Christianity: an Inhibitor to Human Development

Christianity: an Inhibitor to Human Development

It is said, that certain influences in a lifetime are considered to be “a blessing in disguise,” yet, most commonly, throughout Christian history, Christianity has proven to be “disguised as a blessing.” Christianity, at times, may resemble a double edged sword. A follower of the faith is fated to a life of immoral judgment and impractical expectations. Christian extremist may view non conformists who seek out alternative faiths, as great sinners. They may be viewed as denying the falsely acclaimed “one true religion.” Christianity is one of the greatest threats that diminishes the advancement and evolution of society in America. Christianity impedes spiritual, academic and social development and delays natural evolution.

Since the earliest religious text (Pyramid texts, 3100 BCE), religious writings have influenced the lives, cultures, and societies of humanity. Christianity, like other religions, derives its morals and values from texts and writings written by man, from over 2000 years ago. These writings and teachings have been edited, manipulated, and added to, since its inception. The Bible acts as the foundation to Christianity. Its content is used to promote ideal values and spiritual beliefs. Common interpretation of the text promotes the idea that the religion is, of itself, the one true religion and its followers believe that non-believers or non-followers will be, in one way or another, punished. This concept discourages individuals to question the Bible’s concepts, or to investigate other religions. Accepting only one truth and not exploring other religions, creates a sheltered and biased opinion. Science teaches us to explore all options and to doubt everything, until proven true. Christianity on the other hand, teaches its followers to accept everything from the church as true and to doubt all outside sources. Christianity enforces its faith through fear. The misconception that all non-believers will not be admitted to “heaven,” is frightening enough to current believers, that it may prevent one from exploring other religions. This decreases spiritual exploration, which is vital to spiritual evolution in a society. Christians fear exploring alternative faiths outside of Christianity. The Bible refers to non-believers as wicked, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?" [2 Corinthians 6:14-16]. To suggest that non believers are wicked, dampens the hopes of current believers, in discovering alternative spiritual paths. It also secludes people and disengages them from other, more enlightening faiths, which in effect, creates a delay in maturity of spirituality. If Christianity continues to enforce seclusion, the religion will be unable to evolve with society and the people in it, thus, creating a delay in progression and an inability to accept and tolerate other spiritual and religious faiths. This will prevent a Christian from attaining enlightenment or contentment, which they do not currently hold in Christianity, but which they may find from practices outside their current faith.

Spirituality and religion are not the only aspects of man’s life that Christianity has retarded. Commonly, Christian leaders have actively and passionately fought to delay and hinder academic advancement. For example, the controversial topic of human creation sparks a debate between the scientific explanation of evolution VS the religious belief of creation. Christians believe they were created by a God, instead of having evolved. They force this belief upon society and influence academic delays in teaching the possibility of evolution or alternative theories of man’s origin. Darwin’s theory of evolution is one academic area of debate, while others, such as the Big Bang Theory, is another, which too, struggles to earn academic respect among Christians. Christians believe that the universe too, was created by a God. When religion interferes with academic studies, especially in the field of science, it prevents alternative explanations from gaining respectable ground. Christian leaders and religious groups challenge teachers and educational leaders from teaching scientific theories. Religious battles against education can put a stop to teachings or to the very least, delay instruction. This proposes a threat to academic development and advancement. While religious groups battle with academic/scientific theory, educational institutions may halt specific lessons and projects related to their debates, thus, depriving students of valuable information. Christian interference in education does, without a doubt, delay the advancement of academic development. Christian fanatic groups like the Discovery Institute, raises millions of dollars each year, to challenge Darwin’s theory of evolution and to prevent it from being taught in public schools. The Discovery Bay accepts dollars from wealthy conservatives such as Howard Ahmanson Jr., whose goal is "the total integration of biblical law into our lives." With supporters like Howard Ahmanson funding projects preventing evolution from being taught in the classroom, religious groups continue to interfere in public education and prefer their religious views of creation, such as “intelligent design,” to be taught instead, which further delays academic advancement.

Christianity creates an impediment in social evolution and humanitarian decree. The rules set forth through the Christian Bible about social behavior and tolerance, are outdated, savage, and unnatural. If the Bible were to be followed without question, human society will be intolerable, unjust, and unfair to many groups and individuals. Social evolution uses the people in its culture along with their values, beliefs, customs, and way of life, to diversify a nation’s framework. Accepting values and ideas from many cultures helps create fair and just rules, and acknowledges different sects and groups. Christianity on the other hand, when allowed to intertwine itself into social evolution and social movement, actually prevents equal opportunity, fairness, and it prefers to cast out others. If Christianity was allowed to rule over social law completely, America may still have slaves, "Slaves are to be submissive to their masters in everything, and to be well-pleasing, not talking back ." (Titus 2:9). Along with promoting slavery, the Bible would also delay the progression of women in society and their right to live their lives as they please, "But if ... evidences of virginity are not found for the young woman, then they shall bring out the young woman to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her to death" (Deuteronomy 22:20,21). Christianity not only supports the segregation and stripping of equal treatment of all members in society, but also regresses a society as a whole, by supporting violence and physical assault against those that oppose their belief. Consequently, if Christianity was allowed dominion over social acceptance and development, America will still have slaves and it would be permissible to murder women who lose their virginity before they are married. The most recent social battle of natural cultural evolution in America VS religious doctrine is that of the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle and their right to marry. If natural social development is to govern over social evolution, than we will see, that the homosexual lifestyle and right to marry will be accepted norms and will rid a form of social discrimination. Currently though, Christian influence is allowed to interfere with this development, therefore setting back social advancement, disallowing our society to grow and move foreword toward progression, which promotes continued segregation. Because of this, the banning of Christian influence in social acceptance standards in America is imperative.

There are several aspects that contribute to a person’s personal growth and development. It is quite evident, that religion is one of many factors that shape a person’s values and way of life. When a religion as dangerous as Christianity is allowed to intervene and rule over areas such as spiritual beliefs, academic advancement, and social development, it can create a hindrance in progression and will actually prevent certain areas from moving foreword, accepting social norms, and prevents the natural evolution that the rules outside of Christian law create.