How Does Religion Affect Society

Religion gives people motivation when they are feeling lost; it gives people hope during tough times and gives them strength when they most need it. A rising issue has called for the attention of many: effects on brain development caused by religion. According to a study done by Amy Owen and her colleagues at Duke University, “individuals in the religious minority, or those who struggle with their beliefs, experience higher levels of stress.” This can cause stress hormones that are known to depress the volume of the hippocampus over time. The hippocampus is the central structure of the limbic system that is involved with emotion and memory formation (Newberg, 20ll). How is this affecting our society? Religious radicalism has become a new trend; an increase of terrorist attacks has our people in utter fear. We
However, religion has its downfall, it gives people the habit of praying for things to happen, instead of actually working hard to accomplish a set goal. In some cases, people misinterpret religion and perform acts of terror in the name of said religion. In the article “Anger: An American History” the author, Stacy Schiff a journalist for the New York Times expresses the raw truth of xenophobia in our American history. Schiff mentions how in Boston, the Quakers were seen as serpents and filthy. They were banned, exiled, imprisoned and whipped for their teachings and religious beliefs. They weren’t the only ones; in 1689 the Baptists, (feared and hated by the Anglicans) found their church ruined. Tortured for their religious beliefs in the steps of “freedom of religion”. How bad does it have to get before something is done, another massive terrorist attack like 9/11? The people of our country have suffered enough, if we do not educate our youth we are looking at a future of catastrophic