"Religion divides more than it unites"

[ErricFiggy]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

The only response I could think of was the fact that in the Catholic Church, we have the same Mass readings, sing the same Psalms, bow, kneel, and stand at the same time, and worship our Lord together, UNITED as His Body.

My question is: what more can I offer this person as evidence that religion does indeed unite more then divide? I feel that if I stick specifically to the Catholic Church, and not in “religion” in the form of the blanket statement he made(Catholicism, Judaism, Islam) I can make a very strong case.

 

[oval]

I’m not educated but can try to answer. There are many ways the person is divided. And there are many ways the community is divided, Your friend said Sunday morning. Hes right, but the word used segregated has a tone of indifference to it. The dividing on sunday is to show comittment that something is very important in taking a break and saying hey lets just stand back and get calm with how to be a better person at work and home and all that. So its not indifference it is caring about being a better person for the work and family and that means for the community.

 

[DebChris]

I will address only the first sentence. “Sunday is the most segregated time in America.” On Sundays we see Americans going to their separated churches. These churches are separated by race, but they don’t need to be. Black or White, we all worship the same God.

 

[GWright]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

The only response I could think of was the fact that in the Catholic Church, we have the same Mass readings, sing the same Psalms, bow, kneel, and stand at the same time, and worship our Lord together, UNITED as His Body.

My question is: what more can I offer this person as evidence that religion does indeed unite more then divide? I feel that if I stick specifically to the Catholic Church, and not in “religion” in the form of the blanket statement he made(Catholicism, Judaism, Islam) I can make a very strong case.

Arguing from personal experience, I would say that I do not feel different religions separate us. When I meet people from other denominations, I always feel as though I have something basic and fundamental in common with them.

For example, I work with an Anglo-Nigerian Lady who is a protestant Christian, and an Anglo-Pakistani man, a muslim. We are all very different people and have only met one another recently, and yet through their having faith I can already understand something about them and appreciate their values and how they see the world etc.

A person having faith is definitely something which would draw to me to them, and help me understand them, even if they are from a very different tradition and/or culture than I.

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

You can definitely stress that the Catholic church unites people across the world, and that social class and ethnicity do not separate us. You could then explain that it is unfortunate that there are so many communities within Christianity, but that is not what God wants from us - it is human doing.

I also agree with the poster who said that people of faith often feel they have something in common regardless of their differences. I am definitely more in tune with a devout muslim for example, than with an atheist.

 

[Spencerian]

The OP’s question is, despite it’s cynical intent, actually correct.

Christ himself said exactly this, in the book of Matthew:

*Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.
But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.
"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.
For I have come to set a man ‘against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s enemies will be those of his household.’
"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. *

(Matthew 10:32-39)

Christ knew that humanity wills *itself *to be divisive because of its desire to live only for the moment, rather than acknowledging that their life has a greater purpose. To serve *yourself *is to divide yourself. When one serves others, these people often form communities to better accomplish this goal. To pick one example, the largest charities on the planet are run by Catholic communities.

So you could answer the question this way: “It is not religion that divides but the desire for some people to stubbornly believe only in themselves or give false idolatry to movie stars, politicians and the like. In the world of faith, individualism is not viable.” The growth of Protestant churches is an example, too. In case they counter with this, explain that religion is meant to change you, not for you to change it. You cannot create or modify a religion to explain your personal worldview. Rather, take the truth you are given (however it may seem unpleasant or even fair), accept it and practice it.

The mark of the true Church shows that it does not change to the trends of the era–and that Church is the Catholic Church…or have you not seen our millennia-old answers to woman priests, abortion, and birth control? The truth does not change, and the naturally divisive and overly individualistic nature of people often fights with its need to find the truth–and tear itself apart over the revelation of what that means.

 

[prodigalson2011]

Religion doesn’t divide people. People divide people. If it’s not religion, it’s political party. If it’s not political party, it’s personal philosophy. If it’s not personal philosophy, it’s favorite football team.

Yet, of all the world’s institutions and philosophies, it is mostly religious ones that tell us that all of mankind are our brothers and sisters and equals, regardless of whether they profess our faith or not. This is not a view you will find shared by Marxists, capitalists, eugenicists, utilitarianists, etc. This objection stems, I believe, from a well-meaning but overly soft “Can’t we all just get along?” mentality. As long as we are in this world, we will have trials and conflicts, disagreements and divisions. It’s the nature of fallen people. As for me, I’ll place my loyalties with the institution that tells me to love everyone, including my enemies.

