Does religion cause violence?

“Does religion promote violence? A question that rose after I recently read an article on Huffington Post titled “Stop Blaming Religion for Violence”. The article talks about many reasons where religion may cause violence with the attack on 9/11 causing the biggest debate of them all. There were three things some people believe contributed to this. 1) Religion is the key in understanding hate and violence 2) it’s a war going on between the Christian West and the Muslim Middle East and 3) eliminating religion may make the Islamic forget about colonization that they faced of centuries. However eliminating religion is not feasible and would not bring any one closer to peace, truth, nor love.

I believe religion is never the cause for violence and that everyone has his or her own way of interpreting the word of God. One may feel that God is leading them to do harm to others. In the Islamic belief you have to sacrifice yourself for the good of your brother. Religion should be embraced not feared because it does not poison an individual, let alone society as a whole. In the words of one of the greatest man to ever live, Dr. Martin Luther King, "Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals." So I have to say, I believe religion will never promote violence in any way, shape, or form.

Religious Freedom for Prisoners

Should prisoners be allowed to exercise their rights to religious freedom? This comes from an article I found on CNN.com the writer talked about how prisons and its official deny this right. Some prisons have the confessional booth bugged, some banned things praying and fasting, and reading or having sacred texts like the Bible. A prison in Arkansas refused to let one of its prisoners by the name of “Abdul Muhammad” grow a half-inch beard, which was part of his Muslim belief. He eventually decided to sue the prison for violating the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), which prevents prison official from denying inmates the right to seek God in religious practices, unless the prison officials have a compelling reason to do so. Prison officials claim that the ban is only to keep up the security, but there are no known reports of any security problems due to religion beliefs.

I know once you end up in prison you lose pretty much everything because of something you did. However, I feel the right to freedom of religion is something that should never be taken from them. All of them eventually turn their lives around in so whenever they do get out they stay on the straight and narrow. I also believe if all prisons decide to deny this right to prisoners would never change their ways and the prison population would continue to grow because more are coming in and none are going out.

Do I have to wear this?

Have you ever been told what to wear? If you answered yes, what did you do and how did that make you feel? If no, what would you do and how would you feel? After reading an article found on the “Human Right Watch” website I discovered that some European countries have passed and/or contemplating restrictions on religious dress in public places. The restriction was first directed towards Muslim women for wearing veils. The veils typically have different variations like the hijab, which covers the hair; the niqab, which covers the face and neck, leaving the eyes visible; and the burqa, a full-face and body covering.

In France, laws were passed banning citizens from displaying religious symbols prohibits and students are not allowed at school if they display any kind of symbol. In Germany, laws were passed banning teachers from wearing visible religious clothing or symbols. Anyone that was caught wearing anything that had to do with religious was fined and sentenced to a year in prison. Both France and Germany laws were directed towards woman. In 2010 the Spanish senate adopted a nonbinding resolution that encouraged Spain to outlaw clothing or accessories that covers the face. I can only image how it must feel for someone to tell you what you can and cant wear. The last time I was told what to wear was when I was in the 6^th or 7 grade and my parents always decide what i`was suppose to wear. It seems that the United States is the only country that truly protects religious freedom. I truly love “being an American”  

Do you feel religion should be kept in the church and the church only? Should religion be wiped out altogether? I recently read and article by Charles Blow titled “Down with Religion”, and those question came up. In the article he talks about how majority of the world feel political leaders express their views of religion a little too much. It also seems that people believes religious conservatives have more control over the Republican Party than it do with the Democratic Party. This all comes under the fact that the United States is one of the only countries that really gives its citizens the right to believe in what they want verses having the government tell you what to believe in.

The two biggest issues that currently cause issue with religion are contraception and same sex marriage. There are laws in place and that are being argued that will legalize both issues. There have been reports of religious leader filling lawsuits in federal courts to prevent these laws from growing through or having them removed. When President Obama took the stance to support same sex marriage a little over half of Americans still supported him while have of that took they favor away from him. Some have taken to publicly and verbally bashing Obama because of his stance. You can never know what another is going through or what they have been through to make them believe in what they believe. My thoughts and beliefs are and will always be “Don’t Judge unless ye be judge” and I feel that religion should be allowed any and everywhere.

Should Christians be allowed to bear arms? Should pray and God be allowed in schools? I recently read an article, by Anastasia Basil and located on Huffington Post, titled “Dear Christians with Guns” where she discussed the fact that Christians and guns should not be mixed together. One of the biggest things she pointed out were the few tragic events where men decided to storm in shooting killing kids while they were at school. She stated some people may believe two things in regards to God, pray, and schools: 1) God let incidents such as school massacres occur to send a message to people who believes in the separation of church and state and 2) if the shooters in these events had been able to pray in school then they would have never shoot up the schools.

Where and when should God be allowed? In hospitals when the patient is on their deathbed? In prisons when in the electric chair? As far as God and pray in schools, I personally would love to have that done but we cannot force religion on to other because of the our right to Religious freedom. It has also come to the point were the “pledge of allegiance” is not allowed to be said in school anymore. I feel that the people that carry guns and I say everyone should be thoroughly tested both emotional and mental before they are allowed to purchase guns in any countries. These tested would help determine who’s suitable for guns and whose not. The safer the ones handling the gun, the safer the world and our schools will be with them around.

Should countries, including the U.S., have the “the religious worker visa” implemented? Should someone be denied access without warning? According to US Department of State, A religious worker visa is for person who wants to enter the countries to work temporarily in religious capacities. I recently read and article by Bobby Ross Jr titled “Customs Confusion”, where he tells the story of Christian singer Don Francisco and his work visa incident. Don had had went to London for a performance he had scheduled and to this belief he was not able to preform because he did not have a “religious worker visa”. He wasn’t told at the airport but instead on a plane airport officials had directed him to that was going right back to his home time.

Is this done to hinder people that believe in religion or is this an act of protection from terrorism. “I can’t say that government is particularity easy on any occupation, however, in the last few years, religious worker have come under increased scrutiny because of a fraud audit…” a statement from Peter Crammer, an immigration attorney in Boston. After the tragedy of 9/11, I do not believe that there are any victims but a lot protected citizens in this procedure. Adding another visa to get in to the countries keeps track on all that enter so that background check and criminal records can ran.

United States (Links to an external site.)

Customs Confusion http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.libproxy.maricopa.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=5&sid=5435041c-96be-4901-bcd5-1a6cbbaaf414%40sessionmgr4001&hid=4205