Religion: A Modern Moral Dilemma

I’m not particularly observant—other than celebrating major holidays, proclaiming myself agnostic wouldn’t tremendously alter my lifestyle. Yet my fascination with religion has caused me to cling to it in times of need; in this way, it’s remained an enormous part of my identity. Religion, a belief system based on faith in the presence of an omnipotent God, is shared by billions across the world. My personal adherence to it may be a result of my parents fleeing the Soviet Union for my right to practice it, or from influences within my community, the majority of whom identify with the same beliefs.

Yet the worldview on religion is hardly so rosy. Religion has been a critical factor in countless wars, human rights violations, and instances of discrimination. Over hundreds of years, it has fostered tensions and rivalries that still make breaking news and it has led plenty of nations into periods of scientific repression. Newer generations vehemently reject its teachings, pointing to historical atrocities fueled by religious violence as to why it has no place in contemporary society.

But the enticement of religion lies less with the social benefits of being religious and more with the distinction that religious texts draw between “right” and “wrong.” An individual's morals also depend on the values he or she was raised with, as well as unique outlooks and circumstances, which are often altered during a lifetime. The idea of morality has always been extremely difficult to define, and religion seeks to do so more tangibly than anything else.

So regardless of the discrepancies among our personal moral compasses, religion has always been a facet of life that’s closely tied to an individual’s values. But there’s no doubt that our generation is welcoming secularization. Although most millennials cling to the spiritual aspect of organized religion, the number of God-fearing individuals continues to dwindle. A recent study by the Pew Research Center shows that while only 54 percent of Americans think of themselves as religious—down 11 points since 2012—at least 75 percent consider themselves “spiritual.” They subscribe to a more general wondering about the universe and their place in it, but don’t maintain strict, religious lifestyles.

And in a way, secularization makes sense. It’s difficult to protect religion as a perfect moral guide when the basis of judgment in most religions is “because God said so.” But this outlook is caused by a conflation of genuine, and often harmless, religious values, and extremism within communities. The media stresses outliers such as the Westboro Baptist Church, discounting the millions of people doing community service and donating to charities in the name of religion. Unless one has an unconventional amount of power as well as malicious intent, self-respecting human beings normally opt to use the concept of God to do good deeds, stopping themselves from committing objectively “bad” ones. And in that sense, religion fulfills a beneficial role.

A silent population relies on an otherworldly being to accomplish the impossible, or sometimes even just to complete simple tasks during difficult times. Countless individuals have been inspired by religion, fueled by the promise of prosperity after life, and motivated by the fear that an entity could take it all away. Through a religious community, people can seek love and support during rough periods in their lives. A belief in an unchanging God offers a perspective of the world which lies in stark contrast to the chaos of the present. Now more than ever should we hold on to it, rather than rejecting the stability its teachings offer.

Religion and morality, in their most essential forms, are separate concepts. But upon closer inspection, the two lean on each other for support, with religion necessitating morality while the latter gives meaning to the words behind every sacred text. There are certainly instances where religion can be misguided. In spite of this, secular society needs to trust that people of faith will use religion to guide their own lives and direct society in a moral direction to the benefit of all. Extremism should not be allowed to define or take away from the multitude of benefits religiosity plays in individual lives, as well as society as a whole.