is religion a problem, or is it just fundementalism?

Religion is not the problem nor is fundamentalism. Religion is just the worship of God and following the doctrine of the church. Fundamentalism is going back to basics without the trappings and ornamentalism of your belief. So a fundamentalist Christian will follow the Ten Commandments but will not do the animal sacrifices because Christ has put them away. He will do what Christ says and what rules that the Apostle Paul said about baptism, order of the church, marriage, etc. If it is a sin to commit adultery, to practice homosexuality, fornicate, or to be a medium and tell fortunes he will not do that. Neither will he think that wearing an crucifix around his neck, nor wear certain clothes and do things that are the customs of man is necessary. I speak through a Christian perspective, a Muslim will tell you the same thing, only that he will follow the basic tenets of the Koran, and a Jew, the basc tenets of the Torah.

There is a good chance that without religion the world would be a happier place.. As John Lenon sang in his song, Imagine. But there again, problem solving doesn't seem work in this relative world. It's more like problem replacement. Have you noticed that as soon as something seems to be solved, within a period of time (short or long)another problem within the same context seems to arise. Religion in its true context needs to be a way of life for all, but alas most of it seems to give power to one individual or organisation to the detriment of its members. Teachers like Buddha and Jesus claimed no power in the material or spiritual world. Buddha left India then into China then Japan to share his insights. Jesus travelled around too. Neither made claim to "specialness".

I have always said most of the time, it's the people that make a religion bad, not the faith it's self. We will always have those that will drag politics into the mix as well as ranking i.e. “I am more of a Christian than you". It's sad because religion isn't about that at all. It's about making us all one, and it’s not about intolerance and hate. In my opinion anyway. So I agree with you, the problem isn't religion, it the those that abuse it.

I think it's just the fundies who are the problem. I have known and been friends with people of many religions, and I think that if religion itself were the problem, that wouldn't be possible. It's just that some poeple have the point of view that they must make everyone else believe the same things they do, and condemn others because of their religion. Whenever religion is used to justify hate, that is wrong. However, I have yet to find a religion that does not have good points, and can not be a positive part of someone's life. It's just a matter of choosing to make your religion a positive part of your life rather than a negative one.

i agree with you. i f we see vatican it's a state of religion. If all the goods of that state such gold should be used for the poor people on the world it will be a good thing. Not only there but even in Greece i've heard that they have a government that depends to much on religion or Turkey