Religion- Good or bad?

Religion just lately seems to be getting a very bad press. But it seem to me that we can't blame any religion itself for what people do to each other. After discussion in class I can only agree that even with religious cults its the people themselves who are truly scary and a good example are the Scientology people who try and stop you in the street in Birmingham and try to force their ideas on you. Religion shouldn't be forced on you and everybody should have the Right to think for themselves about what religion, if any, they want to be apart of.



A film that illustrates this is Kingdom of Heaven. This shows some of the knights who are conducting what are supposed to be religious wars purely to get land and money. Another film, Son of Rambow, is another good example of how people will try and impose their will on even their own children in the name of religion and their behaviour in different circumstances could be considered child abuse. Carrie shows what happens when someone interprets the bible in a way that is destructive and goes against the true messages of peace and love, for example in the Film Carrie has a period, which is a perfectly normal thing. Her mother lectures her about how bad she is, telling her what she can and can't do and why she is so wrong in the eyes of God.


This you tube clip shows just one scene with the mother.


http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uqfbGPL0L0k

In conclusion I don't believe that true religions are in anyway bad. It is the bad behaviour of the people who interpret the teachings that is wrong but in the 21st Century we often try to blame one or all religions for the way we are running the world.