Debate: Has religion had a net positive or negative influence on humanity?
Side: Positive

However, when one takes their personal belief and believes in it so strongly that they begin believing that their ideology is correct and those whom do not believe the same are incorrect that is when religion comes into play.I certainly do think that religion intrinsically entails certain forms of intolerance. I know from experience though that there are religious ideologies that truly value diversity. Whether one thinks of themselves a secular or religious, no one tolerates diversity of core values. The thing about ideology is that people's actions are based on it. You would be an idiot not to resist a spreading ideology you recognize as contrary to your interests. Suppose your next door neighbor believes it's their right to walk into your house whenever they please a take things without asking. If you think their belief is incorrect, according to the logic you presented this makes you :O a practicer of religion.Your average organized religion teaches you that your religion is right, and that the others are, of course, incorrect.As far as fundamental tenets go, it's not just your average organized religion that won't tolerate variance but all of them regardless of how organized they are, or whether they are thought of as "religious" or not.With the thought process that I am correct, my fellow believers are correct, and you are wrong is obviously a detrimental way to think.That thought process is not necessarily obvious or detrimental.You can try and lightly bring up the ideology of evolution around certain people and they will become not only upset but even hostile at the mere mentioning of the idea.I know what you mean! But I've noticed that vehement resistance against attempts to challenge one's pet assumptions is by no means peculiar to those who identify as religious.Mob mentality is something that religion definitely createsI'd blame lazy habits of thinking and cowardice.the individual average Joe would never do things that people have done over the years without the prompting of someone who is preaching, in the minds of the listeners and believers, absolute truths ( NAZI Germany, the crusades etc. ). So is it tyranny that causes slavery or the reverse?those whom do not believe and reject the lunacy are essentially thought of as people attacking the religion.To reject the lunacy one cannot avoid saying "I am correct and you are wrong"Which is where ignorance gets amalgamated with religion.There might have been something to "love thine enemy" after all. :)[taken purposefully out of context] some religions are better than others...Contrary to the emerging orthodoxy you support, some religions are better than others. Just as it's true that some people are healthier than some others.Religion has been and will more than likely always be a tool for manipulation.So will hands, words, speech, government etc..Using the mixture of fear, hatred, ignorance, added into religious belief gives those in positions of power the ability to direct people down paths they would normally never go down by themselves.An argument against those in positions of power adding fear, hatred and ignorance into religious belief, isn't an argument against religion itself. An argument against the abuse of something isn't an argument against it's use.