 

[Gods_Peace]

Don’t answer at all, they don’t think before they talk and they wouldn’t care even if you had reason behind it!!! That’s at least what my atheist teacher did and now he is a foolish and blind goat following atheism.

 

[Petersmate]

The Catholic faith unites- evil divides. Its the power of Satan that has divided Christians.

 

[mark_a]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

We need this person’s definition of religion. Communism or fascism are also religions.

 

[JRKH]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

The only response I could think of was the fact that in the Catholic Church, we have the same Mass readings, sing the same Psalms, bow, kneel, and stand at the same time, and worship our Lord together, UNITED as His Body.

My question is: what more can I offer this person as evidence that religion does indeed unite more then divide? I feel that if I stick specifically to the Catholic Church, and not in “religion” in the form of the blanket statement he made(Catholicism, Judaism, Islam) I can make a very strong case.

I would wish to ask the person to further express what he means. Could he elaborate on what he means by “segregates” and if he really means that ALL religion does is divide.
From this you can find out if he has really thought this through or is just spouting something he heard someplace…You will also very quickly find out if he is actually interested in engaging in discussion or if he just wants to “vent” and make “declarations”…

Depending on the responses you get, you can tailor your arguments to counter his.
I’d stay away from things like “we all stand and kneel at the same time”…If he is serious about his views - this would seem too superficial.
The idea of having the same readings (or more broadly, “all Christians use the Bible on Sunday service”) is a good one.
But also speak about the great charitable organizations.
Great examples of Christian charity…How Mother Teresa of Calcutta, St Francis of Assisi and others are able to “cut across” every divide through their great embracing of all in God’s Love.

Be willing to concede that we are weak and sinful creatures and that we DO have a tendency to let our differences define us more than our similarities…

Just some thoughts…
Hope they help a little…

Peace
James

 

[exoflare]

Here’s my resposne: “So?”

Better divided by truth than united in error.

 

[snarflemike]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

I would tell this person that this is a ridiculous statement, and suggests he/she is just parroting somebody else’s comments rather than actually engaging in thought.

Really, “all religion does is divide”? NO serious, honest person could ever make that claim, and I would say so.

 

[fhansen]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

The only response I could think of was the fact that in the Catholic Church, we have the same Mass readings, sing the same Psalms, bow, kneel, and stand at the same time, and worship our Lord together, UNITED as His Body.

My question is: what more can I offer this person as evidence that religion does indeed unite more then divide? I feel that if I stick specifically to the Catholic Church, and not in “religion” in the form of the blanket statement he made(Catholicism, Judaism, Islam) I can make a very strong case.

The essence of our Christian message is unity, unity with God and neighbor via **love **of God and neighbor. Disunity is caused by our failure to love each other -and we fail in this endeavor both inside and outside the Church-but any group that exhorts us and promises to help us do that very thing is good.

The Church’s own love has been demonstrated over and over again by virtually making altruism an authentic human value in a world where ones’ enemies are generally to be conquered and vanquished rather than loved. Numberless hours of volunteer work down thru the centuries, countless quantities of wealth given to charity work, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, hospitals and orphanages, schools and the university system, strides in science, improving our quality of life, encouraging pursuits of excellence in general.

All accomplished by an ideal God gave to the Church which she passed on to the world She stands for transcendence, for hope and trust that love and goodness reside at some basic level, foundational to this universe, rather than viewing life as a place of ultimate futility and despair where the best we can expect is to temporarily satisfy some basic human cravings before we die.

 

[minkymurph]

Religion doesn’t divide people. People divide people. If it’s not religion, it’s political party. If it’s not political party, it’s personal philosophy. If it’s not personal philosophy, it’s favorite football team.

I go with this. Religion is one thing that divides people, it’s not the only thing. People are equally as divided on many other things. I live in the North of Ireland and I get irritated when people say to me religion is the cause of all our problems. My response to this is everyone in the North of Ireland became an atheist, we would all find something else to fight about. Of course the retort to that response is, ‘at least it wouldn’t be religion causing division.’ Sigh.

This objection stems, I believe, from a well-meaning but overly soft “Can’t we all just get along?” mentality. As long as we are in this world, we will have trials and conflicts, disagreements and divisions. It’s the nature of fallen people.

I go with this too as it’s realistic. The objection does come from a well-meaning intention, but also a naive one. If you want to live in a pluralist democracy people will not just ‘get along.’ They only way people would all ‘get along’ all of time would be if they where forced to. Married couples and close family members have trials, conflicts, disagreements and divisions.

Personally speaking, I think it would be a pretty boring world if we all just ‘got along.’ I mean, it wouldn’t be much fun debating with people who agree with you all the time would it?

 

[GenesiusofRome]

It’s not religion that divides, its peoples’ attitudes towards religion that divides.

 

[peace2u2]

I recently heard a comment from someone saying “Sunday mornings is the most segregated time in America. All religion it does is divide.”

The only response I could think of was the fact that in the Catholic Church, we have the same Mass readings, sing the same Psalms, bow, kneel, and stand at the same time, and worship our Lord together, UNITED as His Body.

My question is: what more can I offer this person as evidence that religion does indeed unite more then divide? I feel that if I stick specifically to the Catholic Church, and not in “religion” in the form of the blanket statement he made(Catholicism, Judaism, Islam) I can make a very strong case.

The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath. God knew that the busy world that we live in would compete with Him so,

That was the whole point of God giving the first three commandments:

1. I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only
   shall you serve.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. **Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. **God asks one day to set aside to rest in Him and to worship Him the way He would like us too, not the way we want to, because we do that the other days of the week and most probably forget to even do that.

Man separates and divides when man refuses to cooperate with God’s grace and takes God’s Law and makes it conform to how man wants to live. But, remind your friend that God never forces His will on people that is why He allows us free will to make choices even if they are harmful because a relationship where you are forced to do something is not a healthy relationship, its abuse and God is always the perfect gentleman.

The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 11, verses 28-30 is appropriately titled, “The Gentle Mastery of Christ” and for good reason:

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,* and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Jesus’ yoke is the yoke of love. Although it restricts us from acting in certain ways, it also points us in the right direction. Jesus is offering to share His yoke with us. He wants to share your burden and make your journey home to Him peaceful and joyful. To follow Him and His ways is not to be a burden; His way is a way of liberation from being a slave to this world and to be able to experience freedom in Him.

Let us put our trust in Him and allow Him to carry our burdens and make our journey light.

 

[rfournier103]

“Religion divides more than it unites” sounds like a statement from an atheist or someone who just hates religion. I’ve heard this statement before, and it was referring to racial segregation in American churches. As in CatholicsRACIAL segregation.

Whoever said this to you clearly doesn’t know that ANYONE is welcome at a Catholic church, no matter their color.

As for our our protestant bretheren, they are welcome too. They left US, if I remember my history, and they are more than welcome in any RCIA class. We as Catholics don’t keep anyone away. They keep themselves away.

Kind of sad, really…

 

[oval]

these are great insights. I pretty much thought it would get to the idea of believing in God cause’s war. Id say believing in God amplify’s a persons state. So if they are violent orientated as a person they will use the justice of God as a friend to try and justify off to the lions. If they are peace orientated it will amplify with the God allegiance lets calm down and try to figure this out. The catch is that the average or most people enjoy acceptence which is getting along so the God belief has an advantage and is a good because it is consistent with what we naturally go to. Therefore the end result with a world with no God belief leaves the amplifying of the already go to idea of getting along out in the boon-docks. So the belief in God encourages or quickens the progress of the unity idea and goal,

 

[fhansen]

these are great insights. I pretty much thought it would get to the idea of believing in God cause’s war. Id say believing in God amplify’s a persons state. So if they are violent orientated as a person they will use the justice of God as a friend to try and justify off to the lions. If they are peace orientated it will amplify with the God allegiance lets calm down and try to figure this out. The catch is that the average or most people enjoy acceptence which is getting along so the God belief has an advantage and is a good because it is consistent with what we naturally go to. Therefore the end result with a world with no God belief leaves the amplifying of the already go to idea of getting along out in the boon-docks. So the belief in God encourages or quickens the progress of the unity idea and goal,

I think it could be said that, as a principle, humans always need to justify their behavior-to believe they “have the right”- and so, if we want to justify wrong behavior we often appeal to whatever provides us a convenient excuse-and within religion and holy books one can always find support for their position or agenda if they try hard enough-even if it goes strictly against the religion’s real values.