The Main Types of Religious Harm
In polite society, religion is often treated as an untouchable sacred cow. We are conditioned to equate faith with morality, to whisper our criticisms and to excuse the excesses of dogma as mere distortions of an otherwise benign human pursuit. But if we are to be intellectually honest, we must strip away this veil of unwarranted deference and examine the empirical track record of organized belief. When we do, a far darker picture emerges. Throughout History, religion has served not as a bridge to the divine, but as a primary engine of human suffering, justifying wars, entrenching systemic oppression, stifling scientific progress and fracturing communities along imaginary cosmic lines. It’s time to confront an uncomfortable truth: the harms inflicted upon Humanity by religion are not bugs in the system: they are features of it. If we are ever to reach our full potential as a species, we must seriously consider the proposition that a world entirely unburdened by religion is not just possible, but deeply necessary.
For millennia, Humanity has looked to the skies for salvation, only to find blood on its hands. We have built towering cathedrals and recited beautiful prayers. Yet, beneath the surface of these awe-inspiring traditions lies a profound legacy of trauma. Religion has taught us to despise our own nature, to fear knowledge and to view our fellow human beings not as equals, but as heretics, infidels, or sinners. The psychological and societal toll of this worldview is incalculable: generations haunted by the fear of Hell, marginalized groups crushed under the weight of divine decree and societies paralyzed by dogma, when faced with existential crises. Imagine, for a moment, a world where human empathy, not divine command, dictates our moral compass. Imagine a global society unshackled from the divisions of ancient texts, free to solve its problems through reason and cooperation. This is not a utopian fantasy: it’s a highly achievable reality, provided we are willing to acknowledge the profound damage religion has caused and boldly chart a course toward a post-religious future.
1
Violence, War and Persecution
- Religion has repeatedly been used to justify war, mob violence and genocide: Crusades, European wars of religion, modern sectarian violence, religion‑related terrorism.
- Religion‑related violence is widespread, harassment or violence targeting religious groups happens in most countries: Physical assaults, killings, displacements, property damage.
- Persecution of religious minorities and non‑believers: Accusations of blasphemy, heresy, witchcraft or apostasy have led to executions, imprisonment and lynchings across centuries and continents.
Religion often intertwines with ethnic/national/political conflicts. It’s rarely the only cause, but it frequently functions as a powerful justification and intensifier of violence.
2
Discrimination and Inequality
Gender and Sexuality
- Doctrines and norms that subordinate women correlate, in many societies, with gender inequality: For example, male headship, restrictions on leadership, dress or property rights.
- Religiously grounded opposition to contraception, abortion and reproductive autonomy: Can limit women’s life options and, in some settings, when safe services are restricted or stigmatized, increase health risks.
- Hostility toward LGBTQ+ people, often justified by religious teachings: Has supported criminalization, denial of rights (marriage, adoption, employment, housing) and family rejection. In a number of states, religiously framed laws punish same‑sex relations with imprisonment or death.
Caste, Race and Minority Groups
- Religious or quasi‑religious justifications have been used to uphold caste hierarchies: Racial segregation, slavery and anti‑black racism.
- Intergroup prejudice against other religions or the non‑religious: Common in highly religious settings, though some forms of religiosity can also reduce prejudice. The relationship is complex and context‑dependent.
Belief‑Based Discrimination
- In many countries, belonging to the “wrong” religion (or none) can mean barriers: To jobs, housing, education or political office.
- Blasphemy, apostasy and defamation of religion laws in dozens of states: Suppress dissent and especially endanger minorities and critics.
3
Psychological and Mental‑Health Harm
Intrapsychic Harms
- Toxic teachings about sin, Hell or inherent corruption: Can create chronic fear, scrupulosity (moral/religious OCD‑like symptoms), shame and guilt.
- Religious struggles (feeling abandoned or punished by God, or conflicted about one’s faith): Are robustly associated with higher depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms and suicidality across diverse samples.
- Patterns identified as Religious Trauma Syndrome in clinical literature: Anxiety, depression, grief, guilt, nightmares, social isolation, impaired relationships and difficulty with decision‑making or critical thinking, after leaving high‑control groups.
When Leaving or Dissenting
- Leaving authoritarian religions can trigger ostracism, family rejection, loss of community and livelihood and a kind of culture shock: All of which are risk factors for mental‑health problems.
4
Child Abuse and Institutional Cover‑ups
- Numerous government and independent inquiries have documented widespread child sexual abuse in religious institutions and systemic cover‑ups: Catholic Church inquiries in Ireland, England, Wales, France, UN criticism of the Vatican, Anglican Communion sexual abuse cases.
