I've just finished my essay study of religion and how it rejects empirical fact over religions dogma and unscientific principles. Religious individuals of all kinds will deny anything from the age of the Universe to evolution, and will persist in their belief that what this one ancient, scientifically illiterate book tells them is truth.
In this research, I've found disturbing similarities between religious principles and the values and practices of Ingsoc in the book 1984. Just like in the book, you're expected to believe that 2+2 can equal 3, 5 or any other number that the establishment, in this case the religious one, asks you to accept. It discourages rational and critical thinking and encourages blind faith in dogma. I'm astonished to what lengths will people go to defend this argument in their favor, ironically defending their book by citing passages from the book in question.
What is obvious is that religion is in no way beneficial to human society in any way. It only creates conflict and divisions, which in turn creature more conflict and more subdivisions. This perpetual cycle is the reason behind many atrocities, both in past and present, and I'm wondering how long will it last?
Your thoughts?