We’ve romanticized religion for too long. It’s time to confront its legacy and imagine something better.
For centuries, religion has been hailed as the foundation of morality, the source of meaning, and the inspiration behind breathtaking works of art and architecture. Its defenders claim that without it, civilization would have no compass, no culture, and no conscience. But that story, one that we’ve heard repeated for generations, conveniently omits the violence, division, and stagnation that religion has also inspired.
What if we’ve misunderstood religion’s true legacy? What if the world wouldn’t crumble without religion, but would actually thrive?
We’re often warned that, in the absence of religion, people would become immoral, selfish, or directionless. But history, and modern data, tell a different story. The most peaceful, prosperous, and egalitarian societies in the world today are also some of the least religious. There is a growing body of evidence showing that religion doesn’t necessarily make people more moral or societies more stable. In fact, in many cases, it’s quite the opposite.
Religion fosters tribalism. Most belief systems are built around a sharp divide between “us” and “them”, the saved and the damned, the believers and the infidels. Ancient texts teach followers not just to avoid outsiders, but to fear, mistrust, or even hate them. This isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. From holy wars to modern sectarian violence, religion has drawn the lines that fuel conflict, fracture societies, and prevent genuine pluralism. It discourages intermingling and shared identity, reinforcing closed communities that view outsiders as threats to purity or tradition.
It also anchors people to outdated, Iron Age worldviews. The sacred texts of the world’s major religions were written in times of extreme ignorance, inequality, and brutality. These texts enshrine and validate everything from slavery to misogyny, tribal vengeance to divine punishment. And because they are seen as divine and unchangeable, they preserve and protect some of humanity’s most regressive instincts under the cover of moral authority. Even today, millions are taught that ancient laws are more sacred than evolving ethical understanding. This breeds resistance to progress, on everything from science and education to gender equality and human rights.
Religion also places value not in evidence or reason, but in blind faith. It teaches people not to think critically, but to believe unquestioningly. “Trust and obey,” as countless children are taught in religious households. Faith becomes a virtue, and doubt, a sin. This mindset doesn’t stay confined to matters of theology. It seeps into civic life, fostering ideological battles over policy and progress, and replacing evidence-based thinking with dogma and tribal loyalty. Governments and institutions suffer when belief is placed above rational inquiry and real-world results.
Moreover, religion diverts the best of human intention. Billions of dollars, countless hours, and immense human effort are spent not on solving real-world problems, but on saving souls. People are encouraged to give generously, not to build sustainable communities or support medical research, but to fund the propagation of the faith itself. Missionary zeal often trumps humanitarian need. Sacred buildings rise while children die from preventable diseases. Wigs, prayer books, incense, and ornate rituals consume the energy that could instead fuel real progress.
Religion also fosters helplessness and resignation. “Let go and let God” is more than a catchphrase, it reflects a belief that human suffering, natural disasters, or systemic failures are part of a divine plan. This discourages people from demanding accountability or pushing for reform. In this worldview, injustice is not a call to action but a test of faith. Oppressed groups are urged to be patient. Victims are told to pray. Real change is delayed, if not completely abandoned, because the ultimate answer is always deferred to the afterlife.
And like any human institution, religions seek to protect their own power. They build influence, acquire wealth, and lobby for laws that favor their continued dominance, sometimes at the direct expense of secular freedoms and social progress. Organized religions, like corporations, often fight for market share, not truth. They are more interested in self-preservation than societal transformation. In some cases, they actively harm the societies in which they operate by using their influence to oppose education, resist science, and control policy-making.
Perhaps most revealing of all is this: as societies become more peaceful, secure, and educated, religion declines. This isn’t coincidence, it’s a pattern. When people feel safe, when justice systems are fair, when children are educated, and when healthcare is accessible, the grip of religion weakens. In places where people have control over their lives and futures, the promises of divine protection or eternal reward lose their power.
Yes, people have found comfort in religion. It has inspired acts of kindness and created communities. But comfort is not the same as truth, and tradition is not always aligned with justice. Religion may have brought meaning to many, but it has also brought martyrdom, misery, and millennia of bloodshed.
Now imagine a world where knowledge is pursued without fear of heresy. Where morality is based not on tribal codes but on empathy and reason. Where progress isn’t stalled by ancient superstition, and where peace is not dependent on submission to a single creed.
Art would still flourish. Music would still stir our souls. Families would still love and grieve. Communities would still gather. And people would still be good, not because they were promised heaven or threatened with hell, but because they understood the shared humanity in every face they met.
Religion had its chance. For thousands of years, it claimed authority over the minds, morals, and futures of billions. But what if its time is up? What if its long shadow is finally lifting?
What we’d lose without religion may be less important than what we might finally gain.
And maybe, just maybe, that world would not only survive… but finally begin to thrive.
By Hon. Chimazuru Nnadi- Oforgu
Duruebube Uzii na Abosi
OBLONG MEDIA UNLIMITED 
Leave a comment