or become a hypocrite when you subscribe to an organized religion.You can either believe everything the religion tells you, or you can recognize that many parts of religion are nonsense, but you still believe it to be true.Are you born in North America?Chances are you follow a religion.Are you born in India?You might be a Hindu.Do you know if you were born in Tibet?Is it possible to be a Buddhist?Do you think you would have found your way to religion if you were born somewhere else?Are your current beliefs a result of your environment or a choice you made?Fear of excommunication, fear of being different and abandoning the community are just a few of the fears.You live under constant fear when you practice organized religion.You forget it's there eventually.Different Christian sects have different interpretations of Christian morality.Individual Christians disagree about what God's moral law is.Christian religions take their morality from the Bible, but like to pick and choose what is relevant and what can't be ignored.The book of Leviticus says that the gays are going to hell.The book of Leviticus says those are bad, but it wasn't relevant at that time.Many Christians assume that unbelievers can't be moral or morally decent.Sometimes friends and family members decide that a former Christian can't be moral anymore after deconverting.Violence in Christianity has been condoned by religions as a whole, despite the atrocious acts carried out by individual believers.The lives of many people have been taken in the name of God and Christianity.In the USA, debates still rage about whether or not evolution should be taught in public schools.In parts Africa where there is a serious AIDS problem and many families are unable to care for the children that they already have the Catholic Church continues to maintain their position that condoms are bad.The physical and sexual abuse of persons in their custody is one of the morally questionable activities of some catholic clergy.The abuses were covered up by the church.Abuse victims were told to keep quiet or be excommunicated and the abusers were in most cases moved to other locations.Those who choose to commit acts of violence and terror in the name of Allah will find plenty of reason to do so.Political Islam has a strong adherence to Sharia law.The ideas in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are at odds with some aspects of the Sharia.No individual or group can have rights that are not in line with the tenets of the Sharia.apostasy in Islam is the rejection in word or deed of their former religion by someone who was previously a follower of Islam.There is disagreement among Muslim scholars about the limits of freedom of belief in Islamic texts.Afghan Abdul Rahman, who converted to Christianity, was sentenced to death for apostasy.Muslims always tell everyone that Islam gives more rights to women than any other religion.If they mean "Qur'anic Islam", the rights that it has given to women are impressive.Islamic Law is not solely derived from the Quran, and many of Muhammad's extra-Quranic sayings appear to curtail womens Human Rights severely.Muslims who practice female genital cutting cite authentic ahadith to support the practice, as Muhammad believed it was more pleasurable for the husband.A review of Muslim history will show many areas in which women continue to be subjected to different forms of oppression.Muslim societies seem to be more concerned with controlling women's bodies and sexuality than with their human rights.
Step 5: There are many positive contributions made to society by religion.
Religion enhances local communities in which human relationships can flourish, religious communities make massive contributions through deeds of charity and social action, and religion can give people a sense of community and make people feel welcome.
Step 6: Don't judge other people's views or opinions.
The discussion should begin with respect for everyone involved.The majority of theists think that an attack on religion is an assault on their god or gods.Make it clear that you are not questioning their belief in a personal god when you discuss organized religion only.
Step 7: Proceed slowly into the discussion.
Religion is not considered a "polite conversation" for a lot of people.Everyone should be open to discussing religion.
Step 8: Listen to what everyone has to say in the conversation.
Step 9: You should be open to counter arguments and differing opinions.
There are many positives in favor of religion.
Step 10: Don't think you are going to convert anyone.
The purpose of the discussion is to broaden everyone's horizon, not to pull anyone away from their religion.
Step 11: If the conversation is no longer constructive, walk away.
If the conversation spirals into an argument, be prepared to walk away.