Quote:
Originally Posted by DoubleF
Religion is a tool. A tool can be used to build or destroy.
Are cars more inherently evil than bicycles and skateboards because more people are killed by them than bikes and skateboards, right? No. That's not really how it works. If religion is a drug, not enough sucks and too much could kill you. But the appropriate balance and situation, it's beneficial.
IMO, religions, like unions, once served a very important purpose for an environment that doesn't really exist anymore. Their purpose for existence has eroded significantly to the point where some people argue they should cease to exist. I think that's fair.
Once upon a time, religion was used to scare people into not doing as many ####ty things or working on things as a group for a greater good or survival. This was good for many populaces which were intent on conquering each other as a precaution for survival.
Now without that environment, you can potentially argue it's scaring people into various levels of social death and negative mental health and it's more a detriment to survival rather than an aid.
The power structure that Catholicism has does seemingly make it easy for some to exploit it. Perhaps you are right that those sociopaths and psychopaths flock to those specific religious positions of power in the same way that non-religious pedos flock to certain countries where they can exploit the local rules and government to acquire what they wish to acquire. The blame and criticism of the lack of work done to block and hinder these people from continuing to exploit these positions of power is appropriate.
But what's kinda screwed up is that the religion does believe that what these people are doing is wrong. This is ascribed to by the absolute vast majority (likely 95%+) of those practitioners as a "sin" and should be punished. Yet there are people that against the religion that make the claim that the religion thinks it's OK. IMO that's unnecessary and unhelpful towards moving towards what beliefs the majority thinks is the best to maintain/cultivate going forward.
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But if you go to the church every Sunday(an indication of support) and donate regularly(financially supporting their activities) then you are an active participant in the "sin". People may not like to reflect on that, but I don't see how you can let it slide. For instance, the Catholic Church and residential schools. They won't release documents, allow a full clear investigation, and weaseled their way out of paying settlement money. These are real issues that have harmed real people, and by parishioners continuing to contribute, they are essentially saying they are OK with the actions of the Church. Morally, I think it's pretty tough to justify it. I get that it is uncomfortable, but sometimes the truth is.
If a Catholics wants to continue, I think the only moral solution is to join a church that isn't riddled with scandals, or to worship personally, without showing support both physically and financially. Otherwise sexual and physical abuses, and exorcisms will continue, because people have acted in ways to indicate they can accept the damage, and the Church has heard them loud and clear. Keep brushing it under the rug, and the money will keep flowing.