++ [ originally posted by Nicole ] ++
Religion is stopping the world moving forward.
Its an out-dated practice that was useful in the past, but which is past it sell-by date. Sooner the world realises this, the better.
I think one of the great modern tragedies of our time is that spiritual beliefs and modernity are considered incompatible, when in reality that's complete horse*&$#%.
The core problem is that the visible thought leaders of any religious influence today are entirely of an anti-progressionist bias, so what we end up with are terrorists steeped in a mutant Islamic fundamentalism, anti-science fundamentalist Christians steering the religious agenda, etc. And at the same time, the only people left as visible advocates for science and modern, rational thought are positioned as anti-religious agnostics or atheists. There are people on both sides of the spectrum who like it this way, however.
It almost seems as if there is no rational place for a person of any kind of faith to have beliefs consistent with modern society, science, and progressive thinking, which is completely bogus. I hate a society that has to roll back the centuries in order to feel life has a spiritual meaning. And I hate a society that is convinced that progressive thought can only come about in a spiritually bankrupt world.
I don't know what's going to change it, but I cannot see this condition sustaining for very long.