These religious beliefs couldn’t be further from reality today

A lot of religious beliefs sound completely normal when you grow up hearing them, until modern evidence and the human experience show you something different. 

When the ground moves

A hurricane wipes out a neighborhood in a single day. Some people jump to the same conclusion. Apparently, God must be punishing somebody.

The belief itself hasn’t disappeared, but most people accept that storms don’t look at people’s morality before they hit.

Hurricanes form over warm ocean water. Earthquakes are a result of tectonic plates moving. Floods? They’re due to things like rainfall, drainage, land use, and a lot more. The idea that they’re a result of sin doesn’t work anymore. They’re too common for that to be true.

The person in front

Religious communities were pretty strict on leadership. They taught that women weren’t naturally built to lead. They said that authority and spiritual responsibility were male traits. Every day life shows that’s wrong. Women run hospitals and school systems with no problems.

They’re in charge of courtrooms. They’re in charge of research teams. Some women run entire countries, so there’s no way they can’t lead religious communities. They earn more college degrees than men in the United States. So much for the ‘weaker’ sex.

The solo struggle

People have always struggled mentally. That hasn’t changed. However, our attitudes towards it certainly have, and we don’t see these struggles as weak faith anymore. They’re not a kind of spiritual attack. They’re not a sign of hidden sin, either.

We recognize mental health issues like depression and bipolar disorder as medical conditions. Because they are. Doctors treat them every day in hospitals. They’re a part of human life, and not some spiritual crisis.

The full bank account

God’s pleased with your life? Then he’ll show it to you, especially through your finances. That’s what some religions preach. Yes, they believed He’d show it through a better income. He’d give you a better house. But it has never and will never work out as easily as that.

Wealth comes from other things. Your education and inheritance play a big role. Let’s not forget about job markets and plain luck. Holiness? That’s a very small part. For every generous family living paycheck to paycheck, there’s a billionaire not being religious at all.

The small child

Many religions teach the same thing about kids. They say they’re born rebellious. They’re supposedly born morally corrupt. No, it doesn’t matter they’ve not actually done anything because that’s supposedly part of being human. The solution is apparently strong discipline.

But child development research says otherwise. Kids learn through repetition. They learn through boundaries and emotional safety, not fear. We understand today that a quiet child isn’t necessarily a disciplined one. They might’ve just stopped talking.

The question nobody says

Doubt is dangerous. Don’t ask too much. Don’t question too much. Why? Because everything starts falling apart, so you should stay quiet and nod along. That belief doesn’t work today. Doubt’s a natural reaction after suffering loss or illness. 

You’ll question things after you’ve read something that doesn’t fit. It’s normal. The truth is, many Americans change their religious identity at some point, and it’s not because questions destroy faith. Actually, questions are what expose our honest belief.

The lab and the pew

Unfortunately, some people talk like science and faith are at opposite ends. You’re not allowed to believe in God and support science. No, you’re supposed to throw your phone into a river and ignore antibiotics when you’re a believer. It’s not how people live.

Religious people get their kids vaccinated. Pastors get surgery. Nuns? Yes, they use smartphones. Religion and science can work together fine. The argument ended long ago, and it’s about time some people recognized that.

The broken promise

Divorce. It’s still a hard word now. But it’s no longer proof that someone failed. It doesn’t mean someone didn’t pray enough, and it doesn’t mean someone didn’t forgive enough. We understand that marriage isn’t a math problem. Things are different behind closed doors.

Divorce isn’t as ugly as it used to be. Sure, it’s not easier. Yet we recognize that staying is sometimes more dangerous than leaving. We don’t see divorce as a moral failing anymore.

The empty cupboard

Here’s one of the worst religious ideas. It’s the one about poverty making you cleaner. The one that makes you closer to God. That’s not how it looks at 11:30 p.m. No, poverty’s more like a parent checking their bank app three times before they buy milk.

It’s families choosing between gas and groceries. Millions of people live in extreme poverty across the world. It’s not going to build wisdom or purity, and it’s definitely not anything noble at all. Sometimes, it’s just being tired. All the time.

The highest role of all

A lot of women hear it when they’re young. Maybe from the church, maybe from their family. They’re told that being a mother’s the most important thing they’ll ever do. Sure, there are some women who take it to heart. They agree with it. But for others?

It’s just not right. Over 74 million American women are in the workforce. Millions of them are leaders. Not all of them are mothers, although some are. The idea of women ‘needing’ to be mothers doesn’t fly anymore.

Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.