- Comparative studies show child sexual abuse occurs in both religious and secular institutions, but religious settings carry added harms: Sacred authority is used to silence victims, loyalty to the institution overrides reporting to authorities, doctrines emphasize obedience and forgiveness in ways that protect perpetrators.
Other forms of harm to children include harsh physical discipline justified by religious texts, denial of education or medical care and forced marriages.
5
Public Health and Medical Harms
Reproductive and Sexual Health
- Religious opposition has shaped laws and policies restricting access to contraception, safe abortion and comprehensive sex education: Contributing to unsafe abortions, unintended pregnancies and maternal morbidity and mortality.
- Religious stigma around sexuality: Can deter people from seeking HIV/STI testing, contraception or prenatal care.
Vaccine Hesitancy and Other Health Behaviors
- Some religious groups discourage or prohibit certain vaccines, due to concerns about sexual behavior, safety or “interference with divine will”: Which has been linked to lower uptake in specific populations.
Harmful “Healing” Practices
- Reliance on prayer, exorcism or faith‑healing, instead of evidence‑based medical care: Has led to preventable deaths, for example failure to treat diabetic crises, infections or childhood illnesses.
6
Educational and Epistemic Harms
Science Denial and Misinformation
- Organized religious movements have campaigned against teaching Evolution or climate science: Promoting creationism or minimizing anthropogenic climate change in schools.
- Studies consistently link certain forms of conservative religiosity with anti‑Science attitudes.
Censorship and Restricted Curricula
- Religiously motivated pressures can lead to censorship of books: Removal of topics (for example, LGBTQ+ history, non‑Abrahamic religions, secular ethics) and constraints on academic freedom.
7
Authoritarianism, High‑Control Groups and Civil‑Liberties Harms
High‑control (cultic or high‑demand) religious groups can impose:
- Isolation from family, friends and outsiders.
- Intensive surveillance and discipline.
- Severe punishments or shunning for dissent.
- Demands for total commitment (labor, donations, child‑bearing, etc.).
These dynamics can produce dependency, loss of autonomy and what some clinicians describe as complex post‑traumatic stress and religious trauma.
Suppression of Dissent
- Controlling religions may monitor or punish members: For questioning doctrine, reading “forbidden” materials or contacting ex‑members, chilling free inquiry and expression.
8
Economic and Financial Harms
- Tithes, offerings or “seed faith” donations pushed on vulnerable believers: Can lead to financial hardship, especially when leaders promise divine returns or healing in exchange for money.
- Scams, fraud and misappropriation of funds by religious leaders or organizations have been widely documented.
- In some high‑control groups, members effectively donate labor or assets to the institution: While receiving minimal support or social safety nets.
9
Political and Legal Harms
Theocracy and Policy Capture
- When religious agendas dominate law‑making, they can enshrine discrimination: For example, against women or LGBTQ+ people, and restrict reproductive rights and limit freedom of conscience for non‑believers or religious minorities.
- Religious actors sometimes lobby against secular humanitarian policies: For example, comprehensive sex education, harm reduction and refugee protections.
Criminalization of Freedom of Conscience
- At least dozens of countries criminalize blasphemy, apostasy or defamation of religion: Leading to imprisonment or execution and disproportionately affecting minorities and dissidents.
10
Family and Community Rupture
- When religious differences become primary identities, they can fracture families: For example, disfellowshipping, shunning or honor‑related violence over interfaith marriages or apostasy.
- Communities may segregate along religious lines, reducing intergroup contact and mutual understanding: Which can reinforce prejudice and conflict.
11
Epistemic and Cultural Harms
- Certain religious doctrines discourage critical inquiry, doubt or engagement with outside perspectives: Which can stunt intellectual development and openness to evidence.
- When religions claim exclusive truth and condemn all alternatives, this can foster intolerance and reduce the willingness to cooperate across differences.
Summary
Religion can be a source of meaning, community and pro‑social behavior, but it’s also repeatedly implicated in:
- Large‑scale violence and persecution.
- Discrimination (especially by gender, sexuality and belief).
- Psychological distress and trauma.
- Child abuse and institutional cover‑ups.
- Public‑health and reproductive harms.
- Science denial and educational restrictions.
- Authoritarian control and civil‑liberties violations.
- Financial exploitation.
- Policy capture and repressive laws.
- Family and community rupture.
Help with Religious Trauma Syndrome.
“Nothing causes more division, hatred and backwardness than religion.”