Religion is the cause of many of the world's problems

RCWPD: 2 Thank you for responding so quickly. While I recognize that definitions were provided, I knew for a fact that you had misinterpreted what I had said into something that does not make sense. Saying "of the world's" problems implies that I am talking about the people AND Earth, not specifically the environment. Your interpretation was incorrect, and I felt it necessary to point this out so that you do not continue to make mistakes in your argument. I would also like to point out that while I did admit that people are the cause of the world's problems, they will always be the cause of the world's problems. The reason they cause the problems, however, is what I am focusing on. One arguing that science causes many problems in the world, for example, would that say that people build polluting cars in the name of science and advancement. Your misunderstanding of what I have laid out in my opening argument is perfectly reasonable, and I, as a fair player, simply wanted to point this out to you before you turned this debate into something entirely off topic. Another thing I'd like to point out is that my first argument is only a taste of a much more detailed argument that I will be posting, and is more of a guideline so that you know what to expect that you are up against. One last thing to point out is that while non-religious people cause problems as well, it is quite obvious that there are plenty of acts of pollution made in the name of religion, such as dumping statues of idols into bodies of water, which pollute the environment and are not practices that non-religious people participate in. While it may be an indirect act of pollution, which means that the worshippers do not fully realize that they are polluting the environment, it is still an act of pollution made in the name of religion. I was just hoping to clarify these things for you so that, again, you do not continue to make the same mistakes that you have made thus far. Continuation of Environmental Aspect: Residents of Lagos, Nigeria, have recently complained about the noise pollution coming from two places of worship in their community. One of these churches is situated at the front of Block 173 Zone B, while the other is beside Block 174. According to an article about the noise pollution in Lagos, the link to which is located in the bibliography, "Before now, residents say, they enjoyed a serene environment and they looked forward to going home after a hard day"s pursuit. That hope has gone with the winds, as they are now treated to daily noise from their new "neighbors." These new "neighbors, as is obvious, are the two churches now located within the area. The use of loudspeakers and musical instruments projects sound much further than it needs to, and the noisy worship services have kept many a resident awake during the night, as well as disrupting the peace during the day. One woman went so far as to sue a church, something that many people in the area have neglected to do. "But if the residents of Iba Housing Estate are afraid to speak out, 79-year-old Mrs. Esther Ogunsalu is not. After enduring an alleged 13 years of traumatic noise pollution from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, located on 4, Sogunle Street, Abule Onigbagbo Estate, Ikeja, she sued the church in 2012. At the hearing, the hypertensive retired matron had told an Ikeja High Court, presided over by Justice Aishat Opesanwo, that the worshippers" noise not only prevented her from sleeping whenever she wanted, it also triggered off her hypertension. She says she spent N200,000 on the case. The court advised her and the defendant to agree on some terms of settlement to be decided by the two of them. They did, and Opesanwo based her judgment on that. In reaction, the parish pastor, Mr. Dapo Morawo, denies the allegation that the church disturbed the peace of the community. Nevertheless, he says, the parish has since complied with the judgment." While the level of noise pollution coming from this church may have lowered, another place of worship, the Evangelical Apostolic Church, has also been a source of complaints from the nearby population. "In a letter addressed to Governor Babatunde Fashola and signed by Mr. Olusegun Olomofe, the residents accused the Lagos State Environment Protection Agency of failing to check noise pollution in their area. The letter reads in part, "Since the Evangelical Apostolic Church moved into the neighbourhood, its activities have been inimical to the general well-being of the residents and the noise level unbearable. And many elderly residents are not able to sleep whenever their (church) service is in session"" Yet another example of a place of worship keeping nearby residents awake at night when they should be peacefully resting. While it cannot be argued that religious practices are the ONLY cause of pollution, or even the most common, these sacred religious churches, temples, mosques, and more cause plenty of noise pollution on their own. While they succeed in spreading the word of their God(s) to the members of their church, they also succeed in bothering the surrounding population during the day and night. All of this is done in the name of their God(s) and their religion. Con's Rebuttals: An argument that Con could make against my case is that not all churches create noise pollution. However, the subject of debate is that religion causes MANY of the world's problems, not all of them. This means that while MANY churches create noise pollution by using unnecessary loudspeakers and noisy musical instruments, not all churches, or other places of worship for that matter, create noise pollution. Another point that could be made is that, in some cases, the residents complaining about noise coming from churches and government agencies who respond to those complaints are biased. Other complaints by churches in the area are about the restrictions placed on worship services. "By dictating the time, period and frequency of worship services to religious worship centres, this policy infringes on the rights of citizens to freedom of thought, conscience and religion guaranteed by the constitution of the country," the Lagos state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria said in a letter to the state assembly made available to ENInews." Other churches have accepted that these laws are in place for good reasons, but are of the opinion that only Christian churches are being targeted, and that the same rules are not in place for other places of worship. "Much as we do not condone excessive noise to the detriment of other citizens, we find it difficult to accept any law which seems to be targeted at churches, while other religious groups which are also guilty, are not penalised," Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi told ENInews." At a meeting taking place in June with the members of the Christian Association "The head of the assembly committee on environment, John Ogunkoya, promised..... that the house will consider amendments to the noise pollution statute. He explained that the noise policy applies to all religious groups and organizations in the state but admitted that time and frequency of worship should not be dictated by government agencies." Looking at the reactions to complaints by religious groups, one can see that an effort is being made to make these new laws more equitable so that worship services may continue in peace, without disturbing the peace of the surrounding residents. But these are only a few examples. All over the world, churches, temples, mosques, and other places of worship are disturbing the serenity of their surrounding community by creating excessive noise pollution.