Why is religion the root of all evil? What does that mean?

Wow, where to start.

While religion purports to be about love and unity, it creates an us/them mindset, and further divides people.

SO many people have been killed over religion. The Crusades, Indians of North, Central and South America who wouldn't convert for the missionaries, the war in France between Catholics and Protestants, Islamic Jihads, ...

Religion is brainwashing, inflicted on the young. Belief works like blinders, and when someone believes something, they ignore evidence that contradicts their belief.

Religious doctrines are self-contradictory, and ambiguous, which should be proof enough that they aren't holy. People twist the meanings of their doctrines to suit their desired lifestyle.

When religion tells people what is, then they don't think for themselves. They lose out on pondering life's mysteries, and living in awe.

Can You Trust Religion Regarding War?

Alberto served in the army for almost ten years. He recalls: “Our chaplain blessed us, saying, ‘God is with you.’ But I wondered, ‘I am going out to kill, yet the Bible says that “you shall not kill.”’”

Ray was in the navy during World War II. Once, he asked the chaplain: “You come onto the ship and pray for the troops and for victory. Doesn’t the enemy have the same arrangement?” The chaplain answered that the Lord works in mysterious ways.

If that answer does not satisfy you, you are not alone.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

Jesus said that one of the greatest commandments of God is to “love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mark 12:31) Did Jesus place a limit on loving our neighbor based on where that neighbor lives or on what nationality he is? No. He told his disciples: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:34, 35) Their love for one another would be so extraordinary that it would be an identifying mark. They would rathergive their life for one another than to take life from others.

Religion does not exert a powerful moral influence in the lives of most people. Many today have “a form of godly devotion” but prove “false to its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5) Their religious leaders have not set the right example, nor have the clergy given their flocks the needed Scriptural counsel to live morally. Little wonder that many believe that God is not interested in the way they live.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TEACH?

The Bible shows that God has feelings and that our conduct matters greatly to him. When the Israelites of old rebelled against God, “they would make him feel hurt.” (Psalm 78:40) However, there is great “joy in heaven” when a person sincerely changes his wrong behavior. (Luke 15:7) When a person comes to appreciate our heavenly Father’s beautiful qualities, his love for God will grow, motivating him to love what God loves and hate what God hates.—Amos 5:15.

All you have to do is look at the record of the religions around the world. What have they produced? Certainly they don't advocate love. Many people would agree that religion is involved in war and politics. Yet didn't Jesus say that his followers would be no part of the world? Indicating that they would not get involved in politics or in war.

The Apostle Paul warned that “oppressive wolves” would infiltrate the flock and would “speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.”

“Oppressive wolves” made their appearance by the end of the first century. About 98 C.E., the apostle John wrote: “There have come to be many antichrists; . . . They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us.” (1 John 2:18, 19) By the third century, apostasy had led to the development of the clergy class of Christendom, and in the fourth century, Emperor Constantine gave official recognition to this corrupt form of “Christianity.” By adopting pagan rituals and giving them a “Christian” veneer, religious leaders did indeed “speak twisted things.” The effects of that apostasy are still seen in the teachings and customs of Christendom.

Religion is not the root of all evil, just like money is not the root of evil, as people commonly believe. Money is not the root of all evil, but the love of money is. So also religion is not the root of evil, but misinterpreting religion is; fighting in the name of religion is; not accepting other people’s religion is; not realizing that religion asks us to respect all other religions is. All this is the root of evil. If only we realize the true meaning of religion, that it asks us to believe in God, if only we realize that religion is a kindergarten, and we must not change our religion, but go beyond religion to the university of Spirituality, it will make religion an important foundation, a foundation that makes us evolve and realize God. Religion is important, very important. It is not evil, it is good, if it is rightly interpreted.