Religion is overall not beneficial to the well being of society and humanity

Con’s “Argument” broken apart. Premise 1 “For this debate, I will argue that religion is largely a neutral force as far as societal impact and impact in general goes.” Con contradicts himself. “Here I will take a different route. Islam in itself seems to be hateful against all other nonbeliever of the faith. “ Premise 1 is already negated only using Cons own words. However moreover so , Religion in itself is perhaps the greatest sources of hatred in the world. As Con himself pointed out since religions are so inherently divisive and interdenominational , each religion claims that it’s the only true religion the only path to eternal bliss and so fourth this creates constant friction between different faiths. For example ISLAM. The Quran contains over 109 verses that call Muslims to war with nonbelievers for the sake of Islamic rule. With commands to chop off heads ,fingers and kill infidels wherever they may be hiding those who do not join the fight are called 'hypocrites' and warned that Allah will send them to Hell if they do not join the slaughter. This is again one of many many examples of religion causing direct suffering. Quran (8:12) - "cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them" Not only does the Koran call out for the death and torture of non-believers it also rewards martyrdom. People blow themselves up convinced they are doing the will of god everyday. A excellent example of this would be terrorist acts of 911 the hijackers committed these atrocities entirely in the name of religion , there actions were entirely religiously motivated. The Koran states several times that the martyr can expect an afterlife in paradise: they are "alive" (3:169), and have a blessed afterlife:3:170-174,22:58. Now let’s look at Christianity which promotes misogyny , homophobia , racism , hatred towards others and scientific ignorance. Indeed this cult of human sacrifice has and continues to cause untold suffering and terror. Take a look at Mother Teresa , her preachments are responsible for an enormity of torment and suffering. Mother Teresa let’s look at her. 1.Supported Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's suspension of civil liberties in 1975[1] 2.After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, more than 450,000 Hindu women in Bangladesh had been systematically raped.In these circumstances she asserted her rejection of abortion by publicly renouncing abortion as an option and by calling upon the women left behind to keep their unborn children.[1] 3.The image of Mother Teresa as "helper of the poor" was misleading, and at best few hundred people were served by even the largest of the homes. The (Protestant) Assembly of God charity serves 18,000 meals daily in Calcutta, many more than all the Mission of Charity homes together.[1] 4. Chatterjee exposed many operations of the order which engaged in no charitable activity at all but instead use their funds for missionary work.[1] 5. Former employees of Mother Teresa's exposed her fraud and alleged that Teresa refused to authorize the purchase of medical equipment.[1] Christianity is homophobic. Christianity condones the death of homosexuals as does it condone slavery. The Bible condemns homosexuality several times. Leviticus 20:13 reads "If a man lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." This is precisely why homosexuality has been illegal in Christian lands, and the penalties have been severe. In the Middle Ages, strangled gay men were sometimes placed on the wood piles at the burning of witches (hence the term "faggot"). Indeed most religions condemns homosexuality. Homosexuality is illegal in 82 countries. In some you recive the death penalty as punishment. Why would the creator of the universe condemn homosexuality when many are BORN gay and have no choice.? Because Christianity just like all other religious is false. Is it good for the world to believe a lie? To believe nonsense? No. Christianity is misogynistic 1: Timothy 2:12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. So regarding Premise 1: Religion in itself is ABSOLUTELY HARMFUL. Premise 2: RELIGION HAS AND CONTINUES TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE GREATEST ATROCITIES IN HISTORY. As I clearly demonstrated in my opening case religion has been the sole cause for numerous wars and untold deaths. Please refer to my illustrations. P3. Religion in itself CAUSES evil and and hatred and so fourth , as I described previously. Let’s read some of the bible as my opponent obviously never and is under the very grave misapprehension that Christianity is a peaceful religion . Kill People Who Don't Listen to Priests Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Such evil must be purged from Israel. (Deuteronomy 17:12 NLT) Kill Witches You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:17 NAB) Kill Homosexuals "If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB) Jesus killing his enemies: "So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds. (From the NIV Bible, Revelation 2:22-23)" Kill Fortunetellers A man or a woman who acts as a medium or fortuneteller shall be put to death by stoning; they have no one but themselves to blame for their death. (Leviticus 20:27 NAB) Death for Hitting Dad Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. (Exodus 21:15 NAB) Death for Cursing Parents 1) If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness. (Proverbs 20:20 NAB) 2) All who curse their father or mother must be put to death. They are guilty of a capital offense. (Leviticus 20:9 NLT) Death for Adultery If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NLT) Death for Fornication A priest's daughter who loses her honor by committing fornication and thereby dishonors her father also, shall be burned to death. (Leviticus 21:9 NAB) Death to Followers of Other Religions Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed. (Exodus 22:19 NAB) Kill Nonbelievers They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. (2 Chronicles 15:12-13 NAB) Kill False Prophets If a man still prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall say to him, "You shall not live, because you have spoken a lie in the name of the Lord." When he prophesies, his parents, father and mother, shall thrust him through. (Zechariah 13:3 NAB) It's clear christianity is far from "peacefull". “Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.” Steven Weinberg quote Secular charities KIVAPlanned Parenthood USA lanned Parenthood International Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières Donors Choose Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science Foundation Beyond Belief Kansas City Atheist Coalition The American Red Cross Direct Relief International The American Humanist Association Partners in HealthUNICEF American Civil Liberties Union British Humanist Association Oxfam These and countless other organizeations do good not becuse they wish to evade some eternal punishment or reward but becuse they truly care about the suffering of other human beings and do good becuse it's good.These organizations also don't prosletize nonsense or hate or homophobia. And they do it WITHOUT RELIGION. Conclusion.Religion in general has been used repeatedly and currently as a negative force in the world , and since religion is ultimately teaches that believing in the invisible is more important than understanding the perceivable... that personal faith is more important than critical thinking... that that what imaginery beings supposedly say about the world is more real what's in the world itself ...such ideas are the root of much evil and religion is itself the problem. I have provided evidence for my arguments , and I eagerly await my opponents recontrsuction of his points. Sources. http://en.wikipedia.org...