Society - religion = near perfection?

A few days ago, I read the topic about banning the teaching of religion (http://www.poems-and-quotes.com/discussion/topic.html?topic_id=53931).
I started thinking about a world without religion, and how it would work - would it work?

Firstly, visualize a world without churches, mosques, temples, and all other places of worship. Take away Easter, Christmas, Hanukkah - every religious holiday you can imagine. Dissociate religious symbols with what they represent. And all people are to no longer know prayer or worship. I guess we should even remove faith.

Would marriage exist? "In holy matrimony" That right there would suggest no. And without religion, would we need to marry?
Would our morals and ethics be lower than they are now - or would they not be effected?

Without religion, the world would become more united. Would that prevent war - or would something else become a major issue? Power, for example?

Would the laws be effected? I don't know how the laws were created, or when, but would it change anything is religion never existed?

My question is this: If we didn't know of religion in any way, shape or form, and there was no possible way we ever would, do you think we'd have a society closer to perfection - or would it be worse than it is now? Explain why.

You know what? I don't think I could ever even begin to respond to this.

Lol.

Good argument and like Jordan .. I have no idea where to start with answering this ...

I would definately like a world without religion, it would give more people an idea of what life really is and how it is affected by only their actions, not Gods.

I'm still attempting to put my own theory together, and can't seem to do it - so I don't blame you all for not giving a proper answer.

"People marry for love..." lol! but no, seriously, they should. Love would still exist. Marriage is an institution though and traditionally bound by religion. marriage and love seem to have so little to do with eachother nowadays. so, no, 'marriage' as it is defined, probably wouldn't exist. but love still would. fidelity wouldn't be required by the church, but get enough women demanding respect together, and we come down to pretty much the same values. do not underestimate the Oprah Wynfry UGoGirl factor. stamping out religion is not enough to stamp out Oprah.

It is always said that religion and law came out of the same vein at about the same time. People trying to create order out of chaos and anarchy. just each finding slightly different ways to do so. and not having any moral attachment to crimes could possibly affect the perceptions and likelihood that people would commit them. it seems with some 'petty' crimes, ones that don't carry such strong moral ramnifications, people are more willing to turn a blind eye. imagine people turning a blind eye to some of the most morally bankrupt crimes? like murder? rape? pedeophelia? that leaves a bad feeling in my stomach and throat just typing it.

Marriage probably would still exist.

People would just get lawyers or judges to do it.

There's no way in hell that I'd let a priest perform my wedding ceremony.

No war in a religious free society? Unless people have been blind since the beginning of record keeping it's patently obvious that religion has been the EXCUSE for war, not the reason. Why this was even brought up as an issue is a joke.

People are tribal in nature and look after their clique whether it be familial or social. Religion has no affect on people's xenophobic tendancies.

If religion had never existed emos and goths would now be the basis for the world wide slave trade that would be in place and every house hold would have to beat their own personal emo because it got blood on the carpet in the servant's quarters...

...again.

Question:

Supposing we never had religion, how would people cope without a mental release and third party to blame by proxy?

I think that without religion, whatever it may be, then people would just be lost. I say that because personally, if I didn't have faith in God and didn't pray to Him, I wouldn't know what to do in my toughest situations. I think that people need something to believe in, even if it's not true. There is A quote in one of the other forums that says something like "even if there were no God, man would have had to invent one". I think that pretty much explains it right there. It's the thought of a higher power always there and guiding us Whom we can talk to anytime of the day that is a relief.

As to the question of if we never had religion, would there be wars? It's kind of hard to answer and I think many people will have many different answers to this, but I personally feel that it's not just religion that is causing wars. It's also different cultures, ethnic groups, etc. There's also the fact that human nature can be jealous, mean, hateful, angry, etc, which can also contribute to war.

There is no such thing as perfect...not on this earth anyways...

Jordan: You trust a lawyer anymore than a priest to perform a marriage ceremony? The government system is too cold and institutional to accomodate the ceremonial nature of weddings, IMHO.

A civil union (non-religious wedding) is not performed by a priest but a notary.

To be a notary you need to take a test and fill out a form and it's both fine and dandy, in fact in some places, New Jersey for example, you don't even have to take a test. So, why should it be cold to have a lawyer act as a notary?

Religon Was The Bases Of Our Living Once Upon a Time In The U.S., Religion Dictated Our Rights And Was Also An Aid In Many Of The Wars And Battles That Took Place So Long Ago...People Were Killed And Evicted From Lands If They Did Not Harvest The Same Religious Beliefs As The Law Of The Land Said They Must....So If You Ask Me Would No Religion Make a Diffrence In The World I Say It Definatley Would Have...And It Still Would Today...Marriage According To The Bible Is Holy And Sacred, But Not All People Follow The Biblical Roles Of What Marriage Is Or Should Be Today...Everyone Has Their Own Opinions And Beliefs And Always Will...I Have Nothing Bad To Say About Athiest Or People Outside Of The Christian Religion (Being That I'm a Full Blown Christian) I Treat Everyone The Same And Respect Everyone Values & Morals...As Should The Rest Of The World & Other People On This Site
xoxo-Nikki-xoxo

Д βєąµ†ιƒµℓ £ιэ: I don't really care who does it...but why would I want a priest to do it if I don't believe in what he is practicing?

It doesn't matter to me if he is a cold government lawyer or not, when it all comes down to it, marriage is just a whole load of legal bull anyway - regardless of however beautiful and meaningful it may be.

You know?

There is very litle merit I feel in discussing a world that never knew religion, because people always believe in something, and more often than not, they believe in what other people tell them to believe.

What i find interesting about this discussion is what place does religion have in the world now? We don't need a priest to get married, we don't need a church to process our dead, we don't need a church to register a newborn, and there are so many new [old in reality] age theories and philosophies available now that we don't need any religion to tell us how to live.

I could use the opiate of the masses lke marx did, but TV does that now.

i really don't see what place religion has, as a useful social factor....it has become so ingrained that is taking a long time to die out, much longer than it should have in my opinion.

I pray for the death of the old religions and the emergence of a faith that has no name but is only about awareness, love and rocking out.

Kevin, you've never been to the South, have you?

No, I doubt he has, but I now live in the Bible belt and it's like an alien nation.

Great points, Kev.