Version 1

[ScrappyMarcus]

Atheist Argument

Version 1
(Version 1 of the "Religion holds society back" argument)

Religion presents itself as a moral compass, but history shows it has often been a brake on human progress. For centuries, churches fought against scientific discoveries — from Galileo’s telescope to Darwin’s theory of evolution. Even today, religious groups deny climate change, resist life-saving stem cell research, and oppose vaccines or reproductive health.

Morally, religion has defended some of the darkest practices in human history. The Bible was cited to justify slavery. The church fought against women’s rights. Fundamentalists still oppose LGBTQ equality. In many parts of the world, religion fuels terrorism, censors free thought, and suppresses education — especially for girls.

Meanwhile, secular societies thrive. Countries with the lowest levels of religiosity — like Scandinavia — are consistently the most peaceful, prosperous, and free. They lead in education, healthcare, equality, and scientific innovation. The data suggest that as societies outgrow religion, they flourish.

Religion does not guide progress; it obstructs it. Every step toward a freer, more rational world has come not from dogma, but from questioning it. Far from being a moral engine, religion has too often been the anchor holding society back.