Are Religions The Root Cause of Evil?

I forget which scientist or philosopher said that there is nothing new that our imagination can create. Everything we concoct, is, and will be, a hybrid of thoughts that we already know. We don't truly invent anything purely novel. If so, how do we explain the emergence of so many mainstream religions and their consequential problems, perceived or in plain sight?

I've come across so many individuals who believe that religion or lack-thereof is the solution to a harmonious coexistence. A Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh or any other organized form of religious belief should in theory be able to get along. But what is it that causes the difference in beliefs to to move further and further away from the fact that we all have the set of organs, breathe the same air and want, essentially, the same things. Of course, in 2017, there is almost no lack of information-- in part due to the creative license that makes it incredibly hard to separate fact from fiction. But then, I decided to study the core beliefs of all of these religions. Whether fact or fiction, that wasn't my concern. It is the fact that these ideologies move the minds of over 4 billion people in this world and counting. Are we really that brain washed that we believe in defending our principles, given to us via literature?

In short, NO. There isn't actually a true sense of problem, at-least not one that requires military intervention and deep rooted hatred that runs through every civilization. I found that on a civil level, each of these organized religions preach the same message-- Believe in God, Do Good By Others, Give Charity and Pray/Live in a certain way. In doing so, there are a few contradictions amongst some of the religions, particularly monotheism and polytheism. Even so, there isn't anything, if taken or read in context that theologically supports the discrimination of the other. But, there are two deeper problems that have occured over the past century or two, namely nationalism and the infamous word MONEY.

As a child, I loved my ethnicity and was taught to keep my "core values." When I visit each of my friend's houses, I see a lot of art and life that resembles my house. But then, I stop and think, my parents house differs drastically from the friend's parent home as well. Essentially, the preservation of culture norms vary by generation and with each passing day, we are growing heterogeneous. We are, as a race driven by the need to connect or the need to feel purposeful. Nationalism has created this sense of entitlement, and we feel the need to preserve the laws written down from hundreds or thousands of years ago. There is, nothing wrong with following an organized religion so long as your practice does not hinder others from practicing theirs. But, individuals feel the need to take matters into their hand because of where they are from. I live in New York, but I also lived in California, and the South Asian continent. So then, does my allegiance shift depending on where I reside? The thought seems trivial and pathetic, but that is essentially the problem we have. We can and should follow what we believe to be right. But we cannot fight the battles that showcase and highlight our differences that were painted in red hundreds or thousands of years ago. But even then, that accounts for most of the minor civil riots that occur.

We have, an even bigger problem and... that is our governing bodies that we trust. I don't know about you guys, but I have yet to come across a good politician. Probably because a pre-requisite of being one already eliminates the good that may come from it. Every major political decision is derived for the benefit of our economy and at the same time, a chess move. Our president's order men to lay their lives down, but would they do so if the soldiers were their own kids? They wouldn't. Banks which fund smaller banks fund our economy, rule our people, and enslave our race. We are overworked, tired and fed information through print and tv. What is a news anchor's account of current events? The same of that of a historian writing the account of the victor in a war. Our hatred for each other stems from money, nationalism and tales from our previous generations. Whether your Muslim or Jewish, Indian or Pakistani, Christian or Atheist -- We hold the same desires, more or less. Trust your eyes to meet someone of the opposite religion or race. Even if they're misinformed, trust yourself to educate them and always keep an open mind.

Don't Let Corporate Greed or Nationalism prevent you from living life the way its meant to be-- With Everybody of All Races.