Religion equals Corruption

Religion equals Corruption

Thesis Statement

“Organized religion always leads to corruption and therefore is not a good platform to influence social mores.”

Introduction

Religion is probably the most debated topic around the world. With growing misconceptions and a continuous flow of differing ideologies; it continues to test religious scholars. However, all religions of the world preach humanity and a peaceful way of life. Yet, organized religion today has lead to corruption in many cases and therefore gives the religion a bad name. From its early origins, religion has probably been the most researched subject in the history of humanity.

Religion could be defined as a set of beliefs, values and traditions- that an individual believes in and follows throughout his life cycle. On the other hand, it also gives a meaning to his/her life and prescribes a code of conduct for its followers. Most religions encompass prayers, sermons, congregations and adherence to a defined set of beliefs. It often also includes funerary and matrimonial services that followers are meant to incorporate in their lives. Religion in its purest form has done remarkable things for mankind and humanity, but when it becomes corrupt- it ends up being responsible for huge sufferings and loses for mankind.

Social mores are the “societal norms that are widely accepted by the general public of any society”. Our lives revolve around them and we deal with them on an everyday basis. They are the accepted norms of a society and tend to be highly observed. They enjoy great moral importance. Social mores of a society tend to draw a distinction between right and wrong. For example, a child respecting their parents is a widely accepted norm in almost all cultures. Hence, deviation from such a more leads to societal disapproval (Singer, 1986).

'Corruption in religion' has always been a widely anticipated topic. Corruption is an evil of modern society and exists in almost all cultures around the world with certain distinctions. Sadly, the most sacred element of human life “religion” is also affected by corruption. This unequivocal contradiction leaves the followers of a religion in despair and also affects the broader credibility of the religion.

The famous Swiss psychiatrist, Carl Jung once said, “If you have one man with a spiritual idea, great. If you have two men with the same spiritual idea, you have a committee. If you have a committee, you have politics” (Jung, 1954). That is the path leading to corruption which almost all religions have stumbled down. Corruption in religion has always been a subject of interest for psychologists and social scientists; the former studies human behavior and the later studies society. Both elements are involved in developing social mores.

Discussion

Organization of Religions

Almost all religions of the world today are organized; and follow a systematic set of rules and regulations. As the number of people grows in any religion, there arises a need for organization. This need leads to the requirement of human activity to deal with issues.

The formation of an organization ...