In response to Joey Maresca’s article about the negative effects of religion on mankind, I go back to his quotation of Yoda, “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” This fear that he says starts the domino effect to conflicts between people is not taught by religion. It is the overabundance of misunderstanding and lack of information that people have, that contribute to the sufferings. So I find it ironic that he puts his faith in the truly “individualized” morals of people when it is these people – who have abstract understandings of their beliefs and lack the respect for other denominations – who are the cause of these serious conflicts; not the religion.
Think about it. Other than the groups who enjoy worshipping Satan and evil in general, one will find that each religion out there has a basis or goal to do good. What these good things are vary with each belief system, but bottom line, they are not out to annihilate each other.
The horrendous acts of 9/11 are a result of extremists of the Islam faith. These people are not true Muslims, who are a peace loving people. Catholics and Protestants who are in conflict in Northern Ireland have dogmas that do not believe in warfare. But it is those who choose to disregard that belief and ignore the basic norms of society to respect one another who cause the problems.
I am not a devoutly religious person, but I do believe there is a God. I respect the principles upheld by various denominations, but I have no desire to judge which one is better. The real issue being ignored is the lack of basic respect for people to have their own beliefs and lead their own lives.
Geraldine Malanasophomore in biology
