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Every religion has its views about god, stories of origin, stories about how god wants us to live, what happens after we die etc. It might tell its followers that whatever god wants you to know is in that particular religion. It might tell us what to do, what not to do, or the best way to live. It usually involves a set of rules which we have to follow. Along with it, religions tell us the good things that happen to people who follow it and the bad things that happen to people who don't. Most religions claim to bring peace and happiness to the people who follow it, to the society and to the whole world. But religions have been around for some time and we can't say there is peace and happiness for everybody, or even for religious people.
Religions which originated in a particular region inherits properties of that society or other societies known to the writer or writers of that religion. It is impossible for anybody to study all the societies which exists, which existed or which will exist in the future. With limited knowledge about other societies or other groups of people in the world the author or authors of any given religion is at a huge disadvantage when writing laws for the whole world. What one group finds acceptable may not be acceptable for another group. It may not be about right or wrong, it may be about preference. When rules other than you can do anything in such situations are made, the rule maker went with his preference rather than his sense of right or wrong. Such rules should not have existed if religions concerned itself with the happiness and peace of the whole world. But it looks like religions didn't give much thought to it. One tell us to kneel and pray, another tell us to sit and pray and another will tell something different. Religions are supposedly ideas to make us better. But these ideas are conflicting, it can't exist together nor can any one idea be acceptable for every society or every individual. Religions fail to understand societies or individuals but go on deciding what is best for the whole world. Religions reflect the views of its author or authors, whose views in turn was influenced by the society or societies known to them. So when a religion tell do something or don’t do something, for the good of the whole world, it is not god telling it but its human founder or founders.
A society consists of people with varied beliefs. It can have people who don't believe in god, who don't care, who believe in some other religion, who believe in multiple religions partially or fully or who don't believe in any religion. For a society to function smoothly there should be a consensus between individuals. Some religions make an effort in this regard and try to include everybody when making its rules. There can be a set of rules common to everyone. Its followers can be told to be accepting of people having other beliefs, it may have its religious restrictions only on people who follow that particular religion etc. While these are done to be accepting of the different views in a society, there are religions which are not open to other beliefs. It may contain instructions which aim to convert non-believers into believers or how to handle them properly, it may have its followers to separate themselves from the rest, it may have its religious restrictions imposed on everybody etc. Religious laws for a society can build up from the similarities in people or their differences. It determines the extent to which it divides society. There can be many differences in societies and people can live with it easily. But differences in something which people think is so fundamental to their lives, god for example, can become a powerful dividing factor. Hence religions can divide societies.
Societal laws are not a religious invention. It forms when people come together. It changes when people change. Rules and regulations put forward by religions is not its invention, but formed out of such societal laws. Every society has it and it undergo changes. But some religions treat the laws of a society to be something permanent. It takes these dynamic laws and lock them to a point in time and imagination, taking away its true nature and not leaving room for improvement. With no revision, these laws will become outdated, unrealistic and illogical. Laws which was meant for the good of humans will lose its meaning and create problems in societies.
The approach religions take to keep societies at peace is not something godly. Some people may be blinded by religions and may not realize it. It uses our fear and put restrictions in place. These restrictions have its limitations and problems. People may not understand the aim or the reason behind it and it may lose its meaning. Religions concern itself with the gods much more than humans that they no longer is in sync with our emotions and thoughts. It creates an imbalance between our true nature, wishes and thoughts and what comes out from us in terms of our behavior. It becomes a problem rather than a solution. A solution should build from seeing people as individuals with tendencies and wishes natural to them instead of envisioning a perfect society and laying rules for different factions to follow to achieve it. A good solution will be to tell the truth. Asking people to accept truths like survival of the fittest or actions have reactions etc. But sadly it is not in the genes of religions.
Some religions see leading a good life as our duty towards god and society. It tells that god gave you life and in return do this for him or his wrath will be upon you. God is very unlikely to do this, that is, if he exists and is similar to what religions describe him to be. You could say making people believe it is intended to help them, despite it being a lie. But that lie is costing us a lot. Some religions make people hurt others following a different religion or non-believers and people do it for god's blessings. Such religious laws cause a lot of trouble, rather than help us. If you hurt somebody they will probably get angry or sad, and there is a good chance that you will get it back in return. It is not a good way to maintain peace in a society. It is a way in which religions show their selfish part. The claim that following a religion makes the world happier and peaceful shows an inability to access the situation or to accept the truth. So this so called helping is not really helping.
A religion telling the truth can improve societies. But then it cannot call itself a religion. Tell god created everything or everything is god or there is no need to think about god. Laws of nature are his laws. There is no separate law for living and nonliving. You have one shot at life. What should matter the most is survival, peace and happiness. Every action has its consequences. If you want love, the probable way of getting it is by giving it. If you want peace the probable way of getting it is by letting people live in peace and letting people know that, you will not let them be at peace, if they are not allowing you to enjoy it for yourself. So it is advisable to be at peace with everyone and love them if you want peace, love and happiness. But no religion does it. It may claim to bring peace and happiness but it doesn’t live up to its claims. It may claim to improve societies and may claim that it can do no harm, but we can see societies getting divided because of it, or fighting over it, and there is no reason to believe if religions tell they are all about peace, happiness, wellbeing or cooperation.