Why do some atheists "blame it on religion"?

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There was another thread (it was actually under the social skills forum) of an atheist not being happy with certain people which prompted me to make this (somewhat related) thread.

Let me start off saying that I'm a Christian and I respect people of other religious beliefs (or lack of).

However, something that I don't understand is why some atheists seem to blame all the world's troubles and ills on religion, trying to say how bad it is for the human race.

Sure, they can point out instances when they hear on the news of how some strict religious father kill their daughter for refusing to marry the "assigned spouse" or for refusing to wear head covering. Firstly, its only instances of when people commit crimes that makes it into the news. There are plenty of religious families that may have conflicts but the parents don't resolve to murder. On the other hand, there are also cases of murders and rapes where the perpetrator either does not believe in a certain religion, or they are not so religious to a point where its worth mentioning in the news.

Another issue here is with regard to world conflicts. The Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, I'm pretty sure that Hinduism is not to blame for their use of violence and terrorism. The Tamils in Sri Lanka feel oppressed by the Sinhalese majority. Had the Tamils been another other religion or atheists, there would still be a chance that they would use violence and terrorism. Another example are the Palestinians. Any group of people whose homeland has been taken away will have a tendency to rebel since they would not feel like its fair. Now, I have to say that religion does complicate the issue in this case (such as the status of Jerusalem and holy sites, etc...) but it is not the religion itself that breeds the violence. I mean, how many people live in Palestine compared to the global Muslim community? Is it a surprise, then, that a disproportionate number of Palestinians support or engage in terrorism? No, because Islam is not to blame for this. If Islam caused this, then this world would have at least 500 million terrorist supporters and maybe 50-100 million who are willing to carry out terrorist attacks!!

And then you have seen in history regimes who promote atheism and tries to kill of all who believe in God or follow a religion.

So yeah, I don't see how religion is to blame for the ills of this world. IMO, humans and their fallen state are to blame. Tough situations in life are to blame. Feelings of unfairness and oppression are to blame.

'Cause they're cynical, hyper-pretentious douchebags who don't know how atheism should be done.

Because they've actually read the Bible - every word of it.

You should try it sometime; it's a very enlightening experience, and you will learn much more about your chosen faith than you could have ever possibly imagined.

I do not have a religion: I am not an atheist, I am a devout Agnostic. I respect the right of everyone to follow religious beliefs, whatever they may be. However, it is my opinion that organised religion can be the most evil thing ever invented. Since the beginning of history, religion has been used to incite violence all in the name of god, whichever god that is. It has been used to manipulate people to the benefit of a few. This control for gain tends to go against the core religious teachings that are being manipulated. How many opposing armies have gone into battle with god on each of the sides?

I agree with this. Organized religion is often used to control people. It's especially dangerous when it is not separate from government. Individual cases of a father killing his daughter... he's just a psychopath. But governments routinely beating, arresting and torturing people for dressing in an "ungodly" manner, being homosexual, etc., that's something else. There are factions in the U.S. who seem to want to take us down that path, but that's for another thread in another forum.

Religion isn't to blame for all the world's ills, but it is used as a weapon all too often. Religion should be a personal matter.

Out of curiosity, who are the atheist governments punishing people of faith?

Ummm, btw, this probably belongs in PPR...just sayin.

-200 years of war, pillaging and rape:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades

-antisemitism grew out of christianity, and we all know what that led to.

-Palestine: their homeland was taken away because of religion, so if the taking away of their homeland is indeed the cause for violence (which I agree with) then then the cause of violence/terrorist attacks is religion. It's that simple.

-the pope is a lunatic:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4081276.stm

-the church has a bad track record of power abuse, often destroying lives

-9/11, remember?

-ethnic cleansing in yugoslavia

It's not because you do not live in a place where religion is not a major threat, that it's like that in the rest of the world. Also, there are no atheist regimes that try to kill all religious people. That's just a ridiculous lie.

This.

Some atheists just blow the whole idea of being atheist out of porportion.. that's why I claim to just be agnostic these days.

It really depends on the person, I know a friend's dad who disowned him because he didn't get married at a church. Plenty of other reasons listed above that I don't care to repeat.. and since this is random discussion I don't feel like expanding 'cuz I might offend a soul or two.

True, but its used to boost the confidence of each side if people are told that their god is with them. I have already explained that the causes of wars are not as simple as their religion demanding it.

Science flies people to the moon.

Religion flies people into buildings.

I also think this should be in PPR.

precisely. exactly. the concept of holy war is all over the old testament. read joshua. I think that is an instance of holy war. could be the wrong book, because it has been seven years or better since I took a bible as lit class.

all this.

this thread makes me think the OP needs to read hitchens' ''god is not great''. excellent book about the evil of religion.

this.

Your statement proves my point. Each side is being manipulated by those in power to commit violence against the othe group, in the name of god. IMO this is evil manifest.

In the main, it is not religion itself that causes wars, it is people using organised religion to manipulate others, often to do bad things that are against the respective religious teachings.