I saw a witty bumper sticker the other day that made a simple, yet profound commentary on how all to often religion causes separation and conflict between us. How something with such a potential for beauty and communion can so repeatedly be used by humanity to shame, oppress and sometimes even 'excuse' the slaughter of our fellow man is beyond me. What is intended to uplift, too frequently is justification for the most despicable and low behavior we are capable of.
Is it evidentiary of the predictability of humans propensity for cruelty and conflict that religion is so regularly abused and misused to justify our wars and perpetuating abuses of power on our fellow world citizens, or is it a testament to the inherent potential for goodness and fellowship of man that a practice of worshiping a higher power can imbue that is the reason that modern organized religion even exists